The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-29
Dcutocrats ana the Tariff.
q E,Jjfor of the DiSpdtch :

To the Editor Of the DiSpdtca:
whatever may be said against absolute
..free trade" the opposite extreme OF
"birh protection" is equally oblectiona-
bic. do not understand ga tarifffor rev.
enuer to be a%ntagonisiic to a reasonable
and iudicious protection to the profitable
industries of this country. Because Dem
oc,ots arc not Wiling to purchase p%rotec-
tion for special businesses at any cost they
are accused OF opposition to American III
duslries. Democrats believe that protec-
tion NAV he purchased ut too high a price,
and that in our efforts 10 build our INDUS
tries we may destroy, OF at least seriously
cripple, others, which certainly Is not a
wise or proper thing to do. What we want
Is n tariff for revenue. with such Incidental
protection as that kind OF q tariff would
natu,ally afford, or might be made 10 al
ford. without unduly burdening or dis
eliminating against the consumers who
have TO use the goods on which the tariff is
levied. There are businesses in this coun-
try which no doubt need some help to ena-
HE them to compete in our own market
with the products OF foreign manufacto-
ries. The question is. How far shall this
protection extend? There must be some
limit to the protection that Is to be thus
afforded. WheH does protection ceaseto be
profitable aud commence to be burdensome!
This seems to be the point about which
there is so much difference OF opinion
among the people. This il the real issue
between the two great political parties OF
this country III regard to the tariff ques-
tion. Democrats are not opposed to some
protection to American industries, but they
are opposcd to so much protection a VIII
be burdensome on n greater number than
if benefits. They do object to a tariff that
collects a yearly surplus OF revenue mount
inc to over one hundred and forty millions
of dollars. and which also affords so much
protection to certain American businesses
as To give the capitalists who are engaged
in them a complete monopoly OF the Ameri-
can market in their line, and allows them
to eXtort exorbitant prices from tine Ameri-
can people for the goods they manufacture
or produce. TOO much protection Is a
great evil. IT, is calculated to weaken ana
efeminate industries to which it Is applied.
II is calculated to unduly multiply Infant
industries" which never outSroW thelr
swaddling clothes. 1t builds up one Sec
ton OF country at the expense OF another.
II attracts capital and labor from The
naturally profitable industries to those that
are only so by protection. This induces
oyer-production, with its attendant evil,
of no work and hard times, factories closed
until the oYer-stock is exhausted, and In
borers idle or compelled to seek other en-
ployment.
Taxation is a necessary imposition by
government upon its subjects. The ndi-
rect forms Of national taxation adopted by
the American people, like all indirect
taxes, falls principally on the lower and
middle classes. IL is a tax on commodities,
and not q tax on capital or property. Bu'
a tax on commodities is paid by the con.
sumers of the commodities; hence this taN
falls much more heavily on the poor than
it does on the rich. But the people have
expressed a willingness to shoulder thu
larger end of this load. and have continued
I patriotically to carry it up to the present
| time. They do not ask to be relieved OF |
entirely, but only that 1t be made as hgh
AS possible, and that in adjusting the tariff
) that il be so aone as not to make discriml
5 nations favorable to the rich and Oppressive
E TO the poor, nor beneficial TO the few ant
: burdensome to the many. / do not under
stand the sentiment Of the great mass o
; Democrats to be in favor OF abolishing tn
$ tariff, or against the Legitimate and judi
cious protection OF home industries b
h means OF a w~ell-regulated tariff. But | d
believe the sentiment Of the party 10 b
opposed to a tariff or other tax which co
= lects bounties from the masses TO fill tn
Golfers Of the few. Respectfully,
JUNIUs, JR.
u We let our correspondent "JUNIus, JR.,
have his say ON the tariff question-a ques
ton which we do not care to discuss on II
merits just now. We will add only thes
few remarks:
IL i. We do not concede that any tart
y which brings in a large revenue can be oil
I" !ectionably protective. The fact that til
10 foreign goods come in largely, negative
the assumption that in such a case Their
can be any monopoly.
~ 2. We do not concede that a protectiy
tariff can operate against the section whic
Is able 10 manufacture most cheaply. TIC
bacco is protected by a tariff OF fifty cent
per pound. Could that tariff so operate a
q to transfer the manufacture Of tobacco fror
Virginia to Massachusetts, Hardly.
= 3. With these exceptions. the article q
"JuSIus. JR.," no doubt speaks the sent
ments OF many Democrats.