The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-29
THE TARIFF QUESTION.


In order to enjoy the greatest measure of
prosperity, the manufacturing interests OF
our country should be fostered and built mp
until all the agricultural products of the ma
ton are needed for home consumption and
home manufacture. All our breadstufis
should be needed TO supply the wants of the
non-producing portion of our population,
and every pound Of cotton raised ought to be
manufactured at home. The tariff should be
80 adjusted that we would not need to ex
port a pound of beef or bacon, nor a barrel
of -four, while we should Toe able TO manu-
facture all the iron we could possibly mine,
and all the cotton that could be grown.
During the fiscal year ending June 30th 1882,
our imports of foreign articles amounted to
$725,000,0oo A very large proportion Of
these articles should have been manufac-
tured in our own country, by men who would
have used the products Of our own soil, thus
increasing and enlarging our own home
market, and thereby comforting benefit on
farmers and flaborers, as well as on manu-
facturers.
protective tariff will not, by building up
our home industries make Us a non-export-
ing nation, but on the contrary Will largely
increase our exports. but instead of export
ing the raw material, we would consume that
Mt home, and ship TO foreign nations the
products of our factories, thus adding
greatly 70 the wealth and prosperity of all
classes, and especially agriculturists.
There is no class of community who have
so great All interest,in protection, as have the
farmers. Were il not for the tariff. agricul-
turGl products would be largely shipped into
this country from Canada and elsewhere.
During the year 1881 the amount of duties
levied and collected upon agricultural pro-
ducts, including wool, amounted TO $50, 50O,-
900, al of which were in the direct line of
protection to the farmers of our country.
Repeal the tariff On wool, and that industry
would be wholly ruined. Foreign nations
have such vast numbers.of sheep that, were
it not for the tariff, they could and would
flood the country with wool at figure that
would be simply ruinous 10 the sheep breed
ers of the United States.
During the decade from 1850 TO 1860,
when there was no protective tariff, the in
crease of sheep in this country, notwithstand-
ing the great increase of population, was only
three per cent, while from 1870 TO 1880
under the policy of protection, the increase
was 43 per cent, being largely in advance OF
the increase of population. Free trade or a
reduction of the tariff so as TO largely in
crease the importation Of foreign goods
woud not result in a reduction of prices
We have had protection for the past twenty
years, anG il is a matter of common observa-
been gradual and steady decline in the
price of al manufactured articles The
Teason for this is obvious. The tariff by
encouraging and building up our home in
dustries, has created a healthy competition
which has resulted as it always must, in de-
cline of prices.
Let DO one make the mistake of confound-
ing protective tarif with a prohibitory
tarif. BY protective tariff is meant, not a
tariff that will prevent all foreign impor-
tation, but tariff SO adjusted as to allow
home industries TO be built up SO as 80 be
able to compete with foreign manufactures,
thereby creating not only a home compsti-
ton, but a competition between American
industries and foreign manufacturers as well.
All classes share in the benefits of such a
tariff. The government derives from it its
necessary revenue, labor secures more en-
ployment at better wages, the farmer re-
ceives better prices for his crops, his herds
and kis focks, better prices for his lands
and all forms of industry and labor prosper
under its benefcent influences.