The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-02-15
TIE rARrrr QUESTION:.

The TAklfF vuGeTlJu.
This question Is again at the front. and
will probably occupy the greater portion OF
the time OF Congress during the remainder
OF this session. One Of our farmer subscrib-
ers sends us the following request:
"As the tariff question IL being talked OF
very frequently. and most OF US are not very
well posted, it would be regarded as quite
a favor il you would talk the matter up
through your paper. aud give your readers
a short history OF the tariff, and also some
Of its fruits, As this is question that is not
very well understood in the West, or at least
among us farmers.
This il Il question upon which the farmers
need TO post themselves, above all others;
for upon no question that has ever figured
in politics has there been more persistent
efforts TO humbug and mi>lead the farming
community. Free Traders for years have
hammered, and hammered, and hammered
away TO convince farmers, and especially
Western farmers. that 4 protective tariff
was for the exclusive benefit Of Eastern
manufacturers. and resulted in increasing
the price OF every article he was compelled
to purchase, while protection was Of no
facturer grew itch at the expense OF the
Western farmer There is nothing more
untrue. Free Trade is utterly selfish, and
appeals 10 the selfishncss of the individual,
the community and the section, as against
other individual, communities aud sections,
and teaches them TO grasp, and gather in all
they can get. regardless Of how their neigh
bors fare. instead OF seeking thrift through
the prosperity Of the whole community.
A tariff is duty or tax laid upon goods
orproduets or foreign manufacture or growth
upon their being landed at "a port Of the
country levying the tax. Such goods are
taken TO the Custom House, and there held
until the tax 10 which they are subject is
paid. The word tariff is derived from an
old Moorish town in the South of Spain,
called Tarfa. Ii is on the Straits OF Glib
raltar, and While the Moors had possession
OF the South OF spain, this town was strong
ly fortified. and all vessels passing through
the Straits were compelled to pay duty.
The tariG question in this country, as
party issu, has been divided into two kinds
ad rotorem duties, and specific duties, for af-
iordiDg protection TO certain industries.
The objects Of "a tariff are to raise revenue
for the support of the Government, aud TO
afford protection TO American industries
The Democratic party has always advocated
an dd ratorem duty, or a tax according to
the value OF The article for the sole purpose
of raising r.Npuua and let The mannfacfnr.
ing interests take care of themselves, and
go TO the dogs if tn y could not do so. Thus,
if there was a duty of 20 per cent, one
thousand dollars worth of goods would
pay duty of S2Jo, whether it was French
brandy, Havana cigars, Rio coffee, Chinese
tea, English cloth or railroad iron. The
Wing party, under the leadership of Henry
Clay, and the Republican party since, favor.
ed specific duties, for the double purpose of
raising revenue and protecting American
industries from ruinous foreign competit ION.
1t is well known that the manufacturers Of
Great Britain and other European countries
possess vast wealth, accumulated by monop-
tions. Ii is also known that the wages OF
labOrers is SO low that their existence is from
hand TO month struggle, and that laborers
in this country could not live upon the same
pay. The American iaborer receives much
higher wages than the European, and, if he
is sober aud industrious, he lives well, and
can ac, Emulate property. The European
laborer, as a rule can do neither. The ques-
tiou is then resolved down to this: In order
TO compete with the wealthy European
manufacturer, the American manufacturer
must put his laborers down to the standard
of the pauper labor of Europe, or suspend,
and throw his operatives out Of work alto
gethcr. The Wing and Republican doctrine
is. build up American manufactures, so that
America can depend upon herself, and to
enable this To be done, place tariff upon
every article that is produced at home, go
that the home manufacturer can sell his
goods at price that will enable him to pay
his laborers good living wages, and prevent
him from being crushed out by foreign COM
petition. Put up the tariff on goods manu-.
featured ut home, and put il down, or even
make it free, upon what cannot be produced
here, as tea and coffee, and such luXuries.
Here, you see, the tariff builds up American
the la5oring man. Yes, but here also comes
in the cry that this makes the farmer pay
more for his goods than il there was no
tariff-that the consumer pays the duty, and
is taxed to Keep up the manufacturer. or
the consumer pays the duty; but all
the nnanla nf bp ~ mr. s.pn .r. a.
The factory operative, whose wages is in
creased by the tariff, pays his share of the
duty on what he consumes; the woOllen or
cotton manufacturer is compelled TO buy
what he does not manufacture, and to pay
his share of the duty on that the iron man
must buy what he does not make,
and he pays the duty. The farmer does not
pay all the duty, by long ways, but it goes
among all. But il the farmer has to
pay more for what he buys, does he not get
more Tor what he sells Go 10 country full
Of factories, and see the prices the farmer |
receives for all he has to sell. The same |
good effect is felt by every farmer for an |
the country. II farmers are prevented from /
getting for their produce what they should, /
Dy r.ilroad eXtortions, il is not the fault Of /
he tariff, but of an abuse that should be |
by law, and will be, in due course /
If time. with manufactures thriving all |
,ver the country. the farmer receives good |
,rices Tor his products. With stagDatioI,
md suspension, and ruin, such AS occurred
II 1887 and 1861, solely on account Of Demo.
ratio assaults upon and tinkering with the
sriG, operatives out Of employment, and
With no means of purchasing, the farming
were among the severest suffer-
RS. When general strikesof labOrers occur
throughout the country. because Of made
uaie wages, who feel- it quicker than the
armerg Destroy protective tariff. and let
american manufacturers be crushed out By
ompetitiou with the low wages Of Europe,
nd how soon would the farms Of Western
armers again he plastered over with mort
ages. at ruinous rates OF INTEREST," Ameri-
an machinery, such As every farmer in the
md uses, is the best in the word; and it p
D, because the Republican tariff has enabl-
4 the building up Of manufactures. These
are gradually coming West,
nd i'm few years, under the same fostering
olicy, every State will be full OF factories,
nd the benefits will be at the door Of evert ,
tizen. But, under proper system, these
can never become m0iropo-
es for as soon as they attempt to charge
ore than fair living price for their goods
icy will have got the price above protec-
on line, and foreign goods will check then
rain. A tariff high enough to foster mo-
,poIies will not be granted. But reason
lie tariff makes monopoly impossible; for
encourages the multiplying Of msnufactut