The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-23
NO TARIFF!
Free Trade Universal. Direct Taxa
tiOn to support the General Gov
eminent.
Editor Exchange f:

Charles V, elevated to the throne
of Spain in 1917, and elected empe>
ror of Germany in 1919, originated
in Europe the modern system of pro-
lection in trade and navigation. The
policy adopted by him was. styled
Mercantile System" As spain pos.
sessed rich American mines, Charles,
levying duty On all imported mer-
chandize into Srain, designed to di~
minish exports and monopolize the
precious metals in Spanish American
possessions by decreasing exports.
We remark that here is brought to
view the fundamental principles of
political economy, viz, as imports by
tariff are diminished so will exports
be diminished; as exports are dimin.
ished, so will production be diminish>
ed, as production is diminished, so
will wealth, the result of labor, be
diminished. Hence, freer the trade,
the greater the imports, the greater
the exports, the greater the produc>
ton, greater the wealth. Full wealth
demands full UT free trade. The iol-
icy of Charles V, aiming at full mo-
nopoly in Spanish American colonies
of the precious metals, had, though
not expressed, prohibition as its goal.
AID that is the goal of tariff policy,
though not expressed, in our couhtly
aud all countries where it has no ex-
is.ence, thai is in the articles they
manufacture. Interest points this
WY. and we readily conclude that
men are governed by leadings Of in
tercsts. To assist our minds il form
i,g just conclusions in reference to
the effects of tariff, let US notice the
condition of Europe anterior and pos
terror to the assession of Charles V
to power. J1 the 18th century APP
pears the first awakening Of the pub
lie mind relative to intellectual and
industrial activities. In the 18th
century this advancement manifests
itself everywhere from Italy to the
Baltic. Unfortunately for the cities
of I'aly, owing to rivalship, they
wasted much of their time in wars
with each other, but, nevertheless,
their developments of industry and
commerce made striking impress up
on the progress and enterprise of
those times, extending from England
to India.
And for the further developments
of industry, safety and trade arose
in the 18th century the "Hanseatic
league or confederation Of 80 cities
and confederates. Aid from this
commerce of ideas" the foundation
Of all commerce, sprang progress, ad-
vancement in the arts and sciences,
and amelrorating tendencies pointing
to advanced humanity. In $50 years
the purpose Of this confederation was
accomplished. The art of printing,
mariners compass, harvests of pro,
gress within themselves trooped in to
distinguish their age. at is the
opinion of the best historical writers
on political economy that the whole
tendency of Europe at the time of
the discovery of America, in 1892,
was toward commercial freedom.
Spain was arranging her American
colonies in working order, when
Charles V came upon the field like a
demon of discord. During near 300
wears from the accession of Charles to
power, the colonial powers of Europe
spent one year out of four in waging
wars, wholly commercial in their ORR
gin. Their whole policy is given by
Blanqui, the historian of political
economy. "They used the colonists to
rob the natives, and tariff to rob the
colonists." The Influence of this tar
iff on Spain is not an unfair expo
..,,,t of ira oeneral effects. Fifty YEA re-