The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-09

age and support our state and county
governments, under which we know
exactly how much we pay to support
our state government. No mysticism
here-no rubbish Of technicalities
under which to hide swindlng games
from the people. Why not know
what we pay to support the general
government? Where is the man that
believes that the people in free
government, if they fully understood
the situation. would longer bear these
ills? Then let ceaseless, untiring eff
forts he made all over this land to Ell.
tighten the minds of the people upon
their great interests.
In the Memphis Avalanche of
May 9th. 1888, paper of prom
hence and wide circulation, we find
this article, viz: "a revenue tariff
means precisely that the government
shall levy duties on foreign imports
for the sole purpose of raising the
greatest amount Of revenue. The
greatest amount Of revenue means
great pOrlations, and great impOr-
taiOns mean the destruction of Amer
lean manufacturing interests"
That is the tariff question in nut
shell. Open this nut shell little and
tell us, if manufacturing interests
are damaged by importations of
goods into this country, on which
tariff is levied, thereby enabling
manufacturers to sell their goods to
the amount of the tariff higher than
they could were there no tariff, tell
us how the interest of farmers, con-
sumers who pay all this tariff are
effected right along here. So many
editors, so many politicians, amid
languishing agricultural interests,
amid hastily built up fortunes on the
depletions of hushandry, so many
sympathize with and favor the con.
tinuation of this protective nuisance,
and so watchful Of its interests, that
they seem to fear that importations of
goods into this country, even with
tariff laid on them. will effect the in
terests of this petted monopoly. just
as if the merchants now is business in
Memphis should say to merchants
coming into Memphis, eve do net
want you; enough goods here nov;
and, although you may pay tariff
on the goods you bring here, by
which we, it is true, would be ena,
bled to sell our goods, to the amount
of tariff higher than we otherwise
would, still we fear by Increase of
stores and competition we would he
forced to sell cheaper goods" Afraid
of competition. the life of trade-the
safeguard of the peoples pockets.
But suppose in the above case that
merchants coming into "emphis with
stocks of goods have no tariff to pay
on the goods they bring there, anc
that free trade has taken the from,
seat. Down go tariff prices. Dom
you reckon this dose of free trade
would purge their high, spiced politica
stomachs tolerably well? 1t seems t,
me it would awaken them up abou
r right. These are the legitimate re-
suits of tariff in all cases, in all lands
: To keep down competition, to keep VI
r prices-to keep one class down, t,
keep another class up. Agricultur,
, being the centre of the emptyings o
this vial of protective oppression, Civ
out unmistaken evidence of languish
t ing and depreciation, money to tn,
r amount Of tariff leeched from tn,
blood of its vitality to build up AM
put increased power into manufacto
> ries, to absorb capitaland investment
s much of which would have otherwis
r gone to the agricultural interests
o Remedy these evils, establish FREE
g trade and equal protection, and ever,
: branch of industry will take its prope
, status, as water seeks its level. lie
n the policy of this government he tina
y all systems of industry stand on thei
own bottoms and merits. If this doc
trine be adopted there would he n
necessity to hunt up men to sell thes
d lands and territories. Agriculture be
+ coming more profitable nnder thi~ pol
/, icy, as it certainly would, men woul
u seek these lands and capital and in
vestments would come to the openin
J of this new. horn life. Men and cal
II - .-....:,,e. =, 90. o,,I,.ool $500 -,