The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-21
Senator Lamar's Speech on the
Tariff.
New York Herald

| the relation of taxation TO revenue, its prob
| lem would have been easily solved, but they
chose 10 consider with that the other ques-
ton of bounty TO certain industries, and
| here began their troubles. This, he said,
was probably the only country in the world
whose people were severely and superfiu.
/ ously taxed for series of years only be-
cause their rulers were unable to devise a
mode of reduction. The republicans insist
| ed on considering not the relation OF taxa
ton TO revenue but of taxation 10 certain
manufacturers. The question with them in
laying tax was not what revenue il would
produce, but how high duty would protect
the favored manufacturers.
FOR PROTECTION, NOT REVENUE.
He quoted Mr.. Frye who had said that if
there was no debt TO pay, no interest to pay
no army or navy TO support, he would still
vote for a high tariff for protection. That,
said Mr. Lamar, is the precise truth. We
! have had tariff for many years which every
one admits Is too high for revenue purposes,
but which has been enforced during long
period, not to pay the public debt, not to pay
the interest, not to support the army and
navy, not to pay pensions, not for the gen
eral expenses OF the government, not at all /;
but only because TO change it would be, IN
the apprehension of some, to disturb the in
dustries which it Is supposed to shelter
against foreign competition.
NOT A BURDEN, BUT BLESSING.
The people demand reduction of the
burden OF taxation, but the republican party
assures them that it is no burden ut ALL but
a blessing; it insists that duties no matter
how high do not increase prices, but lower
them that high taxes increase the rate Of
wages, swell the profits of capital, cheaper
products and divert capital and labor from
unremunerative TO remunerative employ
ments, and thus they maintain that high
taxes increase the nations wealth and pros
perity. To reduce the taxes would diminish
these blessings and this accounts for that
party bringing in bill which processes to
lower duties, while to every lowering OF rates
republican Senators object
PROTECTION NOT NECESSARY.
He then went on to demonstrate histori.
cally and by numerous illustrations and
facts that protection is not necessary to
the sound prosperity of manufactures, and
pointed out that even during the colonial
period, when manufactures were protected
TO Americans, they we're created and grew
so much so that our earliest exports after in
dependence, were manufactures, and among
them some Of glassware, the makers OF which
after = century, now come here clamorint
for protection on the ground of being al
ufacturing has to contend with in this coun
try, he said, is the superior attractiveness 0
agriculture by reason of cheap lands, ant
this has been 80 always here, so that protec
ton has been The bounty paid by agrieul
ture to support manufactures and the profit
OF the farmer have been. paid out to tn
forge and mill. He maintained that thi
exacton of tribute was, after all, ineffec
tive. The testimony of manufacturers bt
Il
OF the Senators from manufacturing State
showed that the present condition of tn
I'M most highly protected industries, after
high tariff Of twenty years duration, was on
OF embarrassment, lettering on the verge (
disaster This, according to the testimon
of the protected manufacturers, was thei
state at time when our currency is sour
II, der than it ever was before, each one d'
claring on oath that ii the duty ailectin
him is reduced at all his business will be d.
stroyed
DEPENDENT ON TAXATION.
That is to say, said he, vast organizatio
Of capital and labor processes itself to b
dependent for existence on the taxation
the government Two thousand millions ,
capital and a million of people are declare
to be dependent--the one for profit, tt
others for bread and clothing and shelter
upon an aye and no vote in Congress. TIL
surely is not a tolerable condition III
very existence of this capital and the'
people is said by the Republicans to re
m upon high taxes, Il superintendent revent
and extravagant administration of the pc
pies money Protection does not prote
againt disaster, for the protected industr
suffered as much in the period of 1873
~, any others. But in 1860, when all was a
parently prosperous, Messrs Morrill, an
Kelley proclaimed that even then our pr
tectcd Industries were in deplorable co
dtion 1t was our vast system Of intersta
free trade which had built up our manufa
lures, and they had fl0urished equally Ii
der high aud low tariffs.
There was nothing, he remarked, in I
assertion that high wages require protect
tariffs. The highest wages enable the m,
effective competition the highest paid
borers in Europe were the English and G.
many, France and Russia, where wac
were much lower, were fencing out Engli
high wages competition now with protect
tariffs. Our own highly paid agriculture
sell their bulky grain and meal products
ter paying railroad and ocean freights
/. them in every markst OF cheap labor
Europe in defiance Of the competition
much lower wages.
TRIBUTE TO MANUFACTURERS.
g In conclusion Senator Lamar said il
III had said anything which left the impress
icu that he was uufavorable to the growth /
lies prosperity Of manufactures in this coun1
was he had been unfortunate in his mode of
and preston. No man appreciated their imT
am lance more than he did, and thereupon
{ paid an eloquent tribute to the eleyat
a;li' and enrolling influences of manufactu
sllN Ii the protected manufacturers would lis
Inc to his voice he would advise them to M
wo- timely concessions on this subject, so I
VI" the departure from the system Of protect
lore might be gradual and free from any sh
,ver to existing conditions. He referred 1
!, 80 speech Of Macauley's on the same quest
y !. where he warned the monopolists Of
=. land and referred them to the wisdom
ton gacity and forecast with which the arts
aid 4: racy Of England had adapted themselve
That the popular movement Of parliamentary
titu- form. BY taking part in it they were
"a Of abled to direct its movement safely
T,o wisely for themselves and thereby re-
their moral and intellectual supremacy,
siA showed the reverse in the case Of the Ere
w. nobility, who, with logged obstinacy,
sayed vain resistance to the great pop
movemement there which resulted in !
60, overthrow and Punishment TO other &C
49, tries, where they became dancing mas
Ope, and music teachers to aliens and stranp