The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-29
WORDS FROM SEYMOUR.
His Letter on The Issues OF the Day.
The Glass that Needs a Protective Tariff
No Free Trade in the CampaIgn-The
Cattle and Dairy Interests-Ne-
cessity Of n Change In the
C.ovarpt,n.ans


given out in full. The text is as 70
lows:
Il regret that cannot take an activ
part in the pending political contest.
am unable 10 do so on account of M
gs health. feel a deep interest in tn
&c result. The passions excited by tn
o. events OF the past twenty years hay
g in good degree subsidized. The grea
interests of our country should now b.
considered in way which will promOt,
- its welfare. From feeble NATIONALITY
5, 1t has grown within the lifetime q
S, many OF our citizens to great power
Is Even If the rate of our increase shal
u be less than heretofore, in about .
X years 1t will have a population of 100.
100000. Many who are now living will
be active citizens when it has gained
?, this position. We are on the eve of
the present canvass viii have a bear
ing. While there is much to animate
> US with regard to the nations future,
9 we must bear in mind that its growth
: and prosperity will also cause many
I. dangers. They will involve us in new
relationships with nations. They NAV
attract attention to our affairs and
l may excite unfriendly feelings. The
| increase of its population and its
ries add to the danger of sectional
prejudices. The future will demand
! thoughtful conduct of public affairs to
prevent sectional passions, for with the
increase of population, and of varied
interests, they will be more easily ex-
, cited
Unfortunately the canvass has been
marked by personalities, which have
turned away attention from more i'm
4 nOrfQnT 4 Atf+x- f,NI
learn how we can promote the interests
of all pursuits, and not devote our at
tentlon to one at the expense of others
The speakers and the press of the
Republican party are causing danger
to our agricultural and other interests
by declaring that it is the duty ofevery
good government to impose such taxes
on imports as will exclude the products |
of other lands. Now, there is but one
OF our pursuits that needs such protec- |
ton. Our farmers, our mechanics |
with few eXceptlonsl, our commerce, |
our carrying interests ask for no taxes |
| TO help them. Our manufacturers do /
need aid from the Government. ALL
parties have agreed that a large share
| OF our revenues should be raised by
taxes upon imports. The late Nation
al Republican Convention artfully put
forth the same doctrine, but their press
lection means that taxes may be inn
posed for the sole purpose of aiding
certain pursuits, and they do this in
terms that practically make war upOn
our agricultural and other interests.
They say it is the duty of our Govern
ment to fence out the importations of
foreign products which conflict with
our own. If this is true then the Gov
ernments of Europe are reproached
because they do not impose duties upon
our agricultural products. A light du-
ty upon our grain, provisions, and dali :
ry products would be destructive to all
parts of our Union and all industrial ,
pursuits. If duties re'put upon our
products in European markets the dis ,
asteT will be charged upon those who +,
claim to be the peculiar friends of the !;
manufacturers, and it would be easy !
for Europe to retaliate. 1t would need :
bat light duties to shut out products /
from their ports. We have u striking ,
proof of this in the effect of our own !
taxes upon our carrying trade. In 1865 i
the tolls upon 100 pounds of wheat ,
from Buffalo to New York on our ,
canals were 10 cents. In 1870 efforts I
were made to reduce them: they did :
not show their influence until 1916 In I,
the ten years prior to that time the :
balance of trade against our country :
was $S17, ,429,674. This state continued
reducing canal taxes and at length =
abolished all tolls. The reduction of =
taxes led all other routes to reduce i
charges, with the following results: In a
1858 1t cost to carry a bushel Of wheat n
from Chicago to New Y York by lake and II
canal, 25 cents: by lake and railroad, =
% cents; by all rail, AZ cents. Last =
year the cost by lake and canal was o
fraction more than 9cents; by lake and
railroad, 12cents; by rail l6 cents. The 7
effect upon carrying is shown in the re- y
ports of the general government '
While from 1865 to 1875 the balance OF :,
trade against us was more than $780,, I
OO0, 900 when those charges were reduced 3
the balance in our favor in eight years :;
was more than 81 800, 900. a
This shows what the effect would q
be If foreign governments, following .
the teachings of the Republican press 3,
and speakers, should feel it their. duty II
to impose charges upon exports to their :,
cost of carrying from Chicago to New II
York in 1868. There are evidences =,
that they mean to put charges on these ?
articles. and the Republican speeches ?
are highly approved by British and !,
journals. France and other -
European countries have already pro-
hibited the importation of some of our =
provisions, and they contemplate furth- =
er action in the same direction. 1t is =
urged with truth that if we give pros =
perity to our manufacturers all our in n
dustries would be benefited, but it is \
also true, if we harm our farming, car !,
rying and commercial pursuits We -
bring great disasters to our manuIac- y
lures. Our agricultural interests are "
the most important of all. There is no -
free trade party in our country, nor one a.
opposed to raising the largest share of -
onr revenue by taxes upon imports. -
The amounts raised in this way in 1884 Il
was over S195, 100000. No party objects =
to this method of raising revenue. 1t I,
can give no offense nor excite retalia- y
tion as it does not put taxes upon for
eign production solely for the purpose =,
Of excluding them. y
"The discussion between parties has II
been, how the amount to be raised by ~
taxes on imports shall be apportioned. ~
There is a general complaint Of the n
burdens Of taxation. 1t is our duty, d
then. at this election to consider the 81
ntrests of all our industries, and to ny
egislate not to build up one at the cost "
IF the others. With those engaged in az
the products of our land y
are a large class engaged in laborious ~
pursuits. Any diminution of our ex- u u
ports would bring great loss to them. ~ ~
The falling off in the value of our rail- " "
roads and other facilities has been az
caused by the fact that for a part of "
he year the balance of trade has been ~
against us. This was due i'll part to ~
leayy taxation, which has added to the ~
cost of production. 1t is evident that w
every charge on our productions affects u
)UT exports in the same way that the "
,ost of carrying does. Taxes should
De reduced for other reasons. They q
ire not only hurtful to our farmers, u
mechanics and laboringmen, but also Ia
% our manufacturers, for no pursuit "
,an be prosperous when all others are "
depressed. The erroneous idea that ~ ~
Europe is depending on us for food is X
eading us into many mistakes. Our u ~
great exports during the past eight ~
Tears were caused partly by failure of " "
heir crops, and partly by the fact that %
ne cut down the cost Of carrying. This ~
rear we are advised that their harVests ol
ire abundant. In addition to this fact, NJ
re have evidence that the leading gov tn
srnments are taking measures by ~ ~
colonies and other means to ~
ret foreign products in exchange for n'
heir manufacture. India now exports Il'
more than 35,OO0,0O bushels of wheat. III In
This amount will rapidly increase. - -
France, Germany. and other powers ~ ~
low shut out some of our provisions, y.
md we have reason TO think this policy y
s to be extended to breadstuffs. There q
ire great regions in South America fit
ed to grain growing and as for proyis-
ons. we know that cattle are killed
here only for their hides. Commerce T,
between that country and Europe can y
EASILY develop the resources of South ie
A roarica "a EIIronn coOfrols tho ocaan III