Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-27
THE BRITISH TARIFF.

practices the free trade which the Cob
den club and her statesman of both
parties preach. Yes and no. The
tariff question has for long time been
eliminated from British politics. as a
party line. Conservatives and Liberals
agreeing in the support of the nation
al policy of levying taxes with refer
ence to the manufacturing and COM
mercial interests of the country. The
:" free trade which England practices
is based on the policy Of protection
more closely and singly than any tariff
act that passed the congress Of the
United States. Golden was as Jealous
for British interests as Blaine is for
American interests, their differences
as to methods aud means being wholly
due TO the differences in the conditions
and requirements of the situations.
The same doctrine Of protection to
home vineyards that makes Italy and
some other countries levy tariff so
high IA to cut of the importation of
American alcohol has always animated
the British free-traders. There Ia to-
dav "a surfeit of highwines in the
United States because the immense
European trade of few years ago
has 5een cut off by protective duties
levied by the governments of the
countries to which we exported large
quantities of our corn juice. At one
period the largest distillery ~ the
world was distilling Illinois corn for
the European market exclusively. The
tendency, taking Europe as whole,
is more and more to protect home
interests from American exports, not
in retaliation, bnt in accordance with
the supreme law of nature. the law of
MISREPRESENTATION That is their privi-
lcge. Ii is only when protection wears
the false guisc of sanitary regulation
that the American people have entered
any protest or had just cause of COM
plant. Every government must legis-'
late for its own people aud country,
Just as every man must mind his own
business aud promote his own interest.
But perhaps the inquiry was direct
ed toward details rather than princi-
pies. According to official figures the
revenue of the United Kingdom for
the fiscal year. ending March 81, 1888.
was eS9, O04 ,456, of which the sum of
e19 ,657 600 was raised by customs.
The largest source of revenue to the
British government is excise, EGG $780,
600: next comes property aud income
tax, Ell 900, 900; third, the stamp tax,
Ell, si1 200: fourth, postoffice, Ct $780,
600: fifth, land tax and house duty,
e., 500, 900; sixth, postal telegram. 81,
100000: seventh, crown lands, $780,
900: other miscellaneous receipts, E5,-
267 OIL. 1t will be observed that the
British government clings to the in
come tax, stamp duties, and direct
taxation Of land and houses, which the
United States either never levied at
all. or only as war measures, and that
the Postoflice department is made a
source of net revenue In this coun-
try the aim is 10 make it as near self
neither more nor less. as
possible.
Turning TO the English tariff, we
find that both tea and coffee are sub
iect to customs duty; they are on the
free list here. Beer is subject to n
heavy duty, and so is manufactured |
tobacco, soap, and numerous drugs. !
Wine and distilled spirits pay duty,
but not a heavy one. The wine of the
rich pays from 2s Cd to IS a gallon,
and the brandy, gin, and rum from los
ia per gallon, while the beer tariff is
one pound I'D per barrel. The tobac-
co tariff is from SIS Cd to IS Cd per |
pound Instead of discriminating in |
favor of the luxuries of the poor, the
British policy is to discriminate in
favor of the rich. 1t should be added |
that MI articles upon which taxes are
levied by the board of inland, or in
Iernal revenue, are charged with SIM
liar charges if imported from abroad.
The more closely one looks into the
revenue system of Great Britain, the
more firmly will he be convinced that
the national system of taxation which
now prevails in the United States is,
IN pre-eminent degree, based on the
principles of genuine ''revenue re-
form. "-lnter-Ocean.