New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-19
FREE TRADERS CHOICE.
A CONSUMER OPPOSES CHANGE OF TARIFF
rcBuc DUTIES TO CAPITAL AND LABOR.

PcBIrc DUTIES TO CAPITAL AND LABOR.
70 fhs EdftOr OF The TrtbRRs.
SIR: Hitherto have endeavored TO show that.
unless we are ready for radical change If tariff,
general revision at this time would Ice most unwise.
Commenting thereon. you infer that might he dis
posed to favor the enactment of tarlh framed
upon radically different principles. If the people
were ready for IT, But AM not at all afraid Of the
conclusion to which my reasonings lead For one
ara not now in favor of u radical change, and be
lieve that tariff based upon essentially different
principles could no longer do more good than HARM
The same dose of medicine which might perhaps
have been very useful in earlier stages of the case
il would now he little short Of murder to give The
aims remain tine same. but the conditions nave
changed The very ends which once sought in
advocating unrestricted trade 50 far as they are
still attainahle or desirable, can now he attained
more quickly and eLeaply. in my belief, by MAIN
tanning the protective system still longer than by
any radical change of tariff.
Some years ago. friend opposed the erection of
the new State Capitol a. Albany. But millions
have now been spent in the structure. and he not
IN favor of tearing il down IN order to build over
again elsewhere. 1t does not brighten him TO be
called incon sistent The industrial Development OF
the country has cost large sum. My free-trade
friends who PROPOSE to tear It down. assert that II
has cost from 800. 900 600 to $500 OO0O 900 yearly
for twenty-three years. Their plans seemed good
TO me- before this industrial DEVELOPMENT had been
gained Even after it had gone for some time,
still leaned to the belief that it would be better 10
null down and build over. But there necessarily
comes time when that would be folly Seeing
how much has been done. believe that time has
come 1t is sheer senility TO keep mp the fight on
the old fashioned hnes-to persist IN treating the
tariff question as If the Nation had not grown at all
since the days of Robert J. Walker l cannot close
my eyes 70 the fact that the United States known
to Mr. Walker has gone forever and very different
Nation is here IN its stead.
An enormous amount Of capital is now invested
in the industries which for more than twenty years
the Government has steadily projected. 1t was
simply a crime 10 protect at all, unless Govern
ment meant TO do so long enough TO make il pay.
Hence the people feel that the Government has
virtually pledged It's faith that & policy shall be
maintained | think men have a right to reason
that a civilized and Christian government having
long maintained such a policy, viii not bring upon
individuals incalculable loss and suffering by
abandoning il without necessity. Protected fac
tories are called by one freetrade orator the Ma
tional poor-house3" His unworthy sneer reminds
me that would be indecent in the last degree Tor
town to establish and FIJI poorhGuse, and then 70
leave It's inmates to starve But the manufacturers
citizens. who have been induced by the Government
TO pat their own well-earned means into one form
of productive industry rather than another. Be
cause the Government held II for the public good TO
turn their enterprise into certain channels, they
have a right believe that il Will not needessly
ruin them and waste a large part Of the Nations
capital
The balance of industries which now exists is not
the result of individual preference II Is the work
OF the Government. Agriculture supplies food and
materials TO 200. 900 persons engaged IN manu-
features and mining. and has expanded III order 10
thus supply them. Make these people or a large
part of them, unable 10 buy from the farmers rs
they do now, and YOU ruin farmers in great number
The farmer cannot live without eaters TO consume
the food that he produces Had our laws been
different the balance Of occupations would have
been other than ii is. But cannot suddenly
change il now without tremendous industrial
revolution which would bring incalcUlable suffer-
lups TO individuals and losses 70 the country. II we
sweep away the laws under which the existing
adjustment has been made, what Is 70 become OF
the multitude who must either starve or get living
in new ways If they 60 10 the farms, because
land is free they crowd the ranks OF farm laborers
push down farm-wages to the lowest point increase
farm products. and make farming unprohtable
But what else can they dol Sooner or later in
dustry would adjust itself to new conditions, 1t is
true But that readjustment would involve in
calculablc suffering and losses OF which one oanrot
think without a shudder. For one l dare not vote
for an industrial earthquake.
2 For more than twenty years the Nation has M
Nited hther the labor OF other lands. Pledge, have
been given. by National and state governments, 10y
officials of each by political parties. and hy public
acts that the policy OF protection Tor labor should
be maintained. Since that policy adopted i'm
1861, more than 100000 persons have brought
10 this country their diversified industry. their
energy and property, and have adel ia building mp
new branches of manufacture and in open ~ new
mines and railroads. In strict truth the Govern
ment brought these people here: they had right %
believe thar the Union would maintain the policy
under which. they were assured. labor had been
especially favored
am not able 10 resist the conclusion that the
Government IS bound 10 maintain a system upon
which 80 many Of it's citizens have been induced -
stake their all. 1t has right 20 forget the labor
II has invited hther 1t has right destroy the
capital it has drawn into permanent investments.
The present adjustment Of industries has lasted
long and has brought many people TO depend
upon H. that il cannot now be radically changed
without dishonOr as well a. disaster. EDAx.
Nelc- York. May II. 1854.