The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-16

and the declarations of the parties in our
country attract the attention of the world.
for they relate to subjects which effect their
interests.
The speakers and the press of the re-
publican party are causing great injury
and danger to our agricultural and other
interests, by declaring that it is the duty
of every good government to impose such
taxes on imports as will exclude the pro-
ducts of other lands.
Now there is but one of our pursuits
that needs such protection.
Our farmers, our mechanics with
few eXceptiOns), our commerce, our car
rying interest ask for 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 national republican cOnvens
ton artfully put forth the same doctrine;
but their press and speakers claim that
the term Protection" means that taxes
may be imposed for the sole purpose of
| aiding certain pursuits, and they do this
IN terms which practically make war up
on our agricultural and other interests
They say it is a duty of our government
to fence out the importations of foreign
products, which conflict with our own. If
this broad proposition is true, then the
governments of Europe are reproached,
because they do not impose duties upon
our agricultural products, which are sent
to their shores in such great quantities. A
light duty upon our grain, provisions and
dairy products would be destructive to
the prosperity of all parts of our union
and all industrial pursuits. The immense
sums of money we get for our farm pro-
ducts are diffused over our whole land
and make general prosperity. In every
season we know how anxiously business
men ask about our farm products, and
they base their plans for their pursuits
upon the answer they get None are
more benefited by favorable seasons than
our manufacturers, and none are more
liable to be injured by the speeches and
articles put forth by the republican press
and speakers; for if duties are put upon
our products in European markets, the
disasters to all our industries will be
charged upon those who claim to be the
| peculiar friends of the manufacturers.
and who are supposed to speak for them
and to express their wishes. 1t would be
an easy thing for the governments of
Europe to retaliate upon us. 1t would
need but light duties to shut our products
from their ports.
We have a striking proof of this in the
effect of our taxes upon our carrying
trade. In 1868 the tolls rs taxes upon
100 lbs, Of wheat carried from Buffalo TO
New York on our Canals were 10 cents.
In 1870 efforts were made by men of all
parties to induce them; these reductions
did not show their influence until 1876
In the ten years prior to that time the
balance of trade against our country was
SS17 ,429, GA.
This state continued its policy of reduc
ing canal taxes and at length abolished
all tolls upon commerce on its canlaS,
by a constitutional amendment passed
by a great majority of the votes Of its
, citizens. The reduction of taxes upon
canal commerce led ali other routes tC
reduce their charges with the following
results:
Il In 1868 it cost to carry a bushel OF
wheat from Chicago to New York, by
lake and canels, 20 cents; by lake ano
railroad, 30 cents, by all rail, 40 cents
Last year the cost of carrying the SAME
by lake and canal was fraction more
than cents; by lake and railroad, Il
cents; by railroad, 16 cents. The effect
of this reduction of taxes upon carrying
is shown upon the reports of the genera
government of Hon. Joseph Nimo, Jr.
was that while from 1866 to 1875 the
balance of trade against US was more
than eight hundred million dollars, when
those charges in carrying grain were re,
duced as above stated the balance OF
trade in our favor in eight years wa;
more than one thousand and three hun
dred million dollars. This shows whaI
the effect would be if foreign governments
following the teachings of republican
press and speakers, should feel it was
their duty" to impose charges upor
exports to their countries equal to the
: reductions made in the cost of carrying
! from Chicago to New York in 1868 by
our water routes and railways. There
are evidence that they mean to put charg
es on these articles, and republican
speeches are highly approved by British
: and Continental journals France ant
European countries have already prohib-
tied the importation of some of our pro
o visions, and they contemplate furthe
= action in the same direction 1t is urgct
with truth that if We give prosperity tt
, our manufacturers all other industrie
: would be benefited, but it is also true i
+ we harm our farming, carrying and com
mercial pursuits we bring great disaster
. upon our manufacturers. Our agricul
tural interests are the most important 0
E all, not only on account of the great val
o ne Of farm products, but from the fac
. that more of our citizens are engaged il
it than in any other pursuit
- There is no free trade party in GU
\ country nor one opposed to raising til
. largest share of our national revenue b
taxes upon imports.
, Nearly all of this vast sum, which la
been paid by our people who use import
+ ed articles, has benefited our manufact
urers. Since 1870 the amount raised b
. taxes on imports has been more than tw
' thousand seven hundred millions of dol
o lars. No party objects to this method @
y raising revenue.
o As this is customary mode of raisin
n revenue among all nations, it can give At
! offense nor excite retaliation, as it does nc
put taxes upon those that use foreign pro
q auctions solely for the purpose of exclud
ing such productions from our country
q The discussion between parties has bee
i how the amount to be raised by taxes o
9 imports shall be apportloned.
y There will be no Free Trade party i
q our country. There will be none if hig
a tariff men do not call it into existence b
!, extreme measures.
h There is general complaint of tn
: burdens of taxation; they add to the cos
of production and thus cut down tn
9 amount of our exports and turn the bal
4 ance of trade against US, and thus harr
= all industries.
? 1t is our duty, then. at this election t
10 | consider and discuss the interpSte of 81