The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-03
Fsssssa aaa Aneriean Methods sf Raisi.,
Revenue.

Fevsssa aaa Americas MetAods sf Raisias
Revenue.
A book of peculiar usefulness ct this time,
whsa great political controversy 10 likely to
be fought out on economical lines. 10 the vol
ume entitled Government Rsrenue. BY ELLIS Il.
ROBERTS tHoughton. Niflin 4 CO... 1t is tho
authors avowed aim to present an argument
for the protective system as contradistin-
guished from free trado. but In the course OF
his discussion he has collected and digested
mass Of relevant facts and statistics that will
be found OF value even to those who arc disin-
clined to accept all OF his conclusions. The
reader interested In tariff questions will 500
here compacted In nutshell materials for
which he would have boon otherwise forced to
examine 0 multitude OF Government publica-
lions or treatises sxpounding tho fiscal pro-
cesses adopted in the various European States
We can best illustrate the nature OF tho service
rendered BY this essay II wo point the reader to
some chapters In which the ways OF raising
revenue followed in foreign countries are con-
trasted with American methods and results.
Golden predicted that Great Britain would
by her example speedily convert the world to
free trade. The prophecy was uttered forty
years ago. yet q candid review OF the facts
must convince us that whatever be the abstract
merits OF the principle he advocated. Il Is rs
| far from universal adoption now as II WAS then.
Every European State. with the exception OF
| Great Britain and the Netherlnnds. IL firm
adherent OF protection. and the !oaniugs
| toward free trade which wero 1t one time re-
| marked In certain quarters are no longer dis
| oernible. Thus the partial abandonment OF
| the Colbert system OF protection. in the reign
| OF NAPOLEON Ill. found no favor In the eyes Of
| NJ. Theirs when he was called upon to rehnbll-
| tate the national finances. aud the statesmen
| Of tito republic have persstently refused TO re-
| new the reciprocity treaty with Groat Britain.
| In the German empire. and especially
| within the last few yenrB. tho doctrines
| OF free trade. which for n whi!e excrtcd great
influence upon the tlscal policy OF tho Govern
munt have become 10 generally discredited
| that Prince Bismarck hid no difficulty in per-
suaiing the Reichsi,s TO revert to Tie tratl'-
tional principle OF protecting home industries
from foreign competition. Since the recon-
| struction of the Austro- II hungarian monarchy.
a protective policy has been enforced with
| rigor In both the C.s-Lnihan Rnd Trans
Lothian Kingdoms. tho Austriuns In purticuia
| having. ~ lately rs 1892. increased their Gus
| toms duties for the EXPRESS purposes OF cncOur-
| aging native industry. The truth Is that both
| In Austro- Hungary ard in France the customs
are imposed almost exclusively for protection.
| the amount OF revenue derived from this source
being. In the former ease. less than seven per
C6uL.. unO IN tuS NtlteF cuSb Only u lLLtlS
| than ton per cent. OF the whole Government
| income. The same thing may be said OF
Italy. where customs furnish only about eleven
| par cent. OF the whole revenue. but where they
are arranged with special reference the FOSTER
| ing OF native manufactures. Russia has never
waversd in her adherence to protective sys-
tenn and In 1882 added ton per cant. to her Gus
toms duties. They now represent nearly. hf-
torn per cent. Of the fiscal resources Of the
| State. Switzerland draws nearly thirty-eight
| per cent. OF the public revenue from its Custom
Houses. which are systematically devoted to
tho furtherance OF home production. This Der
| centags OF the whole revenue derived from
custom dues in Denmark Is forty-eIsht per
| cent. In Norway. forty-two and half per cont.
| and In Sweden more than thirty three per cent.
| the object OF protection being never lost sight
| OF In the adjustment az the tariff. In Spain.
| although the duties levied on imports consti-
tute less than fifteen per cent. OF the whole in
come. they ars Asowedly imposed for the pur-
pose Of fostering the development Of industry
| at home. This II equally true OF Portugal
where moro than thirty-four por cent Of the
national revenue Ii obtained from customs.
While such Is the state OF things In Europe. 1t
can surprise nobody to ind that protective
policy 10 neslously enforced In Egypt. China.
sad Japan. In Mexico. Brazil. and the Argen-
| tine Confederation. The last-named countries
gain from customs o very large proportion OF
their incomes. the respective contributions from
that source being forty -nino. sixty-ssven. and
| ssventy-fve per cent. Nowhere. however. 10 the
failure Of free trade doctrines to make converts
| so striking as In the British colonies. Canada
now draws sixty-two per cent Of her income
| from the Custom House. and since 1880 she has
made no secret OF her purpose to protect colo
NAL industrles by duties upon British manu-
In Ia nj tfrfv ~
| its income is derived from imported food.
| The colony Of Victoria 10 . sturdy champion
| Of protection. and Qussasland. South Austria
| lis, West Australia and New Zealand ali