Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-04-19
Differences on the ToriG

tion we take from the American
Register and ask you to give it |
careful perusal:
Three different phrases of the tar
iff are recognized in political circles
First, tariff, for projection, which
makes protection its object or lead
ing object and revenue to support tn,
Government a secondary or mer'
incidental thing. This IS the pres
ent tariff of the Republican party
And the feet that it makes prOtec
tion and not revenue its object is
shown in the circumstance that IL
collects between one and two hun
dred millions of dollars more than
is needed to pay the expenses of the
Government.
Second. A tariff for revenue, linn.
tied to the amount required to sup
port the Government economically
administered, and adjusted in its
details with view to equality IN
the public burdens, and with discrim.
ination as to the duties on imports
with view to aid and encourage
ment to home productive industry
and labor. This is the Democratic
tariff of Jefferson, Madison and
Jackson. Under this tariff the
country was prosperous and happy
for more than sixty years. Since
the Democratic party has been out
Of power new phase Of the tariff
has been set up by a class of per-
sons in the party, styling themselves
free traders, and that is comprehen-
ded in the third kind of tariff.
Third A tariff for revenue only.
This could not be free trade, for that
would require the support of the
Federal Government by direct tara
ton. Indeed, actual free trade
would go further. 1t would require
reciprocity treaties abolishing tariff
duties reciprocally in our country,
and also in the countries with which
we trade. Free trade, therefore, is
simply an impracticable thing, and
all the talk of politicians about free
trade is simply bosh and humbug.
Now, what is meant by a "tariff
for revenue only ?" This is phrase
much admired, indeed idolIzed by a
class of politicians, and it is we'll to
know certainly what it imports. 1t
of course, revenue tariff
of some kind, and the word ''o1lly"
is added as a limitation upon ii,
and with the admitted purpose of ex-
and precluding all discrimi-
mating duties looking to aid or en-
to home productive
industry and labor There is moth
ing in it requiring equality in the
public burdens to be observed. ReU-
e1atIe only is to be its sole object to the
of all protection or aid to
home production and labor. For IL
that aid could be made to result
from it then it would not be tariff
for revenue only therefore it would
have to be levied on tea and coffee,
and such other articles as are not
produced in this country. For il
levied on articles OF import which
in our own markets with
our domestic productions, then it
would not be a tariff for revenue
only, but would be in part, at least,
for protection, or aid TO home pro-
duction.
This burden has to be submitted
to and the money raised to support
the government and while doing
this if you can at the same time aid
and encourage home industry and
labor, why not do it? The advo-
Gates OF the tariff for only say, that
you must not aid a part unless you
can aid all, to benefit the manufact-
urers or producers in this country
while raising the revenue would be
aiding a part at the expense of all.
1t is true, the manufacturers or pro-
ducers have to pay their share of the
burden, but should not aid or bene-
fit a part, they say, unless you can
benefit or aid the whole. There
fore, they say, the tariff must be
levied on articles of import which
are not produced in this country,
for If you levy it on imported arti-
cles, which compete in our own
markets with home product. you
benefit a part at the expense OF the
whole. But as the burden has to be
borne by the whole anyhow is 1t
not better to benefit a part than
none at all, is it not better to aid
productive industry and labor,
where it can be done, than to aid
lobody No, say those for tariff
or revenue only; the object is to
the people to the burden
any incidental benefits, so
rs finally to induce the people TO
submit to direct taxation to support
he government. But look at the
operation. BY levying the tariff on
.ea and coffee, and other articles In
general use not produced In this
the burden entirely falls
DC the consumers, many OF them
being the poorer classes of the peo-
Die least able to bear it. But by
evying ii on fine broadcloths and
,ther articles which cOmpete with
)ur products in our own markets,
he revenue in part 81 least must
come off the profits of the foreign
and Importer.
But there are other advantages.
By aiding home productive indus
ry you are not only aiding the la
)or OF the country, but also aiding |
o make our people more or less to
,e independent of foreign cOun-
ries. And more than this, by aid
ng different branches of industry |
n this way, you bring skilled labor
rom foreign countries here, and
'xtend and cheaper home produc-
ion so as in some instances to act
lally drive foreign productions en-
irely out of our own markets. In
Iced, in this way the home produc-
ion of many of the fabrics in COM
non use has become SO extended
n this country as not only to drive
'ut of our markets the foreign
abrics entirely, but also by the
nlarged home production to great
y reduce the price below what they
we're before.
The ultimate object OF those who
re for tariff for revenue only is to |
ring the country finally to direct
which they call free trade,
nd to discard entirely that system
# incidental ali and encourage
nent to home productive industry
nd labor, which has so wonderful
Y built up and enlarged the pros
'erity and greatness of this eoun-
ry. And the burden of carrying |
his purblind policy is attempted to
,e saddled on the Democratic par
v. The manifest effect OF this Is 10