The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-01-09
THK TARIFF QUESTION.

LUIS NltAtA ldll lleEussllla
became the order Of the day and the papers
have been full of it ever since. School bows
Oh cars and ferry boats discuss it more ably
than some democratic and republican States
men " did in the Garfield and Hancock Presi-
dental campaign three years ago.
What has been the result of this educational
force which the republicans put in notion 1t
is this. The people had gone on since the war
under war tariff-one established because Of
the war and 10 raise the extraordinary reve-
nue. necessary at that time without questioning
If, because of lack Of reason. The first COM
mercial depression was that Of 1879. No
sooner had they begun TO search deeply into
tariff causes for that collapse, than the revival
of 1882 followed and obscured the cause
for diagnosis Of the commercial sub-structure.
But in the midst Of this latter period the re-
pulicans threw flaming brand Of tariff discus
sion into the timber Of an agiiated, acute public
mind. II set FIRE 10 the whole drift of encuiry
thus started The outcome of this was TO
burn of the tinsel and frippery of soplistry
about protection being the only true revenue
system conserving domestic trade interests,
and the co-called common people began 10
ask themselves If something were not wrong.
This disturbance reflected itself in Congress
and the appointment of the Tariff Commission
Of last session resulted. They were named
TO "reyise" the tarif-presumably 10 cut
down the average rate Of duty on imported
articles, from 10 to 20 or 81 per cent. They
did nothing Of the kind, and on the contrary
succeeded IN leaving US with 4 30 per cent
average raIe of duty, than which a worse mix
ture can hardly he conceived 1t may not be
necessary to add that almost every man on the
Commission was identified solely with the high
Fro.,
THE RESULT.
One quarter Of fiscal year since the new
tariff went into force has shown US that it
gives no reduction Of revenue, that il had dis
iurbed some industries, and is in fact a CON-
plete fraud, costing good deal Of money (ride
Commissioner Expenses) and performing
none OF the things it was expected to. Con-
gresham Carlisle was prominent in the XLYII
Congress for his able advocacy OF lower range
of duties, and the necessity for the same. In
this way he became the leader Of the revenue
tariff men fer Speaker. The Rsndallites were
mainly Of the school who were afraid to make
the issue, although some Of protectionist syn
tliies voted for him for that reason Those
who have had faint chimerical notion that
q the tariff issue" might be kept out Of the
campaigH-sre now probably convalescent, 50
far as that idea is concerned. The issue has
beer made, Carlisle is Speaker. He is sggEes-
sive in favor Of lower tariff, free raw maize
Tials and the like. The democrats control the
House where revenue bills must originate aud
will be locked to, TO he consistent on this point
Bills bearing on the tariff have already been
introduced. The next Presidential campaign
will be fought on tariff iines-let no one be
foolish enough to doubt this.
TREATY Talk.
The Presidents message touched on The
late Hawaiian sugar castigation Bis remarks
were remarkably well turned to catch both
friends and foes OF the treaty without seriously
disturbing the situation. l am assured from
those who are in position 10 know, what
ever the outcome Of Legislation concerning our
treaty may he, the outlook at the present
moment does not point to its being disturbed
Its friends in Washington and elsewhere have
Dot been idle. No allegation which has been
made against It's integrity or desirabiliiy to
both nations, whether oPen or guarded, has
been allowed TO pass by. Attacks have been
prepared for-as it appears to me-far in ex-
cess Of any real need therefor. Meanwhile
our Louisiana friends have got row TO hoe.
The proposition TO take of the duty on the
importAtions Of our foreign sugars, which
think wrote you of last month, is exciting
considerable discussion and finding MANY
friends in unexpected quarters You will ne
call that it started from the Office Of a pro-
ieciionist newspaper at Philadelphiz. In as
much as tea and coffee are on the free list
Why not sugar-is not it as much an article Of
food and necessity Naturally enough the
answer is that we have home sugar industry
but do not raise tea and coffee, and should
therefor protect our own sugar raisers and
enable them to supply US at profit to them
selves. where without a tariff they could only
make the sugar at loss. There are thou
sands in this country lyes, millions Of people,
who would prefer to have the Louisiana