The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-08-30
The Tariff
rom the New York Tribune.


want to know what the tariff is,
and what it does. This inquiry is
of the Tribune almost every
dav. Most Of the men employed
iu the projected industries know
ulI Wtii that they owe much to the
tariff IA larger demand for their
labor. better wages, and happier
homes. But some even of these
workingmcn do not see clearly how
the system operates. On the other
hand there are a great many work
ers who do not SET how the tariff
affects them at all. They are la
borers, portcrs or clerks in towns,
hands on railroads or in shops,
mechanics in the various trades,
and hands on farms, and they fail
TO realize that the system which
lifts the rate of wages for the men
in various branches of manufacture
makes the demand for all labor
greater, raises the rate paid for all
labor and so lifts their wages also.
For more thar a quarter OF a cen
fury this question has been thrust
aside in popular discussions. The
Republican party made the tariff
in 1861, only one Democrat voting
for it in the Senate, and fourteen
against it; and in the house only
two Douglas Democrats favored the
bill. while all the other Democrats,
forty in number, and only one Re
publican, voted against it. BY
similar votes many bills Of i'm
provement o. revision have been
passed, greatly strengthening and
broadening the protective system;
Republicans always supported
them, and Democrats always ep-
posed them almost unanimously.
At each revision, too, the Demo
cratic party has fought for amend
ments designed to destroy the etfic-
iency Of the system in some parti-
culars, and at times they have sue
ceeded, as they did when the wool
duty was cut down. Every time
the Democratic party has obtained
a majority in the house, ithas tried
to tear down the tariff. Under
the leadership of Mr.. Morrison, of
Illinois, it made a desperate effort
in 1876, but earnest Republican re-
sistence forced HIM to abandon his
bill Under the leadership Of Fer
nando Wood another effort was
made in 1873, but after prolonged
agitation had greatly Frustrated IN
dustry, the bill was finally killed on
motion of Gen. Garfield, 113 Dem
ocrats and only Z Republicans vot-
ing for the mischicvous bill to the
end, while 115 Republicans and
only 10 Democrats voted to kill it.
In 1882 the Democrats elected a
great number of members upon the
distinct pledges that they would
vote to cut down the tariff to a rev
enue basis. Last winter, when
congress assembled, there was a
bitter fight between the extremists,
who supported Mr.. Carlisle, and
men who desired more moderate
changes, led by Mr.. Randall
When Mr.. Carlisle was elected as a
tree-trader, and selected Mr.. Nor
rison, with his known record, as
leader of the house, an agitation
began which speedily Frustrated al.
branches of industry. Mr. Morri
son soon introduced a bill to cui
down duties ene-ffth. In effect,
if there was protection enough tC
secure wages OF 81 per day, Mr..
Morrison wished to cut it down s.,
that it should secure only so cent.
per day, or else close the t%actoric.
entirely. This bill, and the alarm
about it, produced such disordc.
that the great manufactures have
not yet recovered from its effects
1t was finally killed, May 6, bu
1872 Democrats and only 3 Repub
licans voted Tor the measure to Tn,
80