Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-17
Tariff and Charcoal Iron.

tariff reform. The Republicans pre-.
dict that great discord will prevail be-
tween the Democrats in considering
the question, but such an impression
is not warranted from anything that
has yet transpired. Differences Of
opinion will, and doubtless do exist, as
to the expediency of considering the
subject in the present congress, but all
agree upon one point, and tina! Is that
tariff reform or tariff amendment is
absolutely necessary TO equaIize the
duties and render them more accepta'
bic to the great mass Of the people.
The cry of free trade raised is all
bosh. With here and there an i'm
practicable idiot in both parties, no
person favors this dogma. This same
may be said of protection for the sake
Of protection only, rs insisted upon by
other idiots, and both may be placed
upon an equality to be avoided. \
decent revenue tariff, under the i'm
mense duties now collected from i'm
ports properly and fairly adjusted,
will give all the protection necessary
to foster the industries Of the country
that needs it, and beyond this il op.
preston. The present tariff is un.
doubtedly unequal and works badly
not only in rendering the tariff laws a
subject of constant agitation and dis
satisfaction, but unnecessarily ignores
one class while it pampcrs another of
nogreaier merit. For instance, the most
expensive manufacture ofiron and the
very best produced in the state, is the
one which receives the least fostering
consideration Of the tariff laws. We
mean the charcoal iron, incomparably
the superior article, and in direct
competition with the cheap labor of
the old world. and the most expensive
of all to manufacture. And why
For the reason only that the manufsc.
ture Of the inferior irons and The steel
made by cheap processes. are in the
hands of the large monopolists who
have had the power TO obtain the
preference in the law, while The real
meritorious class of manufacture are
ignored. If the manufacturers Of iron
Is to be protected by fair adjustment
of the revenue laws, as we all admit
Il should be, there is no justice in over.
looking the expensive charcoal manu-.
fac;ure to lavish protection TO the
cheap processes, which really does not
need it to any serious extent When
this question comes up We trust some
of our competent statesmen will take
the pains to inform themselves of the
facts as to The merits q the one and
the dement's ofthe ether. We believe
that the leading members OF congress
who are deeply impressed Of the me-
cessity Of reduction of the tariff are
reasonable men, and arc moved by
patriotic motives, but when they
handle this important subject, let them
look at it in all its bearings as an act
of justice and equality, and not merely
to foster the Interests Of those who
can afford TO appropriate their tens Of
thousands TO election campaigns, by
the cheapness of their manufactures
and the liberality of the laws which
are spPposed 10 protect weaker but
more valuable interests in the same
proportion.
Congressman Mutchler, Of Penn.
sylvania, in an interview with Wash.
ingtor paper the other day, perhaps
indicated the views of the Pennsyl.
vania Democrats in congress when he
said
awhile it Is not Of course impossi.
bic that a tariff measure may be
brought in by the Committee Of Ways
and Means that some of US cannot
support, we shall cast our votes as in.
dividual Representatives, acting within
the party, not In any sense as allies Of
the Republican minority. To give
you an idea Of how | stand on this
question, may cay that In conversa.
lion recently with the chairman Of
Ways and Means, told him that !
supposed we might naturally expect
10 get some kind Of bill from his
committee this session, and that / had
this ts cay In regard to it. Lot Il be