Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-31
Conclusion of MIR. Turner'S Tariff Discus
sion.

Conclusion of MIR. Turner's Tariff Discus
sion.
Editor Register.
The policy of protection has been Sutti-
ciently shown to he both unconstitutional
and unjust and also an economic fallacv.
The country must get back to a constitu-
tiOnal tariff. To do this require years, on
account of the fact that a large proportion
ofour manufacturing industries have been
adjusted to the abnormal conditions caused
Nv the protective LOlicv. No man who IA
vOrs a revenue tariff desires to destroy or
cripple or emharraSS the business of the
country But the country must get rid OF
these abnormal conditions consequent upon
the protective policy and beginning must
be made Some industries will perhaps
suffer and perhaps be discontinued. But
this will only show that they never ought to
have been started until the natural cOndi-
tons of trade should Justify them. The tar
i'll must be reduced to the strictly revenue
standard bv gradually reducing the rate of
duty through Il series Of years, 80 that the
business of the country NAV adjust itself to
; he changed conditions consequent upon a
change of the basis of prices. Such an al
sim Mt has taken place in the last ten
years. In 1873 the great panic precipitated
a sudden and violent change in prices, and
al business had to be rcadiuSted to these
condition. In ISL second change in
prices began, and the bust
LeSS Of the country has been
again for three years adjusting itself to the
wer standard The effects Of reduction
Of the tariff would hc similar. 50 far a.
uices arc concerned. with this advantage,
however, that the change would be antici-
lated and business could with more Ger
tain!v etfect the adjustment There is
room for all the protection thar any indus
try need in the reimbursement Of the tariff
for ten wears to come. The revenues must
ccntiuac to he large and will ncceS>itatc n
comparatively high rate OF taxation until
tie debt j. paid and the pension list is re
ducri But il should hr kept steadily in
view in such a reduction. that the labOring
classes are To- he relieved of the burdens
of the tariff aS far ~ possible and the tax
should DC the highest on articles of luxury.
As an example 90 the first take sugar. A.
present. onC-iOur,h. at least of all tariff
taxes arr produced from sugar an article
used hv every man. woman and child in the
country This i against Not more than
one-halt Of this amount >hould be raised
from sugar thu, cheapcring the necessity
t tie iaburiug CLASSES The southern
painter deserve ro protection greater than
this The production Of sugar in this coun-
uy has decreased ia the last twenty wears
Notwithstanding the high tariff, amounting
to 80 10 80 per cent Rice should be cheap
cned al least ouc-half the tax being now at
least 100 per cent. Silks should he kept
at a high rate Those who are able To
buy silks are abe TO pay high tax,
DAN ondS, instead of paving 10 per cent,
should be taxed - to 30 per cent The
smuggling Of diamonds is urged as reason
Tor the low tax, but if the custom officers
cannot prevent smuggling the tax should be
abolished The lah0ring man 5 WOODEN and
cotton clothes. blankets, carpets. glassware
and crockery should nc chcapcncd, and let
the tax he kept NJ on fine clothes. fine
blankets fine carpets, chinaware. cut glass
and plate glass which ar u>"l only Nv the
rich
conceive the tariff Sh"lld he readiuStci in
the interest Of the MASSES of the people who
are dependent upon their daily toll for a
subsistence When. hv careful review of
the tariff upon the revenue principle and
adjusting il SO a. 10 prevent unequal bar.
dens upon the tailoring classes, the laboring
man i enabled to live cheaper, he can afford
To work a; a lower rate of wages. and thu,
the manufacturer will be tn lbled to rroduc"
his goods at a',eSS cos, and b. able to meet
the competition of Europe not only a. home
hut wherever the genius and en,rgv of the
American sailor snail take the American
flag Which the protective tariff has driven
from the seas. The agricultural classes
will 90 to their daily work feeling that they
will not be obliged to spend all his crop 10
support himself and family bu; will ~
able to lay up something for
rainy dav. The .a-mcrS home
market will become more Of
reality because labor VIII De more constant
Is employed in the manufacturers whose
products can then be sent 20 the markets oG
the world instead OF being shut up as at
present to restricted nome market
To this complexion must it come at last
The signs Of the times are uumi>lakable
The DAYS OF the protective tariff are en- led.
Politicians may shut their ewes and think
there = no popular feeling on this su5icc..
But those who in their daily intcrcoar-c
With their ncighhor> aud at the fre>ideS o,
the people talk over hi, question. knoS
better. They know that the people are tax
Ing hold on this question and beginning 10
see the true working, Of the protective poll
CIV They will not wait long after they are
once aroused. The tariF will be revised in
the interest of the people and no; in tn IN
tereSt Of the monOpo!i>tS. 1t the Demo.
cratic leaders are wise in their generation
they viii not close their ears 10 the demand
for reieE. II they do the men who thus de-
clare in faver Of monopoly and their oau
personal interests will find their political
graves. 4 revelation such As has 40. 1,-a
seen IN this Covu,ry since I,60 will sweep
them aud their selfish schemes OF pluaier
into the oblivion they deserve. Let them
the madness OF the slave holders
and take warning. Icrb'w S0pienfbus
SrtFct Yours truly.
T. g. TURNsR.
HARRISON CnrNrY. Nav -
Jackson Buglc: The GrernbacL STATE
Convention convened q, Bachhsnrou Nav
2lst, A prolonged caucus was held the
night previous, in which the subject Of f,Is-
-, ,-;tL ~, po,,,,l To-, o, ,,o..,- - A..