Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-10-30

ings Of Republican press and speakers,
should feel it was their ''dutyn to impose
charges upon exports to their countries
equal to the reductions made in the cost
Of carrying from Chicago to New York
IN 1868 by our water routes and railways
There are evidences that they mean to
4 put charges on these articles, and Re
| publican speeches are highly approved
by British and continental journals
France and other European countries
4 OF carrying the same by lake and canal
was fraction more than nine cents; by
lake and railroad, twelve cents; by rail.
road, sixteen cents. The effect of this
! reduction of taxes upon carrying as shown
upon the reports of the general govern
\ ment of Hon. Joseph Nimmo, Jr, was
that while from 1866 to 1875 the balance
of trade against us was more than $500,
have already prohibited the importation
of some Of our provisions and they con
template further action in the same di-
rection. It is urged with truth that if
we give prosperity to our manufacturers
all other Industries would be benefited,
but it is also true if we harm our farming
carrying and commercial pursuits we
bring great disasters upon our manufac.
turers. Our agricultural interests are
the most important of all, not only on
account of the great value of farm pro
ducts, but from the fact that more of
our citizens are engaged in it than in any
other pursuit.
There is no Free Trade party in our
country, nor one opposed to raising the
largest share of our national revenue by
taxes upon imports The amount raised
in this way in 1854 was over $195. 600. :
600. Nearly all of this vast sum, which
has been paid by our people who
use imported articles, has benefited our
manufacturers. Since 1870 the amount
raised by taxes on imports has been more
than two thousand seven hundred mil
lions of dollarsl No party objects to
this method of raising a revenue. AS
this is customary mode of raising reve-
nue. among all nations, it can give no Of
Tense nor excite retaliation, as it does
not put taxes upon those that use for.
eign productions solely for the purpose
of excluding such productions from our
country. The discussion between parties
has been how the amount to be raised by
taxes on imports shall be apportioned.
There is no Free Trade party in our
country. There will be none if our high
tariff men do not call it into existence
by extreme measures. There is a general
complaint Of the burdens Of taxation:
they add to the cost of production and
thus cut down the amount of our ex-
ports and turn the balance of trade against
US, and thus harm all industries. 1t is
our duty, then, at this election to con
slider and discuss the interests Of all our
industries, and to legislate not to build
benefit all. Those engaged upon our
canals, rivers, lakes and railroads in
transporting the varied products of our
land, are large class engaged in labo-
rious pursuits, which demand mental and
physical vigor. Any diminution of
exports would bring great loss to them.
The falling off in the value of our
railroads and other facilities has been
caused by the fact that for part Of the
year the balance of trade has been turned
against us. This was due in part to the
heavy taxation which has added to the
cost of production. 1t is evident that
every charge on our productions affects
our exports in the same way that the
cost of carrying does. This is shown in
a striking way in the statement with re-
gard to the lowering Of charges on the
Erie canal.
WHY TAXES SHOULD BE REDUCED.
Taxes imposed by our government
should be reduced for other reasons.
They are not only hurtful TO our farmers,
mechanics and laboring men, but also to
our manufacturers, for no pursuit can be
prosperous when all others are depressed.
The erroneous idea that Europe is de-
pending upon us for food is leading us
into many mistakes and into serious diff
6culties. Our great exports to that con-
tinent during the past eight years were
caused partly by the failure Of their
crops and partly by the fact that we cut
down the cost Of carrying to their ports.
We cannot sell our grain and provisions
20 other countries unless we can do so at
lower prices than they have to pay else
where. This year we are advised that
heir L--sS--aaccttzs---are snuntiaat. We are
told that the dealers in grain in the West
Selying upon the necessities Of European
countries recently engaged in wild spec
llations in provisions and breadstuffs
In the meantime our foreign customers
provided for their wants elsewhere. The
fact made many bankruptcies aud other
disasters; it was one Of the causes Of
business troubles In our country. It
harmed the carrying trade and broke
down the value Of railroad and other in
vestments.
The outlook for our farming Interests
g not favorable. In addition to the fact
that this season the European harvests
are abundant, we have evidence that the
eading governments Of that continent
ire taking measures by founding colonies
md other means to get foreign products
n exchange for their manufactures.
Great Britain, by building railways and
sending improved tools to India, has
'aised its product Of wheat 50 that it now
exports more than IS, 900, 900 bushels.
This amount viii rapidly increase as the
cost Of labor is only about two shi1lings
per day.
In addition to this, France, Germany
md other powers now shut out some Of
sur provisions, and we have reason to
hink that this policy is to be extended
% our brcadstutfs. There are great
egions in South America fitted for gain
yrowing, and as to prov sions. we kno W
hat cattle are killed there only for their
0ides. Commerce between that country
md Europe can easily and rapidly de-
Telop the resources of the South Ameri-
.an continent, as Europe now controls
;he ocean trade. We cannot maintain
our shipping merely bE an export trade;
we must have return cargoes.
THE OUTLOOK.
The outlook for oar grain and cattle
-aisers is not favorable unless BY wise
policy we can avert the dangers which
threaten them. Light taxes as tariff
would drive them from European ports.
Dur farmers engaged in the dairy bust