The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-10-09
IN. Y. Inde3endcnt.]
The Tariff Question.

to raise the means, either in whole or
in part, Of supporting the Govern
ment. Unless they are absolute free
traders, and opposed to all tariff duties,
they find no fault with what they
cali revenue tariff, while they pro-
test loudly against one that IS protec-
tive. This feature is sure to call
forth their objection.
Now, it is we'll to remember, as a
first answer to this objection, that a
protective tariff is always revenue
tariff. The raising Of a revenue Is
one Of its fixed purposes and inVaria-
BILE results. If duty be imposed on
foreign iron, one object is to raise a
revenue, and every dollar collected Is
so much revenue paid to the Govern
ment. Suppose it to be true that one
effect of the duty on iron Is to pro-
tect the home production of 1ron
against the cheaper production OF the
same article in other countries, and
that, in this aspect of the case, the
duty is protectlve; and it will not be
the less true that the same duty has
all the qualities of revenue tariff. 1t
Yields a revenue, and in this way helps
to supply the means of defraying the
expenses of the Government. The
fact that it is protective in respect to
| the home manufacture OF iron does
not, in the slightest degree, impair It's
revenue character. Iu the case as
supposed it serves both purposes, and
neither in any way to Interfere with
the other. Its two characters are not
antagonistical, but coincident and har-
monious.
Let it be remembered, In the next
place, and the direct and immediate
effect of every tariff duty, whether
| levied for revenue or protection, IS to
increase the cost in this market of the
imported article or articles upon
which it is levied. This is inevitable.
If, for example, a duty of ten esGts
be levied upon every pound Of I'M
ported tea. then this will be added by
the importer to the price of tea, and
must be ultimately paid by the con-
sumer. The tea costs the importer
ten cents per pound more than it
would if it were free of duty, and
this he must add to its selling price.
It is impossible to avoid this direct
consequence. immaterial upon what
theory the duty is levied. Those W nc
denounce what they call protective
tariff because it increases the price
which must be paid by the consumer
urge an objection which, if good at
ali, is equally applicable to revenue
tariff. It is impossible to have any
tariff without this for a direct result
The only way to avoid the result Is tc
abandon the whole tariff system. tC
open our ports free to all the com
meree of the world, and adopt direct
taxation as the exclusive method OF
raising a revenue for the support OF
Government.
Bearing in mind these two observa,
tions, we come then to practlcal
question, which C be wisely an
swered only by a broad survey Of
facts. A given amount Of revenue
being necessary, how shall tariff de-
signed to furnish it be imposed, upor
what articles. and at what rate OF
rates of duty Shall it be imposed
upon all articles Of foreign merchan.
disc, and at the same rate, in proper.
ton to value or weight; or shall there
be discrimination made in selecting
the articles and fixing the rate; and
if so, according to what rule or rules
The articles upon which tariff duties
may be levied are Of two genera
classes-frst, those which are produc
ible in this country, and, secondly
those which are non-produeible. Shal
there be no discrimination made be-
tween them? Take, as an example o.
the non-producible class, the article
Of tea. We cannot supply it, with o.
without tariff, and must, hence, i'm
port it. Every dollar levied upor
this article. simply enhances its price
to the consumer, without furnishing
the least facility or motive to under
take the home production Of tea. i
would, therefore, seem to be plalr
dictate of common sense that the
Government should either place. tes
on the free list, or make the duty or
tea as light as possible in consistency
with its fiscal necessities. The article
is one of general consumption, ano
the cheaper it can be made to the
people the better for all interests.
Take, as an example Of the product.
bic class, the article Of iron. We have
the ore in this country, and the Goa
to smelt it, and there is an immense
demand for iron; but the difficulty
we encounter in its home production
lies in the fact that foreign iron, un-
less it pays duty, can be produced
and brought to this market, and sold
at so cheap rate as to exclude the
production of domestic iron. Now,
shall the Government, in levying its
tariff for revenue, pay no attention to
this fact? Shall it put iron on the
free list, and thus, by the laws of
trade, stop it's production in this coun-
try? Or shall it make foreign iron
pay rate of duty that, while yield
ing a revenue, will also encourage the
production Of domestic iron, and fos-
ter all the industries connected there
with.
Here is the whole question Of pro-
lection in the compass Of a nutshell.
It being true that Government resorts
to tariff duties for the purposes Of
revenue; also that the direct effect of
all such duties is to enhance the price
paid by the consumer; and further
true that the articles upon which these
duties are levied arrange themselves
into the two classes above-named; !;
then, in distributing the duties among
these articles so as to raise the nee
essary sum, the Government will act
wisely in seeking to make its tariff
tributary to the encouragement of its
own domestic industries. In so doing
it has a revenue tariff in the amount
collected, and protective tariff in
respect to those articles Of home pro-
d IL ction which Mithnnt II could not