New-York tribune., 1884-02-29
1LrERYATIrES OF PROTECTION.
COMPARISON OF THE AMERICAN WITH oTHE
s,-srE:aIs OLE RAIsLNG REXENUE.

COMPARISON OF THE AMERICAN WITH OTHER
SYSTEMS OF RAISING REVENUE.
TruAcA. Feb. 2S.-In his ninth lecture here
tonight Ellis r. Roberts considered the reduction OF po-
utcal economy and particularly the branch OF u reat-
ing TO revenue to applied science Ater, he sal'
Professor Sumner, Of Yale College, had presented DIS
elaborate paper before the Tariff Commission lso2asK
ING for the repeal of the tariff laws, one OF the conms
oners asked him what system he would advise us to
odopt He replied that the business Congressman
and satesmen to provide for the country not OF
professors The truth Is every system VIII give some
friction. Critics of revenue system VINO can
propose no remedy confess that tnese Is
exist unavodably. When they cannot tell what Is
the Lesson Of human experience, and what conclusions
pateut study OF that experience will give prudent CIT
,zcns nus turn elsewhere Tho real problem IA, II not
nv protective duties how shall government DO sup
ported The British system casts the whole burden upon
production, seeking to relieve foreign trade absolutely
The American system tries TO levy from commerce tne
imnost. which, distributed in part upon the foreign
producer I'm part on uxuries brought to our people, and
I'm less on necessaries OF life render the charges
upon production light as possible Our transatlantic
cousins are not yet crushed by the burden because
they Just now have the ocean carrying trade
but protests are frequent from the advocates
of fair trade and from the school Of financial REFORM
Tho Duke OF Portland and the Earl OF Salisbury represent
the cause i'm the House OF Lords. At the last annual
meeting of the Cobde3 Club where several secessons
were also reported the chairman declared that III Is use
ess 70 disguise the fact that protection Is not dead Ia
England" It was at this meeting that formal motion
was made TO abolish all and excise The speakers
boforo the RroOyn Revenue Reform Club at its annual
meeting say they do not want any tarfa all This Is
coming 10 be the clear question: whether the revenue
shall be collected from mportat0ns or from lhe hoeS'
tb lahor and food OF the land Under the British system
taxes ON tobacco tea coffee and spirits are Collected al
most per capita and fall with undue weight upon the
Tho ngt NJ
While that system IS very nearly poll tax, the Amer
loan system operates to collect the revenue
unon those who consume most and the greatest variety
of articles tariff has been made to arucies
and the revenue has been collected without grievance in
any ouarter 80 that the distribution has been such as 10
reach those who have spent the most money.
"A TO rates IT is manifesty fair that duty should be
,d on articles like spirits and tobacco from which
collect nm internal revenue Generally customs duties
under the protective system should be placed at the
standard which, while guarding the treasury from un-
healthy surplus and preventing American producers trom
oharng excessive for their wares will prevent for
egn commodities from destroying industries. in any
branch Every duty should be moderate in order that 1t
shall he permanent Tho destruction OF any one OF our
Industries would turn loose upon otner aaes an Ol
meu competing for employment ana unseVuhS DuSihesS
The three principal schools Of political economy have
been styled according to Their ihe9e5, % tne % %
cultural school grasped half truth. IL Is true, though,
a feather weight slOulu DC la on AZ
Which can be kept from It, Next TO food production;
which ought To left free, though IL Is Dufdened III I'll
lands comes the general production whch has cIealou
civilization Then commerce. tne minister Oh eh-
change whish Is natural collector OF lWPosIs. ,.,
Every system must bear upon production WIN eltuer
friendy or hostile hand. The phrase mcluenlal prolec
ZION is as has been shown by Calhoun msIeans nuCn
matter should not for incident OF heeuent. Or @
dnctOn should be deliberate anu .ia sbIonid no
Is' re 1a ai,n at protection, our duties snOuu pe
iaroa enough to be adequate 10 lhdI ohu,
i1iso i1 ~ tbev increase the price OF an article
hnna
a. ,rain Evcry me- industry brings new or luIe caP~l
a. - r,oro intimate contact WITH laDOr anu
a q, labor by increasing the cans upon IL
81 ,he Increase OF foreign commerce. botn psIls
yer a are upOn Our SOIL ana the Denent
~ M cnuntrv is double. What we need IN ths country
80 ,ybat our policy induces, ~ the inuupcaton oi ~ ~
dnstres 40 as to afford TO every man enoS % IN sarn
field IN which MS tastes AL" ''' ~
the largest rewards .....,- ,,oraas,nggn n
Rnt further: Population is constantly hcIeaslns.H1
~, Within the lifetime or many mere pIesou@
DE eansus will show 2OOOOOOOo persons nn,,ed
oe,Ion and for food within the territory OF ins oh.od
Stlrns iJhey must consist OF mingled popuiloi anu
thev must combine manufacturing Win ul1so anu Ps
tnrSSgc With such q future IL wOuld, DC cI,nho
for American legislation to narrow tn9 G ,h dmssons
ton 10 adopt revenue policy when, py tno a rer
of its advocates seeks TO fay0r iorelgn ~.
than diversity industry on our own SOIL ahu lnso,ppe
rednctiou of wages. After perio9 varying win t ~
S q, this country than they were before uuy Was
.id we look 10 the triumph OF Ainerloah hpol W
s our shnre in the markets Of the world As ouI
and orr meats, tobacco, leather M" a,ricr
,n,ei tmnements oaiicoes carriages, musosi luslru
,a.na nanrr drugs and chemicals are gaining
rorsIsp comnerce must always be the occupation ol
few; production enlists tho many lug @ Snr
ssekbg freedom for every interest begins py o'
sesdo for ihe handiwork OF the muttude Ior 'no pro
drction witch lies at the basis OF all wealth.