The Republican journal., 1884-01-24
Revenue Reform and the Republican
Policy.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: have
just read letter in the Buffalo Express, writ
ten by a revenue reformer, and which closes as
follows:
If the Republican party in Congress this win
ter, and in the convention next June, stands
upon this platform: Taxation of whiskey and
tobacco as now levied; removal of tariff duties
on raw material, with protection on manufac-
tured articles so adjusted as to cover the differ
ence between American and foreign labor, with
revenue deficiencies (if any laid on luXures,
we shall win.
| Now is not this exactly the Republican posi-
ton to-day? The present tariff may not exact
v conform to this policy in every detail, and
upon every dutiable article, because it is a very
delicate and difficult task TO perfectly adjust
the tariff as to apply any doctrine or system
to every item in the schedule. But not
| this the purpose of the last Congress which re-
vised the tariff, and Is it not now the aim of
/ protectionists to so arrange the tariff as to pro-
| tect American labor?
The writer is a protectionist precisely for that
/ purpose, and no other, and such do | under
stand to be the position of the Republican par
| ty. 1t is mainly-yes almost entirely - be-
cause labor is worth more in America than in
! Europe that American products need protec-
/ ton, in order that our industries may not be
suppanted by those beyond the sea and our
workmen be turned out into the streets for
want of employment
\ Bat what does this writer, and many others
I like hin, mean hy raw material That is an
/ important question in this connection. Dos
he mean WOOL If 30, | elihcr from linn. A
large percentage Of the cost of wool is the labor
and products Of labor that are put in IL; and is
/ not the wool grower quit" a. important 10 the
country As the WOODEN manufacturer: There is
hardly any pursuit more important to the peo-
/ pie than wool growing and shall it be driven
| out of our country and transferred to the Is
| lands of the South Pacific ON The absurd theory
/ thai wool is raw material: The builder
! suppose, would call bricks and lime raw mater
ial yet more than 80 PER cent, of tbe value Of
those articles is the product of labor.
/ When this subject Is properly tIige~ted it viii
be found that very little if any raw m ,terial in
! this country is protected by The tariff, The
| miller may call wheat raw material; the starch
| maker may say the same Of potatoes, and the
| builder 80 regard sawed lumber; but all are
very largely the product Of labor. and il is quite
as important TO protect the grower Whenever
ne needs it As the manufacturer. He, Wen
S the latter, is obliged 70 pay higher price for
| labor than hi, foreign competitor and j. equal
4 ~ entitled to protection equivalent to this diff
! ference i'll price.
I The Republican position, with this definition
/ Of raw material j. exactly what our tariff re-
1 former has stated. But he fears The Democrats
will take advantage of Republican support in
| behalf Of retaining the duties on sugar. Such
| fear l., needless The only bill 10 repeal the
/ duty on sugar has come from Il Republican
/ Congressman. That duty the Democracy is in
/ love with, As it is with everything South, where
the brains and force of the party are located.
/ 1t is the most oppressive of all the national
taxes, and if the repeal Of that tax Will relieve
the fifty millions of dollars per annum to which
| it amounts, then the repeal should not long be
| postponed, even ii the investments il this in
dustry be protected by direct bounty to be
raised from liquor ana tobacco and other ari-
Gle, of luxury.
| 50 it j. evident that the contest between the
Republican and Democratic parties upon the
question of protection is clearly one between
sustaining American industries on The one
side, and upon the othcrof transferring them TO
foreign shores between giving to the American
workman the wages which will enable him to
acquire It home and it, comforts, OF hanging
upon HIM the rags and giving him the poor
shelter of the pauper foreign aborer. Between
these two the people viii choose in the next ma
tonal campaign and am sure they have too
much intelligence to make Il wrong. and to them
a disastrous, choice. NJ