Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-26
sAMaaNDALL.

His Views on tha Tariff Saesinetly state
A Washington special to the Cil
cinnati Commercial Gazette siys
Hon. Samuel Randall has written a
article on tariff revision, which il spol
to appear in southern publication
1t viii doubtless attract wide atten
ton. Mr. Randall denies writing til
article, but says it is made up of Gull
ings from old speeches o. his. Tn
following are extracts from the article
| | favor total abolition OF our inter
nal revenue system, and am ready /,
join hands with any and all in favor o
an equalization OF our duties on i'm.
ports. No one who understands thu
existing tariff laws will deny the jus
tice and necessity OF thorough revis
ion. High duties were for the mosl
part levied during the war, and foi
the purp, se OF raising large revenue
Ii will suffice in this connection 70
quote the Industrial League us unan.
swerable III this regard, as it is an ad-
mission on the part OF those who ia
vor the highest protective duties.
They consider such revision desirable
for the interests both of the industries
affected and those of the consumers
partly ON account OF some original i'm
perfections in the present tariff and
partly on account of the notifications
which are demanded by the changes
which have occurred in conditions of
production and commerce. | do not
favor tariff enacted upon the ground
of protection simply for the sake of
protection, because doubt the exist
ence of any constitutional warrant for
any such construction or the grant OF
any such power. 1t would manifestly
be in the nature oil class legislation,
and to such legislation, lavoring one
class at the expense OF any other, /
have always been opposed.
In my judgment, this question OF
free trade viii not arise practically in
this country during our lives, If ever,
so long as we continue to raise reve-
nue. by duties on imports, and there
fore discussion of that principle is an
absolute waste of time. After our
public debt is paid In full, our expend-
itures can hardly he much below $780,
00000O, and if this is levied in a busi-
ness-like manner, it will afford ade-
quate protection to every individual
interest in the United States The as
sertiOn that the constitution permits
the levying of duties in favor OF pro
lection for the sake of protection" is
equally uncalled for and unnecessary.
Both are alike delusory and not in
volved in any practical administrative
policy. If brought to the test, | be-
lieve neither would stand for a day
Protection for the sake OF protection is
prohibition pure and simple OF impor-
tation, and il there be no importation
there will be no duties collected, and
consequently no revenues, leaving the
necessary expenses OF the government
TO be collected by direct taxes, for in
ternal taxes would interfere for the
protective principle, and when the
people were generally asked to bear
the burden OF heavy taxation to sus-
tain class legislation, and the interests
of portion OF our people at the ex-
pense of the great bulk of our popula-
ton, there would be an emphatic and
conclusive negative.
So, too, with free trade, there is
hardly Il man in public life who advo-
Gales it pure and simple. Nobody
wants direct taxation, although it
would bring taxation so near and con-
stantly before the people, that con-
gress would hesitate long before it
voted the sums OF money it often does,
if not for improper, ut least for ques-
purposes.
We are to-day dealing with issues
vast MS the hopes and fears Of 55, ,00O,000
OF people, whose moral, social and phys
ical condition is the alIuIing example
OF every government on the face OF
the earth. Shall we blast or bless them
with our legislation Shall we un-
settle their business interests by con-
slant tinkering with the tariff? Shall
no law last longer than the meeting OF
the next congress? Shall nothing
ever be settled, for a time at least, but
shall doubt and distress always haunt
the waking and sleeping hours of the
people? For one, | am emphaticaily
to any such suicidal policy
Ii would he madness for any party to
pursue it.
Ii is too Late to urge the llncunsttu.
tuialty Of "incidcnial protection
The unbrokcn prartice Of the govern
ment for more than ninety years by
those whu have preceded us, includ-
ing those who framed our cOnstitu-
tion, and our success under this sys-
tenn down to the present time, con
dispose OF such tardy objec-
tion. The value OF "incidental protec.
ton is attested by the experience Of
almost century. This mode of lay- |
ing indiscriminatc duties on our inn
ports has supported our government,
paid the debts OF three wars, given en-
ployment TO men, women aud children |
in 1880 many millions, in
creased the investment of capital to
.he enormous sum of $3,000O00,0OO, |
md consumed more than $3,O0O,O0OO00 |
worth OF the products of agriculture,
mining. numbering, fishing and other
Industries. 1t has rendered us ma
ion independent Of the world. 1t is
alleged that over-production, under an
Incidental protective system, has
,aused the present stagnation in busi-
less. If so, could il be corrected by
ldding to that over-production by in
creased importation of like products
rom other countries coming here be-
cause of reduced duties 1t could
rot, for then the government would
De still richer, while our people, driv-
IN out of their own inarke,s, would
De impoverished If we are to listen
o the counsel and advice given us to
lbandon the heretofore settled policy
ii the government in favor of incl
lental protection, and thus enable the
oreigner to glut our markets with the
products OF iIl-paid toll, panic and
are sure To follow.
Frightful Case OF a Colored Man.
contracted fearful case of blood
poison in 1888. WAS treated 10y some
,f the best physicians in Atlanta.