The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-06
For the HERALD AND NEWS.
zGe Observer and "Tariff Re-
FORM"

considered that l had done or said
anything to justify it. But l cannot
conceive how he can possibly find
anything in the language used by me
to take offensc at, and the more es-
pecially, as he now informs rs that
he is tariff reformer,' which is all
that l have claimed to be. But if he
is so very sensitive and ready 10 take
ofTense. where none is intended or
thought Of, he ought to be a little
more careful about giving it. l have
not, and shall not attempt to ride
any hobbies over the Observer" and
if the editor is on the look out for q
"hobby rider" he may, perhaps, find
one nearer home.
Thus much promised Of . personal
nature, shall proceed to answer the
arguments and statements made by
the Observer, in so far as they were
not answered in my previous article.
In the first place the Observer quite
misconceives the meaning of the
term free trade" 1t does not at
all mean no tarif. Strictly speaking
it may be said to mean no protection,
that is no obstruction to trade by
protective duties. But we'll regulated
and fairly adjusted revenue tariff is
not necessarily an obstruction to
trade at all. On the contrary it may
serve rather as q stimulus, in the way
of healthy rivalry. In the general
acceptation Of the term. a revenue
tariff is free trade" tariff; and in
that sense / am in full sympathy
with our free trade association,
though | should have preferred hav-
inc it called a tariff reform" associ-
alton. Great Britain is universally
known as the great free trade coun-
try of the world, and by means OF
her free trade she has extended her
commerce and manufactures to the
remotest corners Of the earth. Yet
she collects, as have already shown,
nearly one fourth Of her government
revenue from her tariff on imports.
From 1916 to 1860, we had what our
protectionists are pleased to term our
s:free trade tariff; and it was the
most hourishing period in our history,
both of our commerce and manufac-
ture1s. Yet even then there we're
duties on certain articles as high IS
30 per cent. But it was a very free
trade" tariff compared with what we
now have, when many duties run up
to over 100 per cent. The recent
national convention in Chicago con-
sisted of free traders" and tariff
reformers," and some Of the principal
leaders. such as David A. Wells, who
presided over the convention, are
members both Of free trade and tariff
reform leagues. The inconsistency
then and the absurdity Of the same
person being bo;h tariff retormer
and free trader exists only in the
misapprehcnsion Of tue Observer as
70 the use Of the term free trade. If
I have committed this absurdity | am
in wonderful good company, and for
the most laudable purpose-the re-
form and reduction Of I most unjust
and oppressive system Of taxation.
If such constitutes me q hobby
rider | am proud Of it. In the same
way, in being civil service reformer.
I would not abslisb the civil service
system, but would abolish its abuses.
I would abolish thoroughly and COM
pletely the iniquitous "spoils' sys-
TEN, and put in its place a civil SER
vice founded on decency and COM
mon sense, on merit and capacity,
such as every other civilized govern
ment under the sun, republic or mon
archy adopts. Here, too, am in
wonderfully good company, from MIR.
Cleveland down, and am proud of 1t.
But as a civil service reformer l am
we'll aware that l can not expect fair
treatment from the Observer. An
other of MY ''hobbies," perhaps. is
to the continued coinage
of silver. l consider it an outrage
and a shame to continue the pur-
chase with public funds Of $2S,OO0,-
600 worth Of silver ore per annum
from few millions Of Colorado and
Nevada, and to coin it into 80 cent
dollars to pay laborcr wages. l in
sist that the "bread-winner," just as
much as the man Of wealth, has need
of and has the right to be paid in
money OF the full value. Yet by the
continued coinage of deprecated sill
yer dollars, seventeen million "bread
winners" according to the last CEN
sus, are in danger of having their
wages reduced fully one-fFth, by the
forced adoption of 2 silver basis IN
stead of gold.