The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-11-19
TIE TARIFF.

ago platform winch requires SuuI-
.ient tariff rates to preserve the
Inference between American and
European wages of labor? 1t viii
not take long to answer. Yes or
Our esteemed contemporary shall |
have a categorical answer to the
above question. We answer, No :
The Bulletin is opposed, in toto, to
a tariff leYied for the purpose of pro-
tecting American industries. because
that means an increase IN the profits
of the owner OF the protected indus
try, and an increase in the price Of
of products Of those industries to the
The Bulletin is opposed
to giving any individual the power
to levy a tax upon al ether classes
for the purpose of increasing his
profits in his indiqidual business en-
terprises, Such a law is unjust, is
class legislation, and IS consequently
unconstitutional. A protective tariff
is vicious in theory, and iniquitous
in practice. 1t robs the many for
the benefit of the few, and is cruel
and oppressive to the very people
who need the protection of the law
the toiling millions. Believing
the protectivessystem to be unjust,
contrary to the fundamental ideas OF
our government. which guarantee
to every citizen equal and exact
rights, we are unaltersbly opposed
to it, and say that the taxing power
Of the Government should not be
exercised in the interest of any
class of its citizens, but solely for
the purpose OF raising revenue t."
meet the require vents Of the govern
ment. Being opposed to the prlnci
pies Of the protective theory, we are
likewise opposed to its application to
and extent, or for any purpose. Il
We believed that the wages of The
laborsrs who are engaged in the
protected Industries were higher un-
der the existing tariff than they
would be under a strictly revenue
tariff, We would still favor re1uc-
ton of the tariff to q revenue basis
because only about one-sixteenth Of
the laborers of the United States
are engaged in industries which are
affected by the tariff, and we don't be
lieve it right 10 tax the Fl tteen for the
benefit Of the one, No honest labor
er would make such an unjust de-
mand. Would any fajrminded mar
demand that a tax be laid upon al
fifteen ofhis neighbors for bis'indi-
vidual benefit? Another trouble is
that the fifteen laborers who are
taxed, are more poorly paid than the
one for whose benefit it is claimed
the tax is levied. The farm laborer
the carpenters, and the other unprC
tected labOrers, receive poorer wages
than the laborers who are engaged
in the manufactures, mines, &c
Then where is the justice in raxins
the poorest paid labor for the bene
fit of the best paid?
But we deny that the diferenc,
, in the wages paid European ant
American labor is at all attributabl
to the tariff, but Is owing to othe
causes which we have not time t,
. mention: The increase in profit
made easy by the tariff, goes inf
the pockets of the owners Of the pro
tected industries and the labOrers ge
4 no part of it. There IS no tariff o.
. European labor, An America
2 manufacturer, or mine owner, ca
, send to Europe and import all tn
G labor he wants, free of duty, an
8 they do it whenever it is to the
interest to do so. What does capt,
& care about the wages of labor? A
d they care for is to get 1T as cheapI
e as possible. The owner ola protect
ed industry could pay his laborel
better wages if his profits are IN
. creased by a protective tariff, tina
if there was no such increase. But
could do, and doing, are quite ditfe
ent, and the fact is that they peck,
the whole Of the increase in ii
price of their products, and do ne
. divide with their employees. tt
price of labor like that of eyerythir
= else, is regulated by the laws OF su
ply and demand.
Yes Sir, we are opposed to a
sy stems of legislation which levy
lax on the many for the benefit
the few, and on the poor for the benet
-e of the rich owners Of the protectt
p industries, and all the platforms
,. ChristendOm would never make I
y favor q tariff levied for any 9th,
RS purpose than that OF raising revenl
r. for the Government.
r The ClarksvIlle Chronicle, whiC