National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-12

is largely owing to the protection that the
by the systems Of tariffs which have been
adopted, no one will, presume,
at the present time, undertake
to deny. That such protection, when
needed and to the extent to which 1t
may be needed to iRaugurite and build up
and sustain these industries, and to enable
manufacturers successfully to compete with
foreign manufacturers, and, at the same
time, to pay to their laborers sufficient
wages to provide for the comforts Of them
selves and their families has, in my opinion,
full warrant in the constitution. While
that instrument does not In terms provide
for protecting home manufactures, goods,
wares, and mel chandise made by hand
or by machinery, it does recognize
the duty Of so doing in the eighth
clause Of section 8, article /, which
declares that the Congress shall have
power to promote the progress of science
and useful arts by securing for limited
times to authors and inventors the exclusive
right to their respective writings and dis
coveries.
To secure this object Congress has passed
laws giving exclusive right Of sale for q
term of ye0rs, And, when It has been found
that the period so fixed was insufficient to
afford ample remuneration TO the author or
quently granted, In order that this object
may be effected.
In view Of this fact, the question arises,
why may not Congress, In the exercise OF
its constitutional right in levying impost
duties, so discriminate with regard to the
choice Of articles to be taxed, aud In regard
to the amounts OF duty which shall be i'm
posed, as to afford like protection? Espe-
cially does this become pertinent question
nrn111pn1 a ra nf
character that, when completed, the prln-
cipal cost consists In the amount OF labor
particularly manual labor-as In the pro.
duction OF iron from the ore, and the yarl.
GUS manufactures OF iron, steel, and other
metals.
Admitting the necessity, In any case, OF
protection Of an article which can be sue.
cessfully made or produced in such guam
titles as To make its production an object
OF general interest, 1t does seem proper
that II should be protected.
Whatever contributes to one branch OF
national industry to certain extent affects
the welfare Of all industries, and conse-
quently the general welfare.
IL II were possible TO roll back the wheels
Of time for the past fifty years, and to place
the manufactures Of this country In the same
condition that they were at the time of the
close OF the second war with Great Britain,
gade movements Who that has ever Wis.
tied any of the great expOsitiOns, which
during the last ten years have been held In
different parts OF the country, where not
only the agricultural products have been
exhibited, but more particularly the manu-
featured goods and the various machines
and instruments employed in the produc-
ton OF these goods; who, | repeat, has
witnessed them without feelings OF pride
oil Inc NJ 4 a Il.
the vast Improvement OF the last fifty
years In our mechanical arts and manufac-
lures.
The vast resources Of this country were
never fully known or developed till after
the breaking ont OF the war of the rebel
lion. Nor was the ability Of its citizens
to contribute to the current expenses Of the
government, and to provide for its eXtraor-
binary expenditures realized.
Under the different laws passed by Con-
gress since 1862, relating to The tariff aud to
internal revenue, large sums OF money have
been collected; great portion Of the debt
Of the country has beeu paid; the payment
Of the balance Of the debt has been Judi.
ciOusly provided for and at the present
time 1t is found that the government Is
actually collecting from these sources more
revenue than II needs; aud the questions OF
the hour which agitatG the public mind are
How shall these revenues lie diminished,
and what use shall be made of the surplus
now on hand In the treasury
Various modes OF dispOsing OF the sur
plus revenue have been suggested.
One mode proposed is TO divide IL, In,
Guiding that which may hereafter he col.
lected, among the states for general pur-
poses according to population.
Another mode proposed is to divide II
among the states, TO be devoted TO pduca'
tional purposes exclusively, the percentage
Of illiteracy being made the basis on which
the distribution Is TO be made TO the several
states and territories.
Another proposition Is to abolish the