The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-02-16

THE Times correspondent is seemingly
anxious to know TIE Pilots position on
the tariff and though it is tri1e irrita-
ting to be catechised, still for the promise
that is in him, an attempt will be made
to define the position this paper occupies
on the tariff question.
/. A question so far beyond the COM
prehension of The Pilot that it does not
even presume to wrestle with it. Some
able political economists hold that only
those articles imported, which cannot be
produced or manufactured in the country
to which sent, should be taxed for re-
venue. Others, not less sincere and no
less able, argue that such articles should
be free and tax levied only on those
which compete with local industries.
As the correspondent is probably familiar
with the text books, the mere statement
Is sufficient. Industries which have been
pampered as as ours have, cannot safely
be subjected at once to the operations OF
the principles which should obtain in the
case of tabuIa raSa. A glutton cannot
at once be reduced to strict regimen In
diet. But the fact that his abnormal
condition requires limited indulgence in
unhealthful food for time, is no argu-
In favor of the continuance of unwhole-
some food as regular diet. Those who
have given study to the condition of our
industries are the physicians who are to
prescribe. All that We, at this distance,
care for, is that our manufacturers be
weaned from the vampire habit of sucking
sustenance from the people. The wean-
ing process may be rapid or slow as their
judgment and honesty dictate. The final
result is what we look to, and that is,
being freed eventually from the imposi-
ton of taxes for the benefit of corpora
tons
2. The question is not an honest one,
or the correspondent must have been
sadly negligent of current literature on
the tariff question. To answer it would
be reflection which the writer does not
choose to make.
3. No one makes the statement that
the impost duty is always added to the
cost of the foreign article delivered in
this country, the aggregate representing
the price asked for his wares by the do
nestle manufacturer. President Cleve-
| land mood tho word GOV otIIy IN Cpoolrip n
of the tariff increasing the cost to the
consumer, but it was evidently for the
| purpose of showing, without verbiage
the general operation of the protective
tariff. The impost duty added to the
cost of the foreign article represents the
limit of the price asked, and this limit is
often reached, as the writer knows to his
cost in the purchase of printers stock
| The creation of trusts land it is hoped
the correspondent in what he may have
further to say, viii have the candor to
admit that trust" is wholly different
from corner" or pool is made
possible by the protective tariff. On
many articles the tariff is so high as to
prohibit the importation of those partic.
ular articles and furnishes no revenue
while enabling the domestic manufacturer
to charge exorbitant prices without reach.
ing the limit of the impost duty.
If the correspondent holds that "free
| trade" precludes the idea of a revenue
| tariff that ends the matter. But tariff
imposed for the purpose of deriving reve.
nue. for the needs of the government not
| fully met by internal revenue taxes or
whiskey and tobacco, does not shut out
| foreign competition and trade is free
No man will complain of that check on
! foreign trade, which is measure of the
| needs OF government. Local taxes i'm
| pose the same restriction on the accumu-
lation of property by the individual OF
| by corporation; and still no one will
argue that he is not perfectly free to &C.
cumulate property. When man pur-
| chases farm he assumes with it the OBJ
| legation to pay taxes. He does not con-
slider it an unjust imposition because the
taxes are used for public and necessary
purposes. But if the communistic doc
trine of requiring him to give portion
of his produce yearly to neighbor was
insisted upon,-the full price of the land
being exacted from him, and he receiving
| nothing in return from that neighbour
he would hardly feel ''free" to purchase.
Whatever of protection there is in a
revenue tariff the manufacturer is vel.
come to. But this tax is not levied with
reference to protection nor to prohibiting
the importation of foreign goods and
when this stage is reached we have all
the free trade" the people are likely to
demand and this they should have in
justice.
GENERAL BRAGG, it is said, has been