Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-11
PLAIN TARIFF PHILOSOPHY.

/ The tariff is big subject. The Boston
/ clubs which intend to Jointly discuss it
have just had this fact brought more I'M
DreSSiyely to their minds than it ever
presented itself before. The proposition
which first suggested the discussion
| came from the Tariff Reform League,
/ and asked for Joint discussion of the
tariff, and what changes therein are de-
manded by the real interests of the
! American people. The challenge,
which was issued to the Home Market
Club. was promptly accepted. The diff
| ticulty occurred, however, when the
committees on behalf of each body met
! to agree on the particular phases
of the question which should be
! taken up. Several branches of the sub
! -ject We're suggested by each side, only
/ to be rejected by the other. But at last
an agreement was reached. The dis
cussion, it is arranged, shall be on this
proposition: is the wa ge-earner bene-
fitted by the protective policy. as en-
bodied in the present tariff OF course
the Home Market clubs representatives
are to take the affirmative side Of the
question
After all, the specific proposition to be
discussed furnishes the real test of the
wisdom or folly of the tariff policy. Does
the tariff result in lowering the cost OF
domestic productions: Does it advance
the rate of wages: Are the artistic tastes.
inventive skill and mechanical aptitudes
of the people developed by it: Is the
country. by It's operation, rendered more
self-supporting and more Independent of
other nations than it would be under the
1 hrnrr,-ht hNr n
higher degree of intelligence and pros
perity among the people than could have
been achieved by the system which its
only of the leading phases which the
tariff question presents. All of the
queries here propOunded, so the pro-
tectionist believes, can truthfully be an
swered in the affirmative. The whole
subject, however, is summed up in this
proposition: Is the wage-earner benefited
by the tariff:
The country has had an experience of
both tariffs for revenue and tariffs for
protection. Tariffs for protection were
in force from the beginning of the gov
eminent down to 1S32-eXCepting during
q few years beginning shortly after the
close of the war of lS12--from 1912 to 1916
anu IloiIl iCoi " tiit present llbit. TAI
ifs for revenue We're in operation from
1892 to 1912 and from 1916 to 1861. The
two most calamltouS financial crises
which the country has known came dur
ing the time the revenue tariffs We're in
force. These occurred in 1887 and 1851
The panics of 1873 and 1882 were mild
and harmless in their effects compared
with the earlier industrial disturbances
referred to.
The condition of the wage-earners of
the country was far more satisfactory
during the periods when the protective
system was in operation than it was when
the opposite policy prevailed This is
matter of record. which is well known to
all persons moderately familiar with our
industrial history. Many free traders
will doubtless claim that the concur
renee of free trade and business de
preston with protection and business
activity has been nearly coincidence.
The protectionist contends that each has
been the logical result of tbs economic
policy prevailing when these conditions
have been present. The Home Market
club, if it takes advantage of its oppor-
tunity, will have no difficulty in prov
ing to the satisfaction of intelligent.
unbiased persons not only that the
existing tariff has benefited the: wage
Garner. but also that. broadly speaking.
prosperity has accompanied the pro-
tective policy during the whole history
of the country, while hard times have
accompanied free trade.