The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-10-12


TARIFF FOR aEvENUE ONLY.
WHY do we impose duties on articles not
produced here If NO have to pay them our
eelyes2
Ans.-We certainly ought not to do 50: but
there is no idea SO unreasonable that IL will not
have supporters. And there have always been
men in this country favoring this plan OF re-
lieving foreigners from taxation. 1t Is known
as tn,-iG for reosaas only.
W.-Do these men understand that our poo
pie have to pay all the duties under q tariff for
revenue only.
Ans.-The more intelligent among them do.
but they are partial to the English revenue
system, and forget that British laws and taxes
are no better lifted for this country now tn an
they were q century ago
PROTECTION AND FREE TRADE DEFINED.
W.-Can you explain, briefly, the meaning OF
the words Protection" and Free Trader
AnA-Yes. Protection" means that adjust
ment Of the tariff on such things as may be
produced here which requires the payment of
duties high enough to Offset the greater wages
paid to those engaged in producing them, and
thus protect them in their occupations against
the competition Of cheaper wages in foreign
countries
W.-How much higher are wages here!
Ans.-Ncariy twice as high as in Great Brit
ain, three times as high as in France and Ger
many, four times as high as in Italy and
Russia.
THE NEED OF A TARIFF.
Y-What difference does this make in the
cost of things produced in this country COM
pared with the cost in Europes
Ans.-Tiat depends on the amount Of labor
required to produce them. The labor may be
half, three-quarters, or even a larger part of
the cost. Iron ore and limestone in the ground
are of little value. But by combining them
with labor they become pig iron, worth fifteen
to twenty dollars per ION. Applying more
ma ha rtal INT srn-
springs, worth more than their weight in gold.
This is the result OF labor aud il is evident that
This kind OF work can not be carried on here
unless the men engaged in it are protected by
duties high enough to cover the difference be-
tween foreign and American wages. This is
what protection does, and, therefore. a tar.I
framed for this purpose is called q protective
tariff"
HOW PROTECTION BENEFITS ALI.
Ware there any other reasons why pro-
tective tariff is better fot our country:
Ans.-Yes; there are several other reasons.
Iwili mention some of them:
1st.-By creating and sustaining a variety OF
important industries which otherwise could
not exist here, it diversifes the occupations of
our people, and thus affords fields for their diff
ferent qualities and talents. 1t also prevents
so many persons crowding into few indus
tries. For example, the people employed in
manufactures are Withdrawn from farming,
ducers. This prevents excessively low wages
in farming, and raises the price OF farm prod
ucts.
ad-It cheapens the price of things which
are protected by encouraging competition
among those engaged in producing them.
SKETCH OF ENGLANDs POLICY.
WHY, then, was it ever adopted!
Ans.-To make a long story short, England
had for ceptur es o strong protective tarin,
and under it built up hourishing manufactures.
and increased the prosperity OF the people.
But about Fifty years ago her manufacturers
found they were producing more than they
could SELL and needed larger foreign markets.
BY large expenditure of money and the use
OF able speakers they finally secured q major
tty of Parliament: in favor OF measures which
would enable them to reduce wages so that
they could make goods cheaper than other ma
tons To do this all duties were taken OF
farm products-to get the cheapest food
wherever it could be found. The protective
policy had developed her manufactures SO that
she excelled AL other nations in skill. She
had plenty OF coal and iron, but IN insufficient
supply Of other raw mater ais. She opened
her ports free TO the raw materials OF other
countries, and as she did not fear competition,
she advocated free trade among all nations TO
secure unrestricted access for her own goods
in foreign markets. This scheme seemed at
FIRST 20 succeed, but gradually Il was observed
that England was losing her farmers, and that
many other industries were suffering, and
slowly perishing. 1t now appears that her
prosperity Tor a time under this tariG-for-rev-
enue policy was due to accidental causes,
which having passed away, have left her in q
worse condition than before. with enormous
Investments in machinery to supply foreign
markets, which are now either protected
against her manufactures or have become her
rivals in skill and experience. Meanwhile her
people have become untitled for agriculture,
a Ia ~. AL
thc operatives OF other nations in wages.
PROTECTION THE TRUE POLICY FOB THE
UNITED STATES
VIII the tarii-for-reyenue policy has been
OF such doubtful advantage :or England, is
there any reason why 1t could be adopted here
with better results.
Ans.-None at all. On the contrary, England,
owing 10 her small size ana limited range OF
agricultural productions. had some special rea-
sons for advocating free trade in food and raw
materials. To extend her manufactures she
was compelled TO import largely, and with her
coal and iron deposits she had good reason to
think that she could manufacture cheaper than
any other country. But the United States con-
tains within its own borders all the resources
Of a great manufacturing nation She need
import nothing and 10 build up her industries
and divers fy them and give employment TO
ali her people, she has only TO utilize the raw
materials OF every kind that her own soil and
Cfimatc aIoru. Soe mas lOou IN opunuunccs
iron and coal in every quarter; wool and cotton
and fax unlimited. She needs no foreign
markets, for her own population increases SO
rapidly that her growing manufactures are not
able TO supply the wants, and only demand
more tho ough protection to enlarge their pro-
ducIions and enable them to supply these
wants fully and more cheaply than they could
be supplied in any other gay. AL the
condit ons OF this country poin, TO the pro-
tective policy as the best fitted to give uni
reryal prosperity. and indicate clearly that We
should avoid all measures tending TO embar-
rass our industries or hinder the development
Of our resources. This is particularly true Of
what are called neesssaries OF life, and things
for which there is q large demand. and, there
fore, large production. Among these may be
ment. oned nails and common clothing. which
are as cheap In this country az they are any
where.
g. Il enables Us TO hare in COMMON use ana
at Low prices great variety OF manufactured
products which otherwise we shcuid have 10 60
without, because the farm products Of this
country are not wanted abroad in SUFFICIENT
quantities to pay Tor the foreign goods we
teriaily dimin shed. II we should pay for them
in GOLD. our stock OF this metal would SOON be
exhausted aud the country be bankrupt.
( Finally protection increases home wealth,
and makes home market for every thing pro-
duced whether from the farn, the NINE, the
mill or the workshop. Every thing produced
here is an addition TO our National wealth in
which every body shares and which makes our
country the best In the world for all classes of
persons II any thing is imported we have the
article, bit we have paid its value to foreign
ers in some way, ara are therefore no better
OF than befoza