The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-29
THRUSTS ATFREE TRADE
Hr. Mckinley, at ths Georgia ChAu-
tauqua, Speaks E!oqusntly
for Protection.
The Great Evils Of Free Trade Exposed
in Manner that Surprises
tina Southsrnsrs
A System Under Which the Country
Has Prospered Should Be
Longer Continued.


The Hon. j. Randolph Tucker, OF Virginia, an
eminent lawyer and experienced e ltesman, In a
speech delivered In the House OF Representa-
tives May IL, 1875, defined revenue duty as
follows: Therefore, as no higher duty ought to
be laid than is nee led 10 raise the requisite rev.
enue on any particular article, it follows that
the true revenue duty is the lowest duty which
viii bring tn required revenue.
This dshnition Is a fair and frank ono. and 1
accept il. revenue tariff is, therefore, such n
one as will produce the largest revenue from
encourage importations diminish home produce
ton. and inevitably increase the revenue: IL will
send our merchants abroad TO buy; IL affords no
protection, not even incidental, for the very in
slant you. discover that such duty
favors the home producer that instant you
discover that imporlations and revenue
checked, and that own producers
ablo to control the home market or a part OF IL.
Then at once ths advocate of revenue tariff re-
duces the duty. brings it down to the true rev.
onue standard for il must not be overlooked, ac-
cording to that free-trade maxim, where pro-
lection begins revenue ends, and tn, question
OF revenue is always controlling. A
revenue tariff is Inconsistent with pro-
lection; il ia intended for wholly
different purposes. 1t loses its forces and char
acter as a nuine revenue tariff when 1t be-
comes to any extent protective 1t has but one
object 1t cain have but one effect-that OF OPEN
ing up our markets to tho foreign producer, inn
poverishing the homs producer and enriching
his foreign rival.
England is more nearly free trade country
than any other and her system OF taxation
furnishes an unmistakable exampl, Of the prac-
tice and principle of n revenue tariff Her i'm
port duties are imposed almost exclusively upon
articles which cannot DO produced by her own
people upon her own SOIL Tobacco, snuff, cigars,
chcory, cocoi. currants, figs, raisins rum,
brandy, wine tea, and coffee-these are the ar
tfclos from which her customs revenue Is de-
rived-al ticles, in the main, not produced in
England, but which must be supplied from
abroad while practically all competing products
of foreign make and production are admitted
through her custom-houses free OF duty. brief
statement of the dutable imports Of Great
Britain will not be without interest Il viii be
observed that her duties are more /. ,ely i'm
posed upon peculiarly American products
than upon any others. Tho duty upon
tobacco is, according to moisture, from
81 90 90 cents per pound for the raw or
unmanufactured article, and II manufactured il
pays q duty of from Sl.0i to S1.16 per pound.
cents pound greater than the raw product,
which, with all OF highlands boosted free trade.
IS intended as n protection to those engeg d in
the manipulation of tobacco. 1t is almost pro-
hibitive TO Americans who would export manu-
featured tobacco. The advalorem equivalent of
the duty on tobacco is nearly 100 per cent.
Cigars pay duty of Sl.32 per pound, and from
tobacco and snuff over S4S, 10000 OF duties are
collected annually. The duty on tea Is II cents
pound. How would the American enjoy paying
such duty upon this article of every day use 2
The duty collected from this source is over SIS
100000 annually. Coffee pays duty of cents a
pound. but If ground, prepared or in any way
u
pound-another sample OF where England pro-
tects those engaged in manufacture. Cocoa pays
= duty OF cents e pound but II il is in any
form subjected TO manufacture il pays cents q
pound, the duty on the manufactured article be-
ing double that on the raw material Besides
the articles have named, there are about ninety
or hundred Others chiefly of American produc-
tion, patented and other medi Zines which are
dutiable at 1886 per gallon More than 49,, O0),-
OoO or nearly one-fourth of the British revenues,
are raised from customs duties.
Wi ba choro ~
which the revenue reforner invites the people
of the United States. Both the breakfast table
and the sick room are made to bear a large part
OF tho burden under the British system of taxa
ton. 1t is not without significance that the
nearer we approach this system thu more gen.
erous tho bestowal OF British CONNIE ndation.
Every step we take in that direction, every en-
largement OF the free list OF competing foreign
products, every reduction of duty upon such
products, Is hailed as n vind:c alton OF Cob len
and benehcence 70 British interests. 1t ia fn
vain for the British statesman TO assure US that
their system Is best for us. We are not accus-
toned TO look TO our commercial rivals for dis
interested favors. 1t is folly" said Washing
ton In his farewell address lin one nation 10
look for dlsinterested favors from anoti or: that
1t must pay, with portion of its independence
for whichever it may accep. under that character
Tnere can be 10 greater error than 70 expect or
calculate upon real favors from nation to na-
ton. 1t is an illusion which experience must
cure ard which Just pride ought TO discard 4"
We are not, MIR. President, insensible TO the
GOOD opinion OF mankind and the English
speaking race, but when it is TO be had only ut
s1oe expense OF our industrial independence, at
The sacrifice OF the dignity aud independence OF
Labor and the destr action Of national prosperity
we must regard IL with supreme suspicion and
turn from II as the euogy or selfish interest and
the commentator OF interested greed.
Tho other theory Of taxation, and the one
which believe to be essential 20 American de-
Kelopment and national prosperity is based
upon an exactly opposite Jrincipla IL permits
saI articles Of foreign production, whether of the
neld, the factory, or the mine, except luxuries
only which we can not produce in the United
states, 20 enter our ports free and unburdened
by custom house exactons. The duty ia 10 be
imposed upon the foreign competing product
that is the product which, II brought into this
country, would contend with the pro lucts OF our
own soil. our own labor, ard our own IN tories,
In our own markets. Under this systtm if the
foreign producer would enter u market with q
comp sting pro iuct ho must contribute some
thing for the privilege which is to enjoy, end
this somethin IN the 70. IN OF duties goes into
the Treasury furnishing revenue 10 the Govern
ment and these duties operate 10 protect the
Joint product of labor and capital against a like
foreign product This mode OF leyying duties
answers "a double purpose. il produces revenue
TO the Government and OF the same time fosters
and encourages no &C supations of OF own peo-
pie, promotes industrial development, opens up
now mines, builds new factories, and sustasns
those already established, win ca in turn furnish
employment TO labor at fair and rcmuncrG-
tive wages reTenUo ter.d accomplishes
but sngls plIpose-thas Cf raising
revenue; it Las no Other mission, while
m0re-t brings revenue TO tho American Treas
ury and discriminates IN fayoc OF the American
citizen. A revenue tariff invites the pro luct of
foreign labor and forei N opt II to occupy our
markets tree end uhr5str aimed in competition
with the product Of or own labor and capital. A
protective tariff invites the proiuco of foreign
labor and for sign capital which are necessary tc
the wants Cf oar people (which can not lr J.
.duce in the United Statesl to occ1py our mar
hets and go untaXo1 10 the people, but insists
that every foreign piolgcJ which Is produced at
home, or can be successfully IN quantities capa-
ibleof supplying the domestic cen sumption, shl all
whenever necessary TO maintain suitable re
wards to our labor, bear duty which shall no.
be 30 high as to prohibit importations, bat at
such rate as viii produce ths necessary reve-
inues and at the same time not estroy but en-
courage American produc ion. IL says to the
world Of producers IF yoI want TO share with
the citizens OF United States their home
market, you must ny for the privilege Of doing
It. Your product shall not enter in freq and un
restrained competition with tho product OF oul
avn people, but shall be disseminated against
80 such en- extent as to fully protecs and defend
sour own"
IL is allegei IA n sorioas objection 20 protec
tive duties thai the tax whatevof 10 may be, in
creases the cost OF the foreign well as ths
domestic product 20 tho extont OF such tax OF
duty aud that 10 Ia wholly paid by the consum
consideration II II wer3 true. but. IA has beer
demonstrated o.er and over again, IL Is without
foundation I'm fact. Wherever tho foreign
product has successful competition mt home thu
duty is rarely paid by the consumer. It il paii
from thu profits Of the fnnnufGc .urcr, div dee
between him and the merchant OF tho importo
and dininishes their profits 10 that extent
Duty or no duty, without homo compel ition tn
!. consumer would fare worse than lie fare now
There is nOs i'm tho long line OF staple products