Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-20
Tie eurusE OF TARIFF LEGISLATION.


Zarlg Leagpe Bat'etie.
The NcU York Press. Sunday the 23rd
ult., contained n series of interesting
and suggestive opinions upon this sub
iect by well-known gentlemen on both
sides of the Tariff question. II IS inn
portant as demonstrating that all
parties are agreed that there must be
no taxation beyond the requirements OF
an economical government. The Pro-
tectionisis believe that this can be
maintained without reducing the duties
which are needed to protect our labor
and industries. The Tariff Reform adj
voeates believe that adequate Protec-
ton will inevitably cause excessive tax
alton, and sooner or later bring dis
asters which will overthrow the whole
Protective System AS the friends OF
Protection now have the field, 1t remaiss
to be seen whether, or not, an adequate
Tariff can be maintained without pro-
ducing a surplus.
Ii will also be noted that many Of the
contributors 10 this tariff Symposium re-
gard he abolition Of the internal rev.
enue system as one Of TIC most promi-
nent concomilants of future tariff legis-
lation. In this view, Hon. H. b. Met
calf, distinguished temperance adyo-
oata warmly coucurs
These expressions of opinion from all
sides arc valuable as indicating the
tendency of public opinion, and also the
growth of an enlightened csmprehen-
sion of this important topic. We give
brief extracts from some of the opinion
referred to.
Hon. W. d. Kelley, the veteran Pro-
tectionisi
Let me sum up briefly. Tha Repub-
leans in Congress will, in dealin. with
questions of finance and revenue, re-
gard the promises and declarations of
principle and policy of the national COR
vention, and viii obliterate a corrupt
ing surplus by abolishing taxes and
maintaining the Protective System, I'M
der which our vast material resources
may be developed and our whole peo-
pie prosperously employed.
j. S. Moore, the fabricator Of Demo
cratic Tariffs:
1t is difficult for man Of my strong
convictions TO believe that the Republic
can party, now that the victory is won,
should in any way try to shirk or re-
pudiaie the promises made on the
economic policy in Chicago in the Re
publican platform. And it is but just
TO the party to point out that the Senate
substitute, made as it was deliberately
on that promise. is the best proof of it.
But. under the present circumstances,
il is the policy of the high tariff party
this measure, or substantially a similar
measure, should come from the House,
where tax bills must originate. Pure
aud simple Free-Trade would for the
next twenty years, II it should come
suddenly. be disastrous in the extreme.
hence my desire TO be conservative.
But also feel that the present tariff
needs revision, and that in a direction
Republicans, il honest in their express
sions aud promises, cannot grant. Free
raw material is TO the manufacturer a
great Protection in itself, while higher
duties cannot well compensate him.
Prof. Van Buren, Denslow. one of the
foremost writers and debaters on the
tariff question:
Future tariff legislation should. and l
think will, consist Of total repeal Of
- -
mp of those interstices or gaps in our
Protective statutes through which those
imports which are totally destructive of
any effective domestic competition now
come. Those are especially tin plates.
ribbons, under the recent decision adj
mittiDg them rs hat trimmings at q very
low rate, cotton ties. and the Like.
Those features of the wool schedule