The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-04-19

I lie cOnceiVeS the 1Qed OF making DiAn
kets, but he can't make them as cheap
| as they are made abroad. He pur-
chascs the site and water power for 9
song, goes to Congress and gets tax
of rs per cent. placed ON all foreigI
blankets, builds his mills and goes to
work. AS if by magic the whole
scene is changed. Stately buildings
arise on the banks of that neglected
stream, the lonely forest gives place
to the workman's white cottages, the
stony soil is converted into smiling
gardens and orchards. Idleness dis
appears and the factory bell calls busy
men and women to profitable employ
ment every day 10 the week, and
church bells call to worship on Sun
day. Education, intelligence and
comfort prevail with all the blessed
incidents of prosperity. This is en-
chanting, and in many cases it is true.
Well, isn't it convincing argument
for protection? 1t is an argument
an overwhelming one-for the exist
ence of manufactures, but not for pro-
lection Where does it all come
from? From the profits made by
manufacturing those blankets. Where
do those profits come from From the
duty on foreign blankets, which ena-
bles the mill owner to put nearly all
the tax on HIS blankets. Who pays
that tax? Every man who buys a
blanket. Every farmer in this broad
lapd, every plowboy, WAGNER, ditcher,
blacksmith-in short, every man who
sleeps under blanket, high and low,
rich and poor, the pampered lord of
the mansion and the shivering widow
in the cottage, all pay tax over and
above the actual cost of blankets to
produce this scene of beauty and pros
perity. 1t is prospect of loveliness
tainted, for the thoughtful man, by
the foul streaks of injustice and rob
berry under the forms of law" 1t has
all been paid for by pinching, discom-
fort and self denial in every home in
the land. Practically, what difference
is there between that tariff act and the
giving of that manufacturer bounty
on every blanket he made equal to
the difference between its cost and the
cost of the foreign ones? Practically,
is not that tariff law just the same
thing, if the amount collected under it
could be exactly estimated, az if it
had read thus "Be it enacted, &C.,
that one million dollars, or 50 much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby
appropriated out of any moneys in
the treasury not otherwise appropria-
ted to pay John Smith for operating
blanket factory at Fall River, Mass,
for two years from the 3Oth of June,
IS, to the Both of June, 18-, and
selling said blankets at the market
price of the world?" In the one case
the government would collect the tax
from the people and pay it over to
John Smith !; in the other the govern
ment authorizes John Smith to collect
it for himself, and by the law keeps
all outsiders from interfering with
him. The only practical difference |
can see between them is in favor of
the direct appropriation from the treas
ury. In the first place the amount is
limited, whilst under the tariff Smith
collects all he can without limit In
the next place, the people would know
just what was done with their money,
and could not be confused and deceiv.
ed as to the real objects of the taxa
tion. Then if they saw fit to be bled
to enrich private persons, they would
suffer with their eyes open.
The next paper will deal with the
pictures of general prosperity which,
it is alleged, the tariff has produced.
z. B. VANCE.