The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-05
ARGENTINE WOOL.

Plan to Aid the Argentine Republic at the
Expense or the United States Wool-Growers.
San Francisco Chronicle.
The Argentine Republic contains at the pres
porting twice three times as many. Mr..
Cleveland has recently had conference with
Edward A. HOPKINS, the American resident in
that republic. with reference to getting the prod
net of those &c. 00000 sheep into the United
States, and. according tn Mr.. Hopkins himself,
the President stands ready to sacrifice Ameri-
can sheep growers at the earliest opportunity.
The Presidents plan, as detailed by Mr.. Hop
kns, is to substitute steamship line by means
of favorable mail contract. then TO
from specific to an sdvalorem
duty, and then, q consequence. to flood the
United States with cheap wool: The cheap
wool part OF the programme 10 In line with bis
message, as that was the burden Of his song at
that time; but he can scarcely claim that sub
sides TO steamship lines. or the substitution OF
an advalorem for specific duty. y pure and M
adulterated Democracy.
Ever since the Democratic party has been in
power il has contended, perhaps with more zeal
than discretion. against the payment of bounties
or subsidies or any benefactiou to steamship
lines To say subsidy or anything like it has
been to bring down storm OF indignation on
the head OF him who suggested It. But Mr..
Cleveland is so much greater than his party
that il be proposes it the party will doubtless
accept It, and even wonder why it did not occur
20 them sooner.
AS to the kind Of duty which is proper to be
imposed foreign products. cannot do bet
ter than to quote Mr. Manning the late Secre
tary OF the Treasury. who while alive. was
particularly MIR. Clevelands guide philosophers
and friend. Mr. Manning said 10 1855 that ''ins
vestigations Of the methods of entry and sp-
praisement of imported merchandise have shown
that the tariff laws are largely evaded by under
valuation wherever the duties are levied al
valorem;" and again. in 1856. he said: "One
hears il often said that II ous ad valorem rates
did not exceed - or 30 DER cent. underv auasion
and temptation to differentiation would disap-
pear but the records Of the department for the
years 1917. 1910 and 1857 do not uphold that
conclusion. / believe 1t possible to prepare .
plan for the prudent enlargement Of specific
| the government of the country.
| This Is strong testimony against the extension
| Of the ad vAlorem system. but 1t does not Affect
Mr. Cleveland in the least degree. He has his
| mind so firmly fixed on ths proposition to i'm
port wool duty free that he SEQ nothing else.
90 far as wool 10 concerned To him free wool
| 10 the Alpha and Omega OF national prosperity
| He is haeridden by the phantom of that tax
| which fastens with such relentless grasp upon
| the clothing OF every man, woman and child il
| the United States; and though the phantom Is
no more existent than the horrible images seen
| by man with delerium tremens 1t is Just as
real to him as though it actually existed.
| Dir. Hopkins. who seems to be a man aftel
| Cleveand's own heart, says that Q subsidized
line of steamers would create an Areen tine trade
| worth $1,000 900 year to New York city. and
that the Argentine people would pay this WITT
| wool II he made that statement TO the Presi
| dent il was conclusive. That Official. who think
| the United States cotertiminus with the STATE
| OF New York. and who derives his inspiration
from Manhattan island, would need no further
argument The woolerowers OF the Who'll
United States would not weigh in the balance q
second against increasing the trade or Ne'
York city O.. 200, 600 . year. Fortunately, how