The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-30
The Republican Party and the Tariff.


1t is well to remember that the extreme
high tariff views advocated by BLAINE,
KELLEY, MCKINLEY and others OF that ilk,
are radical departure from early repub-
lican teachings. The old republican doc
trine was moderate protection" i. e., tar
ifhigh enough to equalize any differences
that might exist between the cost of labor
in the United States and competing coun-
tries, but not high enough to enable
American manufacturers, by organ
ling combinations, to extort excess
i've profits from the people.
This was the republican position as de
fined by GRANT, GARFIELD, ARTHUR,
FoLGER, BRIsTow, MCCULLoCH and many
other distinguished leaders of the party
before it fell completely under the control
of monopoly. Gen. GRANT favored putting
fine woods and all raw materials not pro-
duced in this country on the free list. He
made this recommendation in his annual
message as president in 1874, when there
was deficit instead of a surplus, and the
necessities OF the government called for an
increase in taxes OF some kind. Here is
what he said:
/ would suggest TO congress the propriety of
readjusting the tariff so as to increase the reye
nue. and at the same time decrease the number
OF articles upon which the duties are levied
Those articles which enter into manufaet-
ures and are not produced at home, 1t seems 10
me, should be entered free. Those articles Of
manufacture which we produce constituent
part Of, but do not produce the whole, that
part which we do not produce should be
entered free also. / will instance fine woods,
dyes, etc. These articles must be imported to
form a part OF the manufacture OF the higher
grades of wooden goods. Chemicals used as
dyes, compounded in medicines and used in
various ways in manufactures come under this
class. The introduction free of duty of such
woods as we do not produce would stimulate
the manufacture OF goods requiring the use of
those we do produce, and, therefore, would be
benefit to nome production. There are many
articles entering into home manufacture which
we do not produce ourselves, the tariff upon
which increases The cost OF producing the
manufactured article.
The conditions now are vastly different
from what they were then. Every reason
which then existed for putting wool and
other raw materials on the free list has
become intensified by the lapse of time.
The Jolly OF high wool duties has been
demonstrated by experience. The neces-
sity of charging the markets of our man
ufacturers is imminent. There is mon
strous surplus in the treasury which
threatens dire disaster to the business
interests OF the country. All the internal
taxes have been repealed excepting those
on liquor and tobacco, harmful luxuries
which are the most proper subjects of tax
alton that could be found. And yet
the advocates of a scheme of tariff
reduction which is in line with the above
recommendations Of GRANT and those of
GARFIELD and of Arthur, and which
leaves higher average of protection than
was provided by the Morrill, tariff bill Ia
war measure), are denounced by the re-
publican press with a few exceptions),
and by the republican leaders as British
free traders" and as enemies to American
industry.
Truly the republican party has fallen
upon evil days. 1t has become mere in
strument Of monopoly, and its restoration
to power would be a dire calamity to the
country