National Republican., 1888-01-04
Concerning works Of Art.

NouOoTnlnk WOrhh OF ART,
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN; see by
the dispatches from Washington that Mr..
r. II. Park, sculptor, who has become
resident Of Florence, italy, and 70, there
fore, no longer citizen of the United
States. having lived abroad for nearly
twenty yearp, is now in Washington petit
tfoning Congress 10 remove the duty on
works Of art. Like his friends, Preston
Powers, Randolph Rodgers, G. b. Ives,
Thomas Ball, william W. Story, and q
number OF other sculptors, some OF whom
have lived In Rome for forty years, and
who have made frequent incursions Into the
United States 10 obtain orders, and when
they got them went back home TO Italy to
execute them. All OF these gentlemen and
several lady sculptors have, when they re-
celved American orders, exiled themselves,
ebirked the duties incumbentu upon all good
Americans, and preferred 10 give their
work TO Italian and German workmen
rather than to their own cotntrymen-
thus injuring our bronze foundry people,
sntor, sna literally Ny, O.sSSsari1g .Ss marble n
after bringing American workmen and the
italian lazzlrone In competition these for
eign Americans send their work over here,
the mechanical part OF which is done In
Europe, and II passes into our ports free OF
duty on the claim that these foreign resi-
dent seulptors are alleged citizens OF the
United States. Is this Just to the artists
who are residonts here, who pay taxes and
help TO support the goverrmentS Is II fair
that citizen should leave his country for
forty years and then claim the same privi.
leges, benefits, and rights as a citizen who
has done his duty the same number OF years
here at homer
Itkis all very well for Mr.. Park and his
worthy foreigners OF the American colonies
al Rome and Florence to get their foreign
work Into this great market Of America
free OF duty, But they may as well he told
now that the majority OF the American peo-
pie, and more especially American artists
who are wholly American, are opposed TO
taking off the present duty Of 30 per cent,
and for one the undersigned is In favor Of
putting 80 per cent on all works OF Ameri-
can painters and sculptors who have re-
sided In Europe over twenty-one years.
What duties do they perform as AmericansY
These gentlemen are only Americans In
name. Where were they when our great
civil war was raging2 Were they In the
ranks with muskets on their shoulders
Not one Of them Did they send substi-
tutes No. On the contrary, they were safe
under the wing Of foreign government,
| where the authority Of the United States
| people during the war were paying
| 80 and GO per cent. tariff for goods, these
| inspired stonecutters, tallors In bronze,
| and sculptors were living in foreign lands
| and getting their work into our ports on
| the free list. Mr.. Free Trader Park must
have more brass In his cheek than he has in
his statues to invade Washington under
the circumstances with petition signed,
| probably in the main, by picture dealers
here and exporting picture "sharps" In the
European cities. There is not the remotest
| possibility Of the duty Of 30 per cent. being
taken of during the present session.
1t must not be understood, however, that
American artists are opposed to any change
OF the present tariff laws concerning works
Of art. II any person wishes to Inquire al
to this sentiment In the minds OF American
artists he will find the most OF them are In
favor Of a graduated scale OF duties on
works OF art paintings and statuary) some
thing like this:
On all imported works OF art invoiced
and valued at over $25 900 and above tina,
sum, and old works Of the old masters. 10
be free; all works Of art intended for col
leges, schools, or public institutions, free
as they are now; all works OF art invoiced
and valued at 100000 and under $25, 900
81 per cent. ad valorem; all works OF ar
invoiced and valued at $4,000 and undel
100000, 8 per cent; all works OF art In
voiced and valued at $4,000 and undel
$4,000, 10 per cent; on all works OF ar
involced and valued at $1,000 and undei
$4,000, 20 per cent; on all works OF arr
invoiced and valued at $2,500 and under
$1,000, 30 per cent. on all works OF ART
valued at $1,000 and under 81, 800, 35 pc
cent; on all works OF art valued at 500 AM
under 81 900, 45 per cent; on all works o
art valued at 500 and under 800, 55 pc
cent; on all works of art valued at les
than SEQ, 60 per cent, except Autographs
epgravings, photographs, wood engravings
eteehh iln,ss e, -photo-gravuer ensravings, ant
busts and statuettes in any material eXCep
marble and bronze, 25 per cent all valorem
A graduated scale similar to the on,
above given would probably give .satisfas
tion.
Do you know any reason, Mr.. Editor
why thsIdwoikirg artists mot capitalists
have and are still doing as much for civil
Zation as any other profession OF peopl,
should not be protected from pirates, pat
pers, picture dealing "sharks," and 81
called Americans, who claim all the priv
leges Of Americans and do nothing In
social or political way TO deserve them
AS far as Mr.. Parks influence goes
Congress II will not amount to much, eS
cept among some OF the western and south
tical working Of the tariff aud notions q
political economy are about as crude as th
fence rails that surround the long grass {
the Texas prairies or the matchless blu
grass fields OF Kentucky.
For protection to every class OF Amer
can workers, / am, yours truly, W. NJ.