The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-10
THE HON. P. T. GLASS.
THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
NINTH DISTRICT ON THE TARIFF.
A Letter to Col. A. g. Colvar, Editor
Of the Nashville American, Which
Has the Right Democratic Ring
About II.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WAsIIINGr0N. Eeh % 1893

WASHINGTON, FeD ~, 1885.
Col A. s. Colyar. Nashville. Tenn:
Dear Sir-My attention has been called
10 your correspondence in the american
from this city, and while there is but little
in 1t any way, 1t may be misleading. And
with your permission will give, very
briefly, through the medium OF your jour-
nal, my views on the true questions al
luded to in the casual conversation. The
feature OF the platform in question was the
result OF q compromise, and each party TO
It put upon 1t q different construction.
When fairly considered it viii admit OF
but one construction, Subject to the pre-
ccding limitations, federal taxation shall
be exclusively for governmental purposes,
and the preceding limitations; protection
to the extent Of the difference in wages in
this country and foreign countries. Now,
from my standpoint, this is very plain, and
easily understood, and does not at all sus-
tain the high protection policy. The aver
age cost OF labor, according to the census
OF 1880, entering into tho manufactured
products Of the protective industries is ia
per cent.
Now, IL will be conceded that the aver
age cost Of labor in the United States is
about 90 per cent. greater than in Europe.
II you desire 10 put the well paid labor Of
this country on an equal footing with the
poorly paid labor Of Europe, you would
only levy duty Of 80 per cent. Of the
value Of the labor entering into the cost of
the product, and not 80 per cent. upon the
cost Of the labor and the capital invested
in the raw materials that enter into the
finished product In other words. duty
OF less than o per cent. upon imported
commodities would give ample protection
to the extent OF the difference in wages of
this country and Great Britain. and duty
OF la per cent. would cover all the cost OF
labor in the manufactures OF our protected
industries and afford entire protection
against competition OF the lowest paid
labor in Europe. The average duties at
this time upon imports into this country is
about AZ per cent. higher than any other
country. except Brazil, Canada, Mex
leo, Denmark and the Argentine Re-
public. All the great governments
OF the world have lower tariffs
than ours. So that labor is not only pro-
tected under our present tariff duties, to
the full extent Of 80 per cent. OF the price
OF foreign labor, but 10 100 per cent, and
above and beyond this full protection Of
domestic labor. the home manufacturer is
protected against foreign capital combined
with the labor that make up the price OF
the imported manutactures.20 per cent.
favor an enlargement OF the free list
and conservative cutting down Of duties
all along the line, especially upon those
articles OF necessity that are necessary TO
the comfort and support OF the laboring
masses. Lumber TO build their houses,
fabrics for their clothing, articles OF food
and fuel. And / am not able TO see how
the domestic manufacturer will be able 70
largely increase his exports 80 long as his
raw materials Of manufacture are taxed.
He will not he able TO occupy even the
non-manufacturing countries on this con-
tinent so long rs foreign countries that use
,untaxed raw materials compete for those
fields. In order TO extend the markets
for our manufactured products abroad, we
will he compelled TO put all the
raw materials OF manufacture on the
free list. Timber, lumber, coal, iron
ore. pig iron and copper. and salt. / be-
lieve II this were done II would give a new
impetus 10 southern industries Our coal
and iron can be mined cheaper than II can
be done In the east. And pig iron Is now
made at much less cost In tho south than
elsewhere in this country. Our coal and
iron in many places rise into mountains
and crop out ON the surface, and IL more
easily mined than almost anywhere in the
world And the imports OF these articles
from Great Britain, where they are fire.
qucntly mined 10 depth OF 5000 feet, can
never injuriously affect the mine-owners OF
the south, however much II might affect
such mine-owners on the eastern sea
board And II would have the effect TO
drive much OF the capital now invested In
mining and manufacturing in that locality
10 the far more inviting fields OF the south.
And we should never lose sight OF the
farming interests. Our farmers are now
compelled 10 sell their surplus In the free
markets Of the world and TO buy In a re-
strictcd one, and 10 pay prices greatly en-
more favored industries His surplus ex-
ported abroad necessarily comes into COM
petition with the riot labor OF India aud
the iellah labor Of Egypt for both his cot
ton and his wheat, the leading exports OF
this country. | hold there IA no power
under the constitution 10 clay and collect
taxes" for any other than governmental
purposes, and that no duty should be inn
posed above the point al which the largest
amount OF revenue will be realized. But
within the revenue limits II may be proper
90 discriminate. And l cannot sec the
justice Of imposing a heavy tax upon
100000 Of farmers and 100000 farm
laborcrs and thousands Of mechanics and
other classes engaged In non-protected
pursuits 10 enable a few thousand en-
gngcd In the protected industries 10 pay
high wages TO their labores and amass