Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-04
AN UNSWERABLE POSITION.
One of the Macks on the Question Of
Protection.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

/ 10 the EdNOr OF the Eagle.
How to get rid of the surplus in the q.
S. Treasury is the problem which is per-
picking the minds of the present admin
istration. The president assures US in
his message that a reduction of the tariff
on manufactures is the great cure-all
for the ills of which the whole body poll
tic complains. ParadoXical as it may
appear, reduction of the tariff on any
article, manufactured abroad, will in
crease the revenue derived from the i'm
portation of that article. As an iliustra-
ton, reduce the import duties on wooden
and iron goods, and the products of
European mills and factories will be
dumped on our shores in such quantities
as will increase the revenue.
IF the duties on imported goods We're
raised to such figures. as would prohibit
their importations, there would speedily
follow reduction of the revenue Not
only would the surplus in the treasury
be reduced, but a manufacturing boom
would be established, which would give
employment to all having the ability or
willingness to work The receipts Of
ending November Is amounted to the
enormous sum of 81, $50, 423 for imported
manufactures. The greater portion of
the goods on which this duty was paid
could be manufactured at home. thereby
increasing the labor and wealth of our
own country instead of giving employ
ment to foreign workmen.
st. Paul, the inspired apostle, gave utter
TO f,o
serted that he who does not look after
the interests of his own household is
worse than an infdel. The president Of
these United States advocates a policy
which is received in England with APP
prOval: but the question comes for an
answer to every American patriot. will
we legislate for the benefit of England:
1t has been asserted many times that
English gold elected Cleveland and many
acts of his administration cannot be I'M
derstood without believing that he is
mere tool of the only enemy which we
fishery question shows us that he
can trample on an act of congress in
order that he NAV benefit perfidious Al
bion. In his late message TO congress he
emphasizes a so-called fact: that the
of his goods the amount of tariff on
similar imported articles. To disprove
this wild assertion | will take calico on
which there is a duty of five and six
cents per yard. according to quality: but
it can be bought for the amount of the
duty | will next take cut nails. the
kind that is usually used by carpenters:
the duty is 81 p per key and nails We're
a r
the president explain how nails can be
manufactured for sixty cents a keg:
Steel rails were sold not long ago for
$500 per ton. the duty was 81: there
fore steel rails in material and labor cost
but $3.50 per ton. This Is such a
ridiculous assertion that it will not be
believed by any intelligent person. our
president To the contrary notwIthstand-
ing. Cleveland fails to understand the
of tariff which is TO preserve
American markets for Americans. We
cannot compete with the cheap labor Of
Europe. except by bringing our work /.
men down To the level OF European (
workmen. The stress of competition
Is so great in Saxonv. Germany, that
workmen are compelled to work on Sun (
dav man that will not agree TO work
>tN I'll NsN : tStCIi Ntth " III tlOJ w iiiltiA
in the Saxonv. Divine and human laws
are trampled under foot in order that .
they NAV obtain a market for their .
goods. Mr.. Editor. / would not allow .
an Englishman or German to land on +
these shores with g paper OF tacks or .
pins: i would fling tacks and pins over +
board. but | should welcome the Ger
man and EngliShman TO a higher civil +
zation. which can be obtained on
these shores by preserving the best mar
kets in the world to those who cast s
their lot among Us: and who contribute
their brain and muscle to make
America, great. glorious and free,
First flower Of tne earth.
And first gem Of tine sea. =
It Is only semi-civilized people who
Will consent to export the raw material.
md import manufactured goods. Had
Ne sufficient skilled mechanics to manu-
lacture everything we need. there would
~ no occasion for Us farmers 10 sell
wheat and the other products Of our
farms IT q price that viii not cover the
,Ost Of production. We can have
nome market for cur farm products only
~ encouraging the growth Of home
and preserving our artl-
ans from competition with the ensiaTed
oilers OF Europe.
Yours respectfully,
oxE OF The Macs. ::
GLEE-slARy FARM. Jan. /. lsS>. u