New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-14
FoUR THoUSAND ARTTCLESs


1t is about time to dispose of one Democratic
stock cry-that duties are collected upon 1000
different articles under the existing tariff.
Democratic orators and editors are fond of this,
because they want to give the impression that
this ubiquitous" tariff reaches out its arms
in every direction. and lays all forms of indus
try under tribute. Now the fact is, as the In
curing reader may find by reference to the
Commerce and Navigation report for 1856,
the latest detailed figures yet available, that
the articles upon which duties were collected
during that year numbered only 992, or less
than one-fourth of the number claimed. This
is most significant showing. The number OF
articles on the free list was increased by the
tariff of 1883. Republican measure. to more
than 800, or almost exactly onc-thlrd the num-
Der of articles that paid duty in 1856; and this
latter number does not vary materially from
year to year.
Another fact of great importance bearing
upon this effort Of the Democrats to give the
impression that the tariff has endless ramifca-
tions and inilicts enormous complications upon
commerce, may be also briefly stated. The
report of the Secretary of the Treasury shows
that of S212,C32 42l customs duties collected
during the last fiscal year. S147,747,924, or
about seven-tenths of the whole, were collected
from seven classes of articles-sugar, iron and
steel, WOOL silk, tobacco. with the manufact-
ures of them glass and fruit. All the remain
ing articles produced but 1924, 500. This
shows that vast proportion Of the effect OF
theAariff is felt upon small number of articles.
If the 1000 articles existed they would not
have room to turn around in, after seven
tcnths of the revenue had been deducted for
only seven articles.
Mr. Edward Mcpherson has taken the trouble
lately to trace this Democratic myth back to
its origin. 1t occurs in the Presidents tariff
message, but no one is disposed to hold him to
too strict an accountability for that Mr.
Cleveland is probably about as poorly informed
on this subject as any man who ever reached
position of prominence in this country, and SAID
in his message. in Il crude way. only what
other people told him. The paper was appar-
emily modelled after the platform Of the Ken
lucky Democrats adopted East June. which was
said to have been written by Mr.. Carlisle HIM
self. and which charged that the tariff imposed
duties on cover 1000 articles" But this was
not the genesis of it. 1t appeared in these
very words in the National Democratic plat
form of 1876 as applied to the tariff of 1870.
1t was not true then. but it is even moro OF
a falsehood now. since the revision of the taliff
in 1883 has made the free list greater than
ever before in the history of the country
But the scrupulous Democratic leaders, somo
of them well informed like Mr.. Carlisle, have
gone on using it. 1t sounded well, it was
effective party thunder. and they kept it going.
They have been so industrious about it, and
SO noisy, that great many persons have ac-
cepted it as correct statement without think
ing to question it. Even Republicans Of
national reputation have carclessly used it in
their speeches. But it is to be hoped now that
We have heard the last of those $4,000
articles"