The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-08-30

taxes or customs Levied Dy SoFSIH-
ment on the merchandise that comes
into its ports from foreign countries,
or that goes ont from its ports to
other countries. To collect these tax
es, custom houses, as they are called,
are established at every port, ano at
other points along the coast watch IS
kept that goods be not landed with
out payment Of the required duties or
taxes.
Tariffs NAV be divided into three
classes viz: Tariff for revenue, pro-
tcctive and prohibitory tariffs.
What is a tariff for revenue, or low
tariff, as it is generally called?
A tariff for revenue, strictly speak
ing, or low tariff, as it is GENERALLY
called, is one arranged with view to
raising revenue and to distribute as
equally as possible the burdens of tax
alton without regard to any other
consideration. Practically, however,
there will never be such a tariff, "pure
and simple" strictly speaking, as IN
all tariffs there must in the nature Of
things be more or less "disCrlmlna-
ton" and the moment " discrimlna-
ton" begins the tariff becomes more
or less protective"
And what is protective tariff?
A strictly protective tariff IS one
that has it's duties SO arranged as not to
prevent importation of foreign goods,
and consequent competition between
home and foreign manufacturers, the
object of it being to give the home
manufacturer the advantage over his
foreign competitor to the amount of
the duty.
And what is a prohibitory tariff?
A prohibitory tariff goes step far
Their II discards entirely all thought
of revenue, being a system of import
duties or taxes SO arranged as to pre-
vent the importation o. certain goods
or merchandise. This is accomplished
by requiring such goods to pay very
high duties or taxes for the privilege
OF entering our markets. The object
is by adding the high duty or tax to
the cost Of manufacture to prevent the
foreign manufacturer from coming into
our markets, SO as 70 break down COM
petition and give the home manufac-
turer free swing to sell at any price
he may choose. Competition, as we
know, while it increases trade dlmin-
ishes prices.
OF course, SO long as there is gov
eminent the people who live under
it must be taxed to provide money fo1
its support, and in great country like
ours, containing 60, 900, 900 of people
and covering such vast extent of ter
ritory, a very large sum of money is
every year absolutely necessary to pay
actual running expenses, even though
the government be administered upon
the most economical scale. And this
being so, a tariff to raise the revenue
necessary for the expenses of the gov
eminent is, and has been, unavoida-
bic. But in selecting the articles fol
tariff taxation and in fixing the
amounts of that taxation the object O
Congress should always be to dis.
tribute as equally as possible the bur
dens of taxation, and in the matter O.
discrimination to favor the necessarie:
Of life rather than its luXuries, anC
generally, to do the greatest good tt
the greatest number of our people
How these ends are to be accom-
plished in detail is a matter for the
: wise discretion of our Federal legisla
) tors But by no sort of construction
can this be said to give Congress the
authority to make determinations Of
give protection simply tor protection:
sake, in order to build up manufac
lures, for instance If the manufac
turers or producers be benefited o.
: protected" by a tariff it Is nantes
that it is done at the expense of the
consumer, and to do this violates ths
mandate which requires Congress il
. levying E tariff to distribute the bur
: dens of taxation as equally as possible
+ 1t is the policy of the Radical par
~, however, to enrich the manufac
=, turers of the country at the public ex
t pense through the agency of the tariff
! That this is contrary to every princi
pie of right and justice is perfectl,
manifest. If, indeed, the employee
Of the manufacturers were benefited
. the UrOnn might the hettar hf, St1b