The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1888-10-24
The Tariff.


taxes or customs levied by govern
ment ON the merchandise that comes
into its ports from foreign countries,
or that goes out from its ports to
other countries. To collect these
taxes, custom houses, as they are
called, are established at every port,
and at other points along the coast
watch is kept that goods be not
landed without payment of the re-
quired duties or taxes.
Tariffs may be divided into three
classes, viz: Tariff for revenue, pro-
tective and prohibitory tariffs.
What is tariff 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
taxation without regard to any 9TH
er consideration. Practically, how
ever, there will never be such a tar
if, pure andsimple," strictly speak
ing, as in all tariffs there must in
the nature of things be more or less
discrimination" and the moment
discrimination" begins the tariff
become more or less protective"
And what is protective tariff?
A strictly protective tariff is one
that has its duties so arranged as
to prevent Importation of foreign
goods, and consequent competition
between home and fnreign manufac-
turers, the object of it being to give
the home manufacturer the adTant-
age over his foreign competitor to
the amount Of the duty.
And what is a prohibitcFy tariff?
A prohiblssry tariff goes step
farmer and discards entirely all
thought Of revenue, being a system
of import duties or taxes so arranged
as TO prevent the importation of GER
tain goods or merchandise. This is
accomplished by requiring such
goods to pay very high duties OF
taxes for the privilege Of entering
our market. The object is by add.
ing the high duty or tax the cost Of
manufacture to prevent the foreign
manufacturer from coming into oul
markets, so as to break down COM
petition and give the home manufac.
turrr free swing to sell at any
price he may choose. Competition
a. We know, while it increases trad,
diminishes prices.
OF course, so long as there is 1
government the people who live un'
der it mus! be taxed to provide
money for its support, a1din great
eountryl'keOurs, containingG0, 0O0,'
900 Of people and covering such {
vast extent Of territory, very large
sum Of money is every year absolutely
necessary to pay actual running ex.
penses, even though the government
be administered upon the most econ
omical scale. And this being 80, a
tariff 10 raise the revenue necessary
for the expenses Of the government
is. and has been, unavoidable. But
In selecting the articles for tariff
taxation and in fixing the amounts
of that taxation the object Of Con-
gress should always be TO distribute
a. equally as possible the burdens Of
taxation. and in the matter Of dis
elimination to favor the nccessuries
Of life rather than its luxnries. and
generally, to d. the greatest good to
the greatest number Of our people.
How these ends are to be ACCOMPLISH
ed in detail is a matter for the wise
discretion Of our Federal legislators.
But by no sJrt Of construction can
this be said to give Congress the
authority TO make determinations or
give protection simply for protec-
ti9n's sake. in order to build up man
ufactures. for instance. Ifthe man
ufaeturers or producers be benefited
Or protected" BY a tariff it is mani
fest that it is done at Che expense Of
The CONSUMER, and to do this violates
the mandate which requires Con-
sFyts.s in trvvius, a furffT "a d;st .,I.,4