The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-07-12

which had little or no foreign competition
The present high protective tariff is q
war tax, and never could have passed but
for the imposition of internal taxes on
our home manufactures. II justice to
the manufactures required that the tariff
duties should be raised to eountervail the
internal revenue, does not justice to the
peoples demand that these duties shall
be restored to the revenue standard after
the repeal of the internal taxes?
We are told that experience justifies
high taxes for, home protection. Where
shall we look for examples? Why did
Great Britain after centuries OF experience
of the protective system in all its forms,
after its application to every branch
ofindustry, totally abandon it in ls42 and
ls46? What was the state Of England
in lS4l, when Sir Robert Peel began the
great work of revenue reform? Mills
and workshops closed all property de-
preciated in value more than halt. Ships
were rotting at the wbarves Of all the
seaport cities. The agricultural popula-
ton was on the verge of famine, and the
most enterprising nation in Europe, teem-
ing with capital and labor unemployed,
on the brink of general bankruptcy. I'm
der the protective system for twenty
years, between 1905 and 1925, there had
only been an increase Of 81 900, 900 in the
value of the exports of the kingdom.
With the partial abandonment of pro-
lection in 1912 in four years the exports
increased 1882 900 900. With the total
removal of all restrictions on food pro-
| ductions in 1S46 and the passage of the
| -. 10 of1 . bo Ina 6 bo
exports of Great Britain went from $685.
900 900 in 1916 up to 81, l,432 100000 in
1880. The increase Of the value of Brit
ish exports for the last thirty years under
the protective system was $34O, ,OOO, 900,
and for the first thirty years under free
trade 81 400, ,OOO, 900.
A like result followed the repeal of the
English navigation laws in ls49. In that
year the tonnage was 3, 100000 in 1880,
$500, 900. In 1s4l the capital of British
savings banks was $l2O O,OOO, 900; in 1880
$3.50, 900, 900. 1t can<hever be dishonor
for anyone to belong to the Golden club
with these facts before the world.
The example of Belgium is still more
striking. While under the control of the
French, the policy of absolute protection
prevailed. Foreign goods was not permit
ted to enter the country, and, if any were
found in it, they were destroyed by pub
lie authority. What was the result
When the Dutch took possession of the
country, after the banishment of Napo-
leon to Elba, they found it a bowling
wilderness, with ruined capitalists aud
starving population. What is it now
under the policy of free trade ? The most
prosperous country in Europe, if not in
the world. With a sterile soil, territory
about the size OF Massachusetts and Con-
necticut, and 100000 of people, it sup
ports an army twice the size OF the United
States, has a revenue of $50, 900 900 and
has annual exports to the value of $500
100000. If the foreign commerce of the
United States was IN proportion to that of
Belgium, instead of being something over
81 600, ,OOO, 900, it would amount to
$4,000 100000.
What is the system of protection but
barbarism Of the dark ages In the reigns
Of Elizabeth and Charles III, wool was an
article too precious to leave British soil.
1t was high crime to carry it within fif-
teen miles of the sea, and the hand that
offered it for sale without leave of the
place by the public executioner.
Look at Canada, separated from US by
a surveyors line. There you find 4,0OO,-
900 Of people of kindred blood, common
language and the same religion, full of
enterprise and industry, from whom we
are cut off by the tyranny of government
more effectually than if a range of noun
tains as lofty as the Alps intervened be-
tween the two countries.
Are not these four millions of people
placed by nature at the very threshold of
this republic, by the law of God and the
conditions of life, as much entitled to ex-
change their products and labor for what
they can find in Michigan to increase their
happiness and supply their wants as the
people of Illinois and Ohio !? Are their no
ties, obligations or duties between man
and man except what arise out Of or are
created by the municipal laws of the
State If the power exists in the State
or Federal Governments to carry the
principle of taxation to the extent of pro-
hibiting commercial exchanges with for
eign counties in the interest of domestic
monopoly, we are living under one of the
greatest despotisms on earth. But there
is no such power. Every court and every
jurist of character in the land will say
that the power of taxation is power that
must be exercised for the benefit of the
public, and not of class The Legislature
of Kansas passed law authorizing cities
to subscribe money and to issue bonds in
aid of domestic manufactures. The
power was exercised, and when an attempt
was made to levy tax to pay the bonds
it was resisted, aud the case went to the
| Supreme Court of the United States. That
| great tribunal held that the State had no
| power to levy taxes, except for public pur-
| poses, and that tax to aid domestic in
dustries was not of that description.
According to the census returns Of 1870
there were Il, 100000 persons employed
in all occupations In the United States.
Each of these persons had to support on
an average LIS persons; Al per cent. be-
ing engaged in agriculture, % per cent in
professional business, % per cent. in manu-
featuring, mechanical and mining indus
tries. Out Of all the productive laborers
in the country there were about four in
other industries TO every one engaged in
manufactures. Four active business men
all over the country were made to suffer
injury and loss for the benefit of each Ia
borer employed in manufactures, and this
is the equality and justice of the protec-
tive system. CHARLES w. JONES.