West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-10-24
TARIFF POINTS.


for it was a tax of 80 per cent, on
the gross receipts of the year for
goods sold to foreign nations.
Our farmers sold abroad last year
surplus agricultural products worth
$500, S40,0S For this they had to
take payment in kind. When that
payment came into IL ports it was
taxed $156, 2S9, IVA. 1t made no
difference to our farmers whether
our Government levied an export
tax of 30 per cent, on all agricul-
tural products exported, or whether
it levied an import tax of 80 per
cent. upon the payment when i'm
ported.
A tariff is a tax levied rpol the
payment we receive for our exported
goods. II not, what is it?
Our imports are our payment for
our exports. If not, what are they?
Our farmers were fined $15G,189.-
ia last year for exporting their
surplus of $500, $40, 0SG. If not, why
did they have topay Uncle Sam that
amount before receiving the foreign
payment for their exports?
Our people were fined 1913, $685.
sol for sending abroad for sale goods
valued at $712, 24S, G26. If not, why
were they taxed that amount by
their Government ?
Is it wrong to sell our surplus to
foreign nations? The Republicans
say it is. The Republican party is
pledged to destroy the surplus now
sold abroad and to limit our produc-
ton to II own needs. In its own
words, it proposes to conine Amer
lean labor to American markets.
The direct object of Protection
now $50 drive 1000, 900 farmers
Off the land and make them wage
slaves for mill owners. There are
1000, 900 men engaged in farming
in excess of the number necessary
to supply the American market.
They must work for a foreign mar
ket, starve or find work in our pro-
tected mills. One of these three
things they must do. The Repub-
lican party last year taxed their
surplus, which they had to sell
abroad, $156, 2S9, 179, and notified
them that American labor must be
confined to work for American mar
kets. As the product of one DAYS
labor on an American farm will buy
the product of two or three DAYS
labor by foreign paupers in Germa-
ny or India, the American farmer
is to be compelled to make what the
foreign pauper makes in Germany
and India and lose his profit on the
exchange.
Every ~''protected'' American la
borer is working in competition
with foreign pauper labor. He is
trying to make what the foreign
paupor makes and trying to make it
az cheaply as the foreign pauper.
lie cannot succeed until his wages
are brought down to the foreign
pauper wage-level or near it.
No unprotected American laborer
can enter into competitor with for
eign pauper labor. He does not
make what the foreign pauper makes.
He makes something different.
something the foreign pauper can
not make, and sells it to the foreign
pauper, exchanging the product of
one days American labor for the
product Of two or three days foreign
pauper labor.
The object of Protection is to
pauperizo American labor and reduce
1T to the level Of European and Ash
attic LABOR. by compelling II labor
ers to abandon their profitable work
and make what the European and
Asiatic laborcr mako-and make it
as cheaply.
The Republicans propose to give
ms more work for the same pay.
They cannot increase the pay-but
they can increase the work by levy
ing products Of agriculture, com
polling the farmer to work one
third longer each day to pay the
fine, or TO leave the farm and 90
into a mill, whore he must enter
into direct competition with The
foreign pauper and work longer