Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-10-19
THE TARIFF.

This is the subject which above all
Others in the sphere of politics is en-
gaging the mind of the American
people. 1t is their position upon this
that divides the two great parties, and
upon which they really base their
claims for the peoples support. In
the application of the tariff to the
various kinds of imports, it becomes
very complex system, that requires
close and long study to master. Yet
in its fundamental principle the tariff
question is simple and easy to be
understand.
The fundamental idea is to raise the
revenue of the government by an in
direct tax, rather than by direct taXS
alton. The reason for a tariff on inn
ports at all is, that people will pay
cheerfully an indirect tax for a larger
amount, when they would not will
iingly pay a much less direct tax. 1t
is, therefore, easier for the govern
ment to raise its revenue in this way.
In the first settlement Of this question
there were no manufactures
in America, and no men of large
means to establish them. Conse.
quently in order to get them it be.
came necessary to induce multitude
of people with small means to invest
in manufactures. These at first
would of course be small and rude
and could not successfully compete
with the large, rich, and thoroughly
equipped foreign manufactures
Therefore in applying this principle
of raising revenue it was wise anC
just to so protect these infant manu-
factories as to give them the benefit
of the home market. But when these
manufacturers have grown rich, and
the products of their factories have
grown far beyond the home demand
it is manifestly unjust to continue
this tax upon the farming element o
the country, so as to enable the manu-
facturers through the large profits in
sured to them at home, to enter tn,
foreign markets and successfully com
pete with foreign manufacturers ir
their own home markets, when b.
the very tariff that gives them thi
advantage the farming element will
their products are shut out of thos
markets, and forced to sell what the,
make at home at less than the cost O
production.
Yet this is exactly the operation o
our present tariff law. Every for
eign market is closed of course agains
all our farm products, except sue
surplus supplies as they cannot OF
tain from countries to which the
can sell their manufactured goods
England, for instance, will buy frOr
America only 50 much cotton as i
absolutely necessary to supplemer
her supply from Egypt, and so niue
| wheat as is necessary to supplemer
> the supply from India. The consC
: quence is that America produce
= more cotton and wheat than will SUI
ply both the home demand and tn
2 minimum demand from abroaC
| So the price Of both cotton and whea
; in America are below the cost of pr,
e ductiOn, except when the cotton ,
D Egypt, Or wheat Of India fails.
The Democratic party says that
is time to stop this drain of capt.,
from the producing classes to enric
the manufacturers. Every farm,
10 who votes the Democratic tickt
votes to open every market in tn
world TO his products, and give hin
u an even chance with the manufactu
erS in the effort to make an hone
living. We are for the Democrat
! party against all corners until Til
issue is settled.