The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-08-23

The American Iron and Steel Association
of Philadelphia, the members of which are
among the most strenuous advocates for
high protective tariff, has addressed circulars
to members of Congress, containing argu-
ments intended to convince them that the
present duty of one cent per pound on tin
plates should be increased, in Order as they
contend, that the manufacture Of this article
may be established in this country.
The circular says that we consume more
tin plates than all the rest Of the world, for
roofing, canning and other purposes Not
one box of tin plate is made in this country,
our entire supply being obtained from Eng
land.
England gets her tin chiefly from Corn
wall, but that source Of supply being INSULT
cient she is consequently large importer of
tin from the East Indies and Australia The
circular claims, on the authority Of an "intel-
ligent gentleman who spent n weeks va
cation in the Black Hills OF Dakota, invest.
eating the tin deposits there" that the pro-
duction of Tin in commercial quantities is
only question OF time.
The circular insis's that an increase Of the
duty on tin would build up tin plate indus
try here and that the competition of home
producers would eventually lessen the price
of the article. The people Of the United
States have learned to their cost that the high
tariff, instead of decreasing the price of an
article, always increases it. Especially would
this be the case with tin plates. The source
of supply Of tin in this country is very vague
and it may well be doubted whether tin eX-
lists here in a sufficient quantity to pay for
mining it, particularly when block tin is ad-
mitted free of duty and We have access to the
same sources of supply as England has
The following paragraph in the circular is
suggestive:
zone object of building up home indus
tries is to check the greed OF foreign producers
by placing domestic products in competition
with foreign products, but to place tin plates
In the free list would simply confirm British
manufacturers Of tin plates in their posses
sion of our markets, and confirm their pre-
sent privilege of chargingus what prices they
please for their products
If there is any difference between the greed
Of foreign and domestic producers the people
have failed to perceive it. The placing of
tin plates on the free list would not enable
foreign producers to charge what prices they
please, because, if what these gentlemen say
is true, about the quantity of tin 10 be found
IN this county, when the price arose to a
certain point, the manufacture would at once
begin here.
The circular makes the broad distinction
between duty for revenue and q protective
duty, declaring that the present rate of one
cent pound on tin plates is a duty "ior re-
venue only"
Instead of increasing the duty on lin plates,
therefore, they should be admitted free es-
pecially as the government has no need of
the revenue derived from their importation,
and every cent charged on them must be ad-
ded to the cost of all articles manufactured
from them in this country.
The scheme is very apparent. 1t is merely
an effort to create another gigantic combine
and monopoly. II the duty on tin plates
were increased to an extent sufficient to keep
out the product OF England, these gentlemen,
with block tin admitted free, would have the
control Of the trade of the United States, and
charge what prices they please"
The margin of profit in canning is too
small now to justify any experiments in this
direction, and no Congressman representing
a canning constituency should lend his aid
to this scheme to build up monopoly in
this country in tin plates. We are confident
our own congressman, Col. Herman Stump,
may be relied on to oppose it.
There is considerable excitement in Selma
Alatama, over an incendary publication in u
newspaper edited by colored man named
Bryant. In an article devoted to abuse of the
white race Bryant said, among other things :
1--WE here predict that at no very distant day
we will have our race war, and we hope, as
God intends, that We will be strong enough
to wipe you Qhc white people, out of exist
ence, and hardly leave enough of you to tell
the story" This outrageous article has
created a very bitter feeling among the
whites, and steps were taken to prevent Bry-
ants return to the city, The executive COM
mite of the White Republicans Protective
Tariff League passed reaouton denounc-
ing Bryant's editorial and rendering their aid,
physical as well as moral, to stop such utter
auces. 1t would certainly be unfortunate if
any serious conflict should take place be-
tween the whites and the blacks in Alabama
1t would doubtless spread to other States
and no one can tell where it would stop.
Thousands of lives might be sacrificed in such
feud. 1t is to the credit of the colored peo-
pie in Maryland that no such sentiments as
are avowed by Bryant find place in their