The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-03-21
NOT A SECTIONAL ISSUE.

NOI "A SESIloNAL Aooo6r
he discussion of the tariff ques-
ton in President Harrison's inaug-
ural address can hardly be said to
indicate broad comprehension of
the literature or merits of that sub
ject. A preference for low tariff
taxes is, to his thinking, a species
Of mental or moral pervers'ty con-
fined chiefly to the South, where it
had its origin and should properly
have had its ending with slavery.
The demand for "a tariff for reven-
lie only is a sectional cry, he sug-
gests, inconsistent with true patriot
ism. The President appears to be
unaware that it is the expression of
economic principles which commands
the assent of those pei sons in every
country who have made the subject
of taxation "a special study. The
universities and colleges of the whole
world are against protective taxes
as the worst in principle and the
most burdensome in practice that
can be laid upon people. The in
dustrial and commercial prosperity
of Great Britain, under scheme of
taxation from which the idea of pro-
lection is vigorously excluded, is a
standing proof of the practical adj
vantages of the opposing system. If
the most careful thinkers of every
country and the best works on polit-
ical economy are authorities, the OPP
Grafton of protective tariffs is injur-
ieus both to the people who pay the
tariff tax and to the industries that
tax is intended to benefit. A high
tariff tax necessarily'works injustice,
breeds monopolies, discourages en-
enterprise and impoverishes the
many while it enriches the few.
These are some of the reasons why
the Intelligent patriots Of every
country oppose or regret the estab-
iEshment of the protective system.
Many countries have adopted tariff
taxes as a means of raising revenue,
not because they consider such tax
es wise or Just, but because the peo-
pie can be most easily induced to
bear them. The weight of author
ity and experience in this country is
wholly against the continuance of
the existing system, not alone in the
South, but throughout the North,
wherever there is centre of indie
pendent thought. Its only loud adj
vocates, apart from the politicians,
are its benefciaries, the manufacture
ers and their .dupas.
1t is rather absurd, therefore, for
the President to treat the doctrine
of tariff reform as a matter of in
terest only to the South, or as a de-
fusion of a past age and as belong
ing to an absolute state of things.
It is of as much interest to the far
mers Of the West and Northwest
and to the masses of the people
throughout the North generally as
to the South. The large vote of ed
ucated .workingmen of our cities for
tariff reform in the last elections
shows 'cohclusively that the tariff is
not now, sectional issue, but ques-
ton between. the bene6ciaries of the
tariff and its victims in every COM
munity. =
= The suggestion that the white
men of the South who accept the
protectionist ideas of Clay should
come forth courageously and ally
themselves in new party with col
oredi voters who know nothing of
Clay and care nothing for protec-
ton, is in the interest of the Repub-
pEcauEparty, but would hardly work
ven in practice: The colored vot-
n. s. -
,ers, indifferent about tariffs and anx-
ious to enjoy Office and the proceeds
of local taxation, would soon dis
card the leadership of the admirers
Of, .Clay-a ro-Firas
sialAshigh tariff may or may not be
desirable to Southern, manufactur-
ers, but good government is as in
Hdispensibleto them as to other South-
-efn operty1hoiders. This is the
cardinal act Of the Southern situa-
atiop- The Southern people willing
lyforego Misrepresentation at Wash
iii ton rather than surrender the
control of their, local affairs to ir-
lrespohiibleiand ignorant persons.
The President oughtlto be able to
appreciate this feeling, if he is can
did IN his statement of objections to
the unrestricted Immigration and
naturalization Of, voters who are
both white. md nj ;l;zad