Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-05-29
TARIFF PHILOSOPHY.

New York Tribune.
at will kill the Republican party"
said well-dressed and kid gloved citizen
on a ferry boat yesterday, speaking of
the Tariff bill which the House has just
passed. His neighbor was a ard-fisted
farmer who sends a deal of products to
the New York market, and he answered.:
"Well, a bill which helps all the farmers,
and lot of the workers in the largest
branches of manufacture, and supplies
inducement besides for the employment
of many thousands who can find no work
now, does not seem to me likely to kill
any party unless the one opposing it."
The weIl-dressed citizen no doubt felt
pity for the man who thought it would
really help him to put duty on Bermuda
potatoes, Spanish onions and eggs from
Holland, but despaired of convincing
him. Still the farmer had practical
knowledge; the other man had read the
books of British economists.
This measure is pronounced a scheme
to enrich favored interests" One of the
interests which a large share of the
changes of duty is designed to favor
embraces about half the inhabitants of
the country, and the farmers really need
to be Favored" by reasonable defence
against foreign competition at least as
much as any other body of men. An
other interest is the great woolen man.
ufacture which supplies a living for
several hundred thousand workers when
well occupied, but at present has many
of its mills closed because of foreign
competition. Another is the manu-
facture of iron, which embraces a still
larger number of workers, and has dem
onstrated its ability to supply the Nation
with as cheap rails, nails, tools and
machinery as can be had anywhere else,
but in some of its branches meets
damaging competition. Without add
ing other industries which are also di-
rectly favored, far more than half the
inhabitants of the country are directly
interested in these three. Legislation
'sfor the greatest good of the greatest
number" is apt to prove legislation for
the greatest good of all.
But the "tin plate monopolists have
triumphed." In that one phrase is con-
densed ignorance deep enough, dark
enough and desperate enough to account
for the existence of Democratic party.
There is not maker of tin plates in
this country; not a man or firm, or set
of men, who have or can have any
monopoly under the bill, or the slightest
advantage over anybody else who may
choose to go into the same business
There are literally thousands of manu-
featuring concerns which might under
take it, and millions of people who might
put their money into this kind of man
ufacture if they choose. "Monopolists"
are they, these unknown individuals,
any one of whom may strive on equal
terms with any other to get the benefits
which the duty offers. The only real
monopolists are those manufacturers
across the water whose trust has fixed
prices of tin plates and f1eeced American
consumers at pleasure for years.
Yet it is denounced as "private tax"
or ''tax for the benefit of individuals" )"
when Government assists to break the
hold of this foreign monopoly upon the
throats of all Americans. The object of
the tax is to set free sixty millions of
Americans from bondage to foreign
trust, and to that end large profits are
offered to those who may be the first to
establish manufacture here. Whoever
pleases can take hold; the offer is for
the good of the whole Nation. But
whoever goes into the business will do
so knowing that the domestic competi-
tion will soon be so sharp and fierce that
he can expect only living profit.
Never mind these filings and ignorances
and falsehoods, Protectionists of the
Senate. When your duty has been done,
as thoroughly and as well as the Repub-
licans of the House have done their
duty, their will be quick demand for
the labor of hundred thousand more
if as many can be found
idle. There will be life and hope
among farmers who have long COM
planned in vain. And there will be
Republican victories hereafter.