The midland journal., 1890-05-23
Friday, May 2S, 1890.
The Tariff in Three Parts.


The long war of words over the ia riff has
resulted in something more definite on this
vital federal tax law than at any time in
the past. In the last red hot presidential
canvass it was simply "protection' and
sstarriff REFORM" These two terms are
very indefinite, and it was the aim of the
sneakers of the two old parties to befog the
question as much as possible. To impar
information was the one thing they strove
TO avoid, and to fire party zael and prejudice
was the main object of all demonstrations
and mass meetings. Since then there have
sitting and classifying of the question
taken place. There are now three distinct
and we'll defined theories with their respec-
tive advocates.
The republican campaign was pitched on
a higher tariff key than ever before atiempt-
ed by political party, and which, followed
to its logical conclusion is prohibition tariff.
ANY goods that it is possible to manufacture or
produce in this country should be protected
by import duties so high as to reduce the
sale and use Of foreign made goods of a sim
liar kind in the United States TO the min
imum, if not total exclusion. Or any
manufacture that it seems possible TO create
in this country, which at the present time
may have no existence, should be encour-
aged by the same methods.
This is very distinct "policy" and is
the one which has taken definite form and
is enunCiated in the present Mckinley
Bill before Congress.
Tariff REFORM is a battle cry for the
democratic party which was presented that
party by Grover Cleveland. The celebrat-
ed "Mlls Bil' was supposed to emb ,dy
ihis theory of tariff policy, but this phase
of the question is too indefinite and shifting
to allow anything to be firmly fixed in the
mind. Two persons who profess the same
may widely differ on almost every classified
tion The republicans ridiculed the bill
and the "polcy,' declaring that it was only
a step toward "free trade" which was its
logical objective point.
There is another phase of the "reform'
which is more tangible and embodes a
policy which is we'll defined. and that is
the adjustment of the duties entirely on all
raw material which enters into the manu-
factured goods made in this country. This
achieved, rate of duty could be ascertain
ed that would be genuine protection to
our manufacturers, for then capital for raw
stock would be reduced TO the minimum, and
in the matter of expense in this respect man
ufacturers would be placed on an equality
with manufacturers of similar goods through
ont the world. When there is tariff on raw
material and duty to protect the manu-
facturer who uses that raw material, there
arises conflt which is not possible to recon-
cile. The price of the goods is necessarily
higher. This enables the foreign manufac-
turer to under sell his U. S. rival ia the
markets of the world, and requires neces-
sarlly correspondingly higher duty TO
keep him out of our home market, and this
must result in making the American con-
sumer pay higher prices for his home made
goods until the time arrives when all raw
material will, or rather, can be produced
within the bounds of the United States.
This time is so remote, and the result so
predetermined that when the public mind
becomes familiar with the theory advanced
il will be rejected uLcermoniously.
The last and third proposition is "free
trade" absolute The same untrammeled
intercourse to exist between the United
States and foreign nations which exists be-
tween the States. This policy is plain as a
turnpike. 1t needs no explanation to be
understood. This involves probably a
change in the constitution, certainly an
entire change in our federal tax laws.
These are the three phases which the
tariff question has resolved itself into and
it behoyes every American 10 address him
self to its study on these three lines. The
farmer organizations and the people of the
drifting unmstakably toward the middle
ground. 1t seems hardly possible that q
prohibition tariff will ever be accepted by
the American people, which implies q
virtual shutting out of intercourse and trade
with foreign nations, while it would leave
us prey to monopoies and trusts at home
Strong firms would strangle weak ones, and
they never would allow the price of theil
goods TO be put down TO the minimum
while they held entire control OF the
market.