Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-01-16
Another View of the Tariff.

During the last presidential cam
paign we were often told that when
the people paid S. of tariff the govern
ment only got 81 but those who gave
US this Information were opposing the
protective idea and not the system of
revenue. Let us follow up this state
ment and see what the tariff looks
like simply as a system of revenue,
and not a system of protection. To
say that we pay S. for every 81 the
government gets is a very moderate es-
| innate; nor can it be made much less
by any reform of the tariff that fails to
reform 1t of out existence. During the
last fiscal year the government got
$40, 900 900, in round numbers, from
the duty on imports. The few millions
over that sum we will give for mar
gin, as we do not wish to overestimate
the tariff as system ofrobbery. Now
at the common estimate of 5 to ! it fol-
lows that there were four times S240,-
600, 600, or $500, ,000,O that the people
paid but which the government did
not get. 1t went in private pockets.
Went into the pockets of rich manu-
ufacturers to enable them to hold out
against their employees when the lat
ter struck for higher wages. But how
much is $500, ,000, 900? Well it is just
Just $l60, 900, 900, more than all depart
ments of government combined get
from all sources and systems of reve-
nue.. Sl60, 600 more than is receiv-
ed from the smallest school district up
to Uncle Sans big money box. Did
you ever figure on the tariff in this
way? Can you find any mistake in
these figures? Can't you see that
| little closer and more nearly correct
cipherng would make much worse
showing? Isn't this showing bad
| enough to make you feel like singing
singing,
SO the star bangled spanner. not long may
it wave
O'er the land of the fool and the home of
the knave?"
There must be whole parcel of fools
end right smart chance of knaves
where such high jinks as that can be
played. Make US pay 81 200, 900 900, a
year in order that the government
may get $40, 100000. Don't the con-
temptation of such a system of whole
sale robbery turn all your patriotism
to bitter bile?
1fyou have any patriotism left, or
any love for your children, saying
nothing of your country, study out
some plan of raising revenue better
than by an import or tariff taX-nam-
ed after the system of fieecing the
Moorish pirates once practiced on the
the point of Tariff, and propose it in lieu
of the tariff. Stop telling US that it is
"robbery under the forms of law for
the government to put its hand into
one mans pocket and take money out
to put into the pocket of another man."
and then protesting that you are not
a free trader, and that you are perfect
ly willing to practice robbery under
the forms OF law provided 40 per cent,
on something less, is taken instead of
47.10. Realize the simple and palpable
truth that the tariff is as indefensible
as system of revenue. as it is as sys-
tenn of favoritism, or protection, as we
commonly say.
The single tax, or tax upon land val
ues only, is one against which you
cannot find a single valid objection;
aud if you are honest and sensible you
do not have to search long to find
something better than our present sys-
tenn Of denominations, even if you are
not willing to admit that the single
tax is absolutely perfect, so there is no
excuse for advocating tariff for reve-
nue. only. / should be ashamed to do
it, FARMER.
Murrayville, Ills, Jan. 5th, 1890.