New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-26
TARLEE REDECIION.

For years it has been the chief stock Ill trade
of those who oppose the protective pohcy Oh
the Republican party to urge that on various
occasions ten, fifteen, twenty or twenty-five
wears ago. the most honorcd Republican lead
crs expressed the opinion that the tariff should
be reduced These quotations OF Rcpupllcan
opiniOn have been not only used by opponents
of the party in debate. but are sometimes en-
ploved by good Republicans also, who fear that
the party is going too far or adhermg to pro-
tcctivc duties too long.
The tariff has been very greatly reduced, and
these Republicans do not realize how much.
The proportion OF duties collected to goods i'm
ported was as high as 46 II per cent III 1901
IS. and has been reduced 10 20 l. per cent
The question is whether the last general fcouc-
ton made by a Republican Congress ana fres-
ident in 1888 did not 90 further than was wise
as respects some branches of industry. IL Is
no answer 10 that question whatever ana gives
no useful information, to say that twenty years
ago this or that distinguished man felt that the
duties then imposed could properly be reduced
This alone would he sufficient reply to col
lectons of citations from such Republicans
which from time to time appear in pubic Jour
mails or in Frec-Tradc pamphlets.
But the case is really a great deal stronger
than these figures make ii appear. To make
the matter plain, it is only necessary to sup
nose that on three distinct classes IF goods, OF
which the imports of each are now valued at
81, 00O, 600 yearly, duties OF 30, 90 ana %
per cent respectively were in force In 1861.
The duty of 80 per cent was then prohibliory
the duty of 80 per cent then admitted imports
worth only 100000, and the duty Of 30 per
cent applied to 81 100000 worth of imports
so that the average rate of duty on > .ooo'ooo
worth of goods imported was SO 23 per cent.
Since that time Congress has reduced the du'!
on the higher class TO 60 per cent, when OH
goods worth a million yields 100000: 1t mas
reduced the duty on the second class to 40 per
cent. which yields 100000, and II has re-
duccd the duty on the third class to - per
cent. which Yields $3.50, 600, 50 that the total
duties on $4,000, 600 of goods imported Is
now 1913 per cent-a higher average than
that of tvcnty-thrce years ago, ana yet the
duties on every class of goods have been ma
terially reduced.
Changes Of exactly this sort have been going
on for twenty-five years. Again and again the
duties have been reduced on many classes OF
articles ever since 1867, and because OF that
reduction great many duties which were
formerly prohbitory now yield large revenue.
Because imports are now admitted, though none
of the same class used to be. the average rate
is relatively higher, although the changes III
duty have been nearly all reductions. In 1861
there was only 81, 033,13o worth OF free
goods imported, hut i'll 1889 S2IG.oil ,6"l
worth Of goods were admitted free of duty, and
on a very large proportion Of the dutlablc goods
the rates are much lower than they were tWcnt!
wears ago: and yet, because imports of the
kinds formerly excluded are now admitted al
low rates. the average Of duties on dutIablc
goods is nearly as high aS il formerly was.
The Republicans who imagine that duties
still need reduction because many years ago
wise leaders so believed under different CIR
cumstances. are but little more sensible than
the mossbackcd Democrat who is still voting
for Andrew Jackson. The reduction OF duties
in 1883 was on many classes Of good, 80 I'M
portant that complete revolution in trade has
been effected To American Industries III the
corresponding departments the consequences
have been disastrous. II is gratifying to ind
At last Congress which has the intelligence
70 see that a protective tariff does not answer
the lust expectations Of the people unless II
protects and the courage TO raise duties on par
ticular classes Of goods when experience has
shown that in the long progress OF reduction
the duties have been put too low.