The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-04
The Tariff.

Do not ring the chestnut bell when you
read the heading of this article on a subject
upon which so much has been written and
spoken for selfish and partisan purposes,
and so little in fair and candid spirit. Let
is consider it intelligently, and divested as
far as possible from all Partially or purely
personal interests Let US bear in mind
that tariff is tax levied on articles i'm
ported into this country. The tax is paid.
not by the importers and sellers, but by the
buyers and consumers of the imported
goods. The price paid by the consumers is
increased in proportion to the amount of
tariff duty or tax which is imposed upon
the imported articles. How shall this tax
be 50 adjusted as to bear equally on all, and
II any benefits can be obtained from it have
them equally shared by all, is the point we
are trying to fix our minds upon. Every
burden which is necessary to tho admins
tration of the government should be borne
equally by ali persons aud Interests which
are under its care and control and
all privileges and advantages which are
enjoyed by one should be secured to all
alike To effect this, let there lie no ex-
emptions, no free list of untaxed articles,
and no determinations in the articles taxed.
Let nothing whatever have a higher duty
charged on it than is put on all other i'm
ports. Apply to this form OF taxation the
principle that all taxes shall be uniform and
ad valorem, and the taxation would be
borne equally in every respect by every
citizen Of the country. The poor, who buy
but little imported goods; the moderately
welll-to-do, who buy more; the
wealthy. who buy most, would
all, in fair proportion TO their
me ans, pay their fair share Of the tax.
Again, all tariff taxation necessarily in
creases, to the extent of the duty levied, the
price OF the same products of the country
INTO which the foreign goods are brought.
This increase in prices in favor of the pro-
ducers of our own country is incidental
protection. Can they have this except upon
the principle have here suggestedl Would
1t not give all equal advantages and privil-
eyes! Lei all classes and industries under
stand for once and all that no discrimina-
lions for or against its farmers, mechanics,
miners, manufacturers, lumber men, or any
other men or interests will be considered or
tolerated. If this government will be a
paternal one, let it, like true and tender
parent, treat all its children with the same
affection and consideration. Such parents
command and deserve the love and service
of their children. To punish one to please
another; to rob, to disinherit one to enrich
Ihe other Is cruel, unjust and unparental.
Our present tariff is full of I'M
equal, unjust, and exorbitant dis
elimination. By it the favorites are
enriched by robbery of the others less
favored. 1t is the nursing mother OF
monopolists and trusts. It pampers the few
and starves the many. This will ever be so,
until the principle Of uniform ad val0ren
taxation and no disc limitation or exemp-
hon P eveils. When you start out with
the idea of putting exemptions and pro-
tective determinations in a tariff, where
shall you begin and where shall you end!
Men and business interests want exemp-
lions when it will benefit them, and pro-
lection when it will promote their personal
interests. What they buy they
clamor to have free of duty;
what they have to sell, they beg
TO have high protective tariff on. The
tariff discussions are exhibitions of greedy
skill in grab game. All play to get all
they can and keep all they get. The argu-
ments which are made before our national
legislature are full of sophistry, selfishness,
and special pleading.
The adoption of the only true, sound
principle of taxation, herein expressed
would stop all this ulseemly agitation and
discussion, take this clement of discussion
out of politics, and give stability and conf
dence to all the business int ests of the
country, in my humble judgment
J. l.. w