The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-04-15
IS THE TARIFF A ROBBERY ?

Free-Trade Assertion-A Greos blessing
to All and Particularly the Lsborer.
The free-traders and revenue reform
ers assert that the tariff is . robbery"
Can it be a robbery" Of any one to
secure to the people Of this country the |
opportunity to supply cur national
wants by the hands of cur own coun- |
trymen? That Is all that the highest |
conceivable tariff can secure
In times of armed conflict our citizens |
are required to lea9e their homes and |
families to take up arms and at the
risk of their lives defend the country |
against armed invasion. Why should
not the country IN time of peace protect
the labor of those men from an indus
| trial invasion no less destructive?
If the tariff is q robbery it is first
| to be observed that all classes of people.
the robbed as well rs the robbing. are
better fed. better clothed and better
housed than the people of any other
country in the world That is the cru
| cial test of economical policies.
1t is undeniable that the most perfect
suiting of occupations to the various APP
titudes of all the members of the COM
munity will be produced by the carry
ing on of the largest variety Of indus
tries
Is it not then the duty of country to
maintain such industrial policy as will
secure the greatest possible extent and
variety of production, leaving to the
natural competition between individuals
the function of preventing undue profits
on the part of any? There are %, ooO.0O
of active workers in this country.
Among that large number the contests
and competition of those engaged in the
same business may be relied on to adj
lust prices so that none can make a
profit greater than the average profits
of the community.
But let us see whether there is any
robbery effected by tariff.
As 70 such portion of the money col
lected as is paid to the government. that
goes into the public treasury and aids
in defraying the expenses OF the nation.
Inasmuch as all the people share in its
benefits. that portion cannot be cOnsid-
cred robbery
1t will hardly do to assert that the
( foreign manufacturer is robbed by
) our reaniring him to deposit in our
treasury a sum of money in the nature
Q of license fee for the privilege Of sell
ing his wares in this country.
The rob therefore must consist OF
t the difference between reasonable
+ price and the price now charged by the
r manufacturer If such difference ex
u lists, it must constitute margin sc
It ample as to become strong incentive
r to the people of any section claiming t.
" be robbed by it to organize for them
n selves competing establishments anc
r thus wholly protect themselves agains
the exaction of the robber. The tariff
n protects them against the foreigner. ant
II all that is needed to protect then
y against the native rObber if for them
selves to do the work-to produce thu
!. article Why do they not produce it
- - If they have not the skill they can EN-
ploy it. There is ample skill in thi
8 country ready to 60 wherever sufticien
:. inducement is offered.
:. The law operating equally and i'm
~ partially on all sections of the Union
the people of any section claiming to b
~ robbed. yet refusing or neglecting t
- set up establishments for the manufac'
3 ure of the article through which tn
g robbery is effected. confess, by such re
fusal or negligence, that, nOtwlthstanG
ing their complaint they get the articl
n for less than they are willing to pre-
re duce it for themse yes. IT through tn
lg adoption of sinister policies the dome:
l tic manufacturers should be driven ou
IN of business. then both they and .hos
II who now complain of robbery would
So equally helpless against the exactlon
Ill of the foreign manufacturer. who, tn
no field being all his own, would continue
g and, at will, enlarge upon the ''roi
IN berry," If the rob is rot sufficient
w induce competition on the part OF thos
who claim to suffer by it, it cannot
very great-it cannot exist at all eXceI
IL in the imaginations of tlE9e who b.
lieve that the exigencies OF polite;
ID; party are more to be consulted than tn
1t. interests of the country.
Fruits of the brazilian Reciprocity Treat
Already the Brazilian reciprocit
ne treaty is showing practical results.
OK Baltimore company has been formed
er the Brazil Trading Company. to develo
cd trade with Brazil. 1t proposes to pr
cure and prepare for the market. seed
ks fruits and other products of the tw
he countries, including coffee. wheat an
ed corn. 1t proposes to establish an agene
nS in Brazil for the sale and exchange I
these commodities. 1t will ship to {
from any port most convenient II II
a business at Baltimore can be expands
He sufficiently. a line of steamers may soc
en- be established between that port ar
sh Rio The present trade of Baltimo
~ with Brazil is conducted almost who'll
of in sailing vessels. New York and Ct
of cago capitalists are interested in Il
new company. The capital stock Wi
NO be increased from $50, 900 to $500, 900,
of the requirements of the case demand.
NC In the cargo of British steam
rle bound for Rio and Santos-what pr
Ill that it was British,-which sailed fe
,ce DAYS ago from Baltimore. were twent
five street cars, three locomotives. 80
;+s barrels of -four. and quantities of lar