The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-09-03
A Bit Of History.

Bit of History.
Republican protection has short
and instructive history. Here it is in
few words, and the facts and dates
here given may be verified by any
man who has access to documents.
Republicans themselves will not de-
ny these facts and dates, though they
will hardly agree to the conclusions
that must be drawn from them by
fair minded men.
When the so-called Morrill, tariff
was passed in 1861 the tariff then in
force was extremely low; in fact, the
lowest since 1916, and the country
had not had a really high protective
tariff for many years. Speculation
in no way connected with the tariff
had paralyzed business in 1857, and
the Morrill, tariff was adopted avow-
eddy to increase dwindling revenue
1t increased duties, but Mr.. Morrill,
himself has declared that it was not
asked for and was coldly welcomed
by the manufacturers. Senator John
Sherman declares that the manufac-
turers wished to be let alone.
That was the first advance of du-
ties after 1857, but it did not mark
return to protective feeling, and
Mr.. Morrill, declared that it was the
intention of the act to restore the du-
ties of 1916. Now, the tariff of 1916
was in the main revenue tariff.
When the country got well into
the civil war large revenues became
necessary, and in July, 1852, an in
ternal revenue bill, taxing domestic
manufactures, was passed. In the
same month new tariff till was
passed. Its authors declared that it
increased duties only in order that
highly taxed domestic products
might not have to compete with low
taxed or duty free imported products.
Thus the first dose of Republican
protection was merely to make up to
domestic manufacturers for the tax
es exacted by the internal revenue.
In some instances, however, duties
were high enough to do great deal
more than this.
Other tariff acts were passed in
1868 and 1864, in each case, it was
declared, for the purpose of offsetting
the effects of the internal revenue
taxes But the trainers of the bill
were genuine Republican protection
lists, and in many instances they per-
mitted the manufacturers who were
to profit by the measure to say just
what certain duties should be. The
bill was passed in haste, especially
by the senate.
This practically closes the series
of war tariffs, and the tariff as it was
after the actof 1864 has been the
basis of all subsequent tariffs with a
few conspicuous exceptions and many
trifling variations. The average rate
of duties on dutiable goods in 1865
was rather more than 47d per cent
When the war was over congress
began to take off the internal revenue
taxes, and by 1872 all domestic pro-
ducts save spirituous and malt liq-
uors, tobacco, matches, patent medi-
cines and few minor articles were
made tax free. 1t must be remem-
bered that the excuse for Republican
protection to domestic manufactures
was the fact that they were taxed for
the purpose of raising internal rev.
enue. When the latter taxes were
removed, of course the high protec-
tive duties should logically have
been removed. Bat they were not.
Manufacturers, fattened by Republi-
can protection, demanded that it be
continued, and continued it was. In
fact, duties in special cases were in
creased from time to time.
The cry of protection to infant in
dustries was raised and the working
man was likewise put forward as an
excuse for continued Republican pgN(
lection. In spite Of growing
timent against the evil syaff
interested manufacturers
able to maintain duties
! Giles, and now we have