The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-13
HOW PROTECTION GREW
ieorge Ticknor Curtis on the Early
Days of Tariff Legislation.
FACTS For THE FREE TRADERS.
Protection shown To be One of the Chief
Foundation stones OF the Theory of
Governments Adopted by the Founders

tional lawyer, who has bolted the Cleve-
land ticket, because OF the free trade
plank Of the platform the Democratic
party adopted at Chicago, has written his
fourth letter upon the Democratic tariff
attitude IL is addressed TO the Ameri-
can Protective Tariff League. and it is
publishcd today in the Ameri0aR Econ
onafst. Mr.. Curtis says
The first Congress. Washington and all
his cabinet, and the entire generation of
men by whom the Constitution was es-
tablished, knew perfectly well that en-
couragement ana protection OF manufac-
lures was one of the objects for which
the revenue power was granted. The
nonsence of n tariff for refenue only
could not be perpetrated by that genera
tion. But now comes Mr. Grover Cleye-
land, In this year of our Lord 1892 and
says virtually that he knows more about
the purposes for which the Constitution
was made than the men did who made it.
He says virtually that IL he had been
President OF the United States in 1889, he
would have sent the first revenue bill
back TO the House with veto message
In which he would have told that body
that they must alter the preaml-ssso AS
TO make it read that tariffs should 10 I'm
posed for revenue alone, otherwise h o
could not sign it.
Mr. Madison took a leading part in con-
through the House of Representatives
As soon as he had introduced the subject
of revenue to be obtained for the expenses
CT the new Government and list of ar
ticles TO be subjected to the new duties
had been laid before the House. the sub
Ject OF Protection was brought into the
discussion by an occurrence which is of
marked historical interest On April 4. |
liSJ, petition was presented from the |
tradesmen. manufacturers and others OF |
the town OF Baltimore 1t set forth:
That since the close of the late war and the
completlon OF the revolution they had OBJ
served with sincere regret the manufacture
si, ana the trading interest OF the country rap
Idly declining, and the attempts of the State |
legislatures 10 remedy tue evil failing of their |
object; that In the present melancholy state
OF our country, the number of poor increasing |
Tor want OF employment, foreign debts ac- |
cumulating, houses and lands depreciating in |
value ana trade and manufactures languish-
Ing and expiring, they look up TO the Supreme
Legislature OF the United States as the guard |
ian OF the whole empire, and from their united
wisdom and patriotism aud ardent love OF |
their country expect TO receive that aid and |
protection that can alone dissipate their Just |
apprehensions aud animate them with hopes
OF success in future by imposing on ali foreign
articles which can be made in America such |
duties as will give a decided preference 10 |
tends 50 materially TO injure Them and impov-
erish their country; that they have annexed |
q LIST OF such articles as or can be manufac-
tured among them. and humbly trust in the |
wisdom OF the Legislature To grant them in |
common with the other mechanics and mann
facturers OF the United States that relief
which may seem proper.
This petition, although coming from n
single town, called upon the new Con-
Rress, as the supreme legislature of the |
United States, in the broadest terms. TO
apply the principle OF protection so as TO
benefit American labor and to discount
enance that freedom of trade which tend {
cd TO inJure the industry OF our mechan
les and manufacturers I
The Baltimore petition was referred In c
the committee OF the whole, aud then the o
!, lsoate proceeued at intervals from April e
II TO May 80 In this long and able dis +
,ussion there were differences of opinion
developed upon the question of framin0 a.
permanent system OF revenue, or adopt- 81
ny temporary measure. At length. Al
However, the matter settled down to the tl
after course as the only one that vas al
hen practicable. As each article that 81
vas proposed To be included in the bill
vas taken up and considered, the debate h,
urned upon the questions of imposing si
ONE Q duty on IL or letting it come in free;
Il the amount OF duty that would be col re
ected on 1t; and OF the influence of that ca
luty upon the encouragement or discour 70
gement of American manufactures and ht
"" ca
The articles on which the new duties
we're laid by the bill distributed tbens Dc
eives into several classes: First-(,er lii
AIN manufactures, or articles on whi1 h
apor nau Deen expended in the produc
ion. steer was subjected TO Specific
iueies. e. Ioai, winch, although mineral Al
)btained from the ground, was an article -
Produced by labor had the moderate
iu.y Oh Ten cents per bushel put upon IN
second. Teas, which could not be ey- en-
,ected TO become product OF the United a.
'.aees, were eiassed according TO the "
'iace from which and the vessels in tn
which they were imported III Unmarried to
rom China or India in vessels biiiIt i'm a.
he United States and belonging TO n citi. "p
en- or cltIzens thereof, or built I'm foreign
ountries and on May l6, 1889. wholly the in
roperty OF citizen or citizens of tna on
Jnlted States and SO continuing until tho WI
me or Importation, the duties imposed M
'ere lowest. III imported from Europe in ha
esseis OF the same ownership. the duties tn
ere higher III imported in any other W,
tanner, the duties were still higher m,
The conclusions which are To be drawn tn
-om the first revenue law and the debate mi
hich preceded its enactment may be cal
,ated as follows: First that entire free hi:
om OF trade, however theoretically
ght, is inexpedient and impracsiea
II country of diversified pursuits in
hich capital and industry are employed, r
agriculture, In navigation, in manu- a.,
ctnres, in fisheries and in mining. oil
Second-Ihat the power conferred on pre-
I1nIgress Dy the constitution To lay and We
llect taxes, duties, imposts and exer,
ses, subject only to the condition that aue
ey snall be uniform throughout the n,l
nlteu States. taken in connection with eia
e circumstances existing at the time of
ESTABLISHMENT, warrants the deduction
at when the National Goyernment M
eeds. as IT must at all times need. reve. oisl
lie, IL may resort TO direct or Indirect -
xation, or, as IL is now called, 20 an in- qua
ma, or external revenue, or TO both: latt
at the latter is always 20 be preferred par
the former, because it is more easilv seri
id, the burden falling upon those who ilsk
nsume the articles the prics of which il Ber
hanced by the duty, thus enabling the
gislative power 10 distinguish between
e Injuries ada the necessaries of life
az was considered that the interests of b'
pital aud labor, 50 far as they were can. tion
'le OF distinct appreciation. would both Ro.
promoted by legislation which tended -.
exclude foreign competition in onr oou
Vn market, because that legislation XII XII
'uld enable the employer to paw the pos
iployed higher wages than were paid i'm
nil