West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-04-07
THE TARIFF.-ARTICLE Nv.
written Specially for the Asov..

affair. How far wrong was he !?
The protective benefits of the infant
iron industry must surely be Law
ished upon districts Astounding in
rich iron ore. 1t is the old Andrew
Stewart argument that iron workers
receive directly the high wages of
protection, and that the farmers in
the vicinity of foundries and mills
receive indirectly better prices for
their produce than those not so
favorably situated. On the one
hand farmer Brown who lives under
the shadow Of smoke-stack is ben
Gifted somewhat by the high tariff
scheme. On the other hand farmer
Jones who lives in a region whore
the sound of the trip. hammer is
never heard, does not profit by
monetary spray from the high tide
OF protection prices that dash them
selves to pieces on the rocks on his
farm. Poor Jones ! che pays the
freight; ;" pays monopoly prices,
and gets the benefit of mortgage
on his homestead. What blessing
high protective tariff is-to the
fellow at the boom end of it
Let us pursue little further the
discrimination of the so. called
American system in favor Of some
localities and against others. In its
ultimate bearings any high protcc-
ton schedule must be preiudicial to
the welfare Of some sections and
partial to the prosperity of others.
We have only to look around to be
convinced of the truth of General
Hancock's observation that "the
tariff is local affair ;" or, in other
words, that the policy of protection
is n sectional concern in It's final
outcome.
Reflect, if you please, upon the
gencalogy of cause and effect in our
national history. Tariff legislation
begat notification, notification be-
gat secession, secession begat civil
war, civil war begat a So, 900, 0OOO,-
600 debt, II 50, 900, 600, 900 debt be-
gat more tariff legislation, and CHS
tory is philosophy teaching by ex-
ample" No government, not even
the strongest on earth, can safely
trample down the right of the indi-
vldual to the use of his own prop
erty, while the present system of
propertyiholdings obtains. This /
say by way of depression. The con-
coded function of government to
collect tax as duties is one thing
but the indircctlon that takes from
one man and bestOws upon another,
is more fragrant wrong than that
which justified our forefathers in
resistance of oppression.
Protection does not protect Cali
fornia. Protection duties placatc
some of those who like that sort of
soothing syrup; but they cannot
protect. Frult-growing, wheat rails
ing and mining are the leading in
dustries. The overland rates of
transportation render futile pro-
tective duty on raisins and oranges
and there seems to be no protection
against the railroads.
The rancher's wheat goes to sea,
for the same reason that dnties on
raisins and oranges are abortive.
The miner has no protection.
Protection prices are professedlv
high prices. So when the miner
comes with his gold dust to ex-
change it for supplies, he finds gold
is low in its purchasing power, be-
cause he must pay high protection
prices on much he consumes. Ac.
cordinglY mining is depressed.
The ranches, the orchards, the
vineyards, the mines, and other IN.
dustIics are none the better. but
the worse Oft on account Of the
protective tariff. The tariff pro
lection adds no subsidy on the price
OF California products, realize moth.
ing TO the producer from govern
mental good will, but all goes the
other way. California is not an
it." Were it not for the indomita-
bic energy Of her people, the fertil-
! lty Of her soil, and the bonefcence
Of her climate, she would not so
contentedly help to maintain the
boncfciaries Of the glorious high
protective tariff in other sections.
But California is deserving Of bet
tor things. There was 2 time that
tried mems souls and broke women's
hearts q time Of Lrampling armies