The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29

speak for themselves and need no further
illustration.
Home market" These words have
been chanted long end loud by the sup
pOrters OF the Mckinley bill and they
would fain have US believe that high
tariff will so increase our manufacturing
interests that they will soon be able TO
consume all our surplus grain and other
products of the farm. At first sight one
NAV be inclined 10 credit this as proper
dogma of belief But this credulity 10
only through ignorance of the true mean
ing OF the statement. The United states
now produces 5U0000,000 bushels of
wheat. Three hundred and twenty mil
lion bushels viii amp supply the home
demand. IhisNill leave surplus of $780,
100000. For tie consumption of this
prodlgious amount our Infant indus
tries the offspring Of protection, must
employ at least 10000 people. III they
do not, finding no market, either foreign
or domestic production must stop and
the wheat producers 60 without any mar
ket. Their surplus viii have no value.
They will cease buying manufactured ar
tlcles and manufactures will be stricken
with paralysis.
"Th- Foreigner Pays" Faliacy.
THE foreign importer pays the duty"
is another iavorlte statement Of the author
of the present tariff bill, with which he
has long clouded the understanding OF an
uncOmmonlv int ligent yet equally cred
ulous people. recent decision has
shown the utter folly and falsitv of the
mystic words Not long since Mr.. Wanna
maker. having imported a quantity of du-
table goods, claimed that hs was over
charged at the custom house. He brought
suit for rebate and the L. s. courts de-
cided in favor of the plaintiff, rounding
$4,000 to Mr.. Wanamaker. If the foreign
seller pays the duty WHY was it not re-
funded TO him? Apparently the courts
are convinced that the consumer pays the
tax.
When the people have learned to ques-
ton these stale nets OF the priests OF
protection, when they are able TO apply
TO them the test of experience and facts,
then the priests will lose their cunning
and their words will no longer entrance
unsuspicious ears. When we shall have
removed all possible distractions to the
mutual service OF nations, when we have
granted the right to the people of all
lands to send to our markets what we de-
sire, and to buy in our market that sur
plus we cannot use then will the ships
that pass between this land and that be
like the shuttle of the loom, weaving the
web OF concord among the nations"
In the renewed discussion of this sub
ject it has become cOnspicuously manifest
that men are taking positions leading TO
nothing higher than political wrangiinE.
Men accustomed to trust each other in
every vocation OF life, when the question
OF tariff arises charge each other with
every form of insincerity and fraud. They
take sides too eagerly and apparently
think more of triumphing over their OPP
pOnents than of the progress of discovery
or the interests of truth. l can see no
reason for this intimate connection OF party
with the question OF tariff. 1t is nothing
more or less than a practical business
question, question of finance pure and
simple. at is a condition and not a
theory" In this essay I have attempted
to analyze this condition" TO discuss it
on its real merits enfranchsed of both
"protectionist paralogisms'' and free
trade sophisms" in order that / might
apply to it such plain economic tests "a
would render clear and unmistakable
some of the prominent defects and incon-
sstencies of the present system OF PRO
lection and incidental revenue"