The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-09-30
The Tariff As I See 1t.

1t has seemed strange to me, that
farmers, mechanics and laboring men
can be induced to vote with the party
that favors a protective tariff. l do
not think, that either of those classes
could be induced so to vote, if they
clearly understood the workings of a
tariff, and how it effected their inter
ests.
shall make the bold assertion. that
there never has been tariff bill framed,
never can be, consequently never will
be one framed, that will bear upon and
benefit alike all classes and conditions
of our citizens. Hence every tariff
bill, no matter by whom framed, is
more or less unjust; and the higher
the tariff the greater the injustice 10
those who are not directly or indirect
ly benefited by it.
The only ground of justification for
revenue tariff is based upon the fact,
that every citizen is benefited by our
federal union, and the laws which with
in the constitution are necessary to
provide for the general welfare, and
are therefore under obligations to bear
fair share of the expense Of the gov
eminent
1t may not be amiss to notice here,
that any law that is calculated by its
terms or by its effect to benefit few
at the expense or detriment of the
many, is not only unjust, but is un-
warranted by our federal compact.
And such Is every protective tariff.
Farmers and laboring men are not di-
rectly or indirectly benefited by such
tariff.
l am aware that the advocates of
protection claim that it raises wages
and increases the price Of the farmers
produce. They have theory to that
effect, but the facts contradict their
theory. Farmers of middle age can
easily remember when their produce
brought more than at present. Wages
were higher, and they could more east
ly pay their needed help. Tariff was
no higher, in fact the average duty
was lower; hence We must conclude
that the law of supply and demand
regulates the price of each.
If tariff for revenue were just, and
that were the most economical way of
raising money, why not adopt it to
raise money for our municipal ex-
penses?
Let us suppose or imagine town
ship or county which would form on
small scale case parallel to that Of
our federal government To do this
there would have to be within Its lin
its few manufacturing industries suf-
dcient to supply the needs of the COM
munity but large majority of the
citizens should be farmers, mechanics
md laboring men. Let us suppose
that to defray the expenses of this
community, such as making roads,
keeping up schools and paying officers
who directed the affairs of the COM
munity, they should impose duty or
eariff upon all or nearly all imports
brought into the district particularly
apon all manufactured articles that
would compete with those manufac-
,ured by the infant industries operated
within the supposed district.
Would not those operators raise the
price of their wares all or nearly all,
that their protection would warrant ?
And would not the citizens soon find
out that they were paying the duty
themselves? And would not the farm
crs if they were raising largely in ex-
cess of the home market, learn that a
duty on their cereals could not benefit
Them? T? And would not all who were
not directly benefited by the protec-
ZION, soon make another very impor-
rant discovery? viz: That they were
not only paying the duty themselves,
but that they were paying more than
their fair share of their municipal ex-
penses, besides paying large prices for
manufactured articles in order that
the operators of those infant industries
may roll in wealth, whilst they must
work early and late to secure the
wherewithal to keep body and soul to-
gether.
A little experience like the above
supposed case would convince the
most stupid person, that the foreign
importer does not pay the duty. / am
aware that protectionists claim this,
and they find plenty of men innocent
enough to believe it.
Now pity any man who is verdan,
Children Cry for