Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-06
rAxArIoN ANp PRopporIoN.
Some Reasons Why the Protective TART
ShnlIll hn A hnlIslinl.

should he Abolished.
Editor Gazette C Journal: Will you kindly
permit me through yonr Journal to state
some reasons why the protective tariff
should be now and forever abolished?
There is one thing the principal of which
remains the same under all forms of gov
eminent and that is taxation. Every here
and by every nation taxes are levied OH
the products of labor, with the natural re-
| suit, taxed according to the amount spent
i'll support of themselves and their FAM
| HES. Look where you will, you will find
| this same principle with the natural result
accrung; an interference with and obstruc-
ton to production. The power to tax as at
present applied is amply sufficient to de-
stroy production altogether, if carried out
to its final conclusion. In fact, industries
have been taxed out of existence, Amer
lean shipping has been taxed off the ocean,
where it was once in u fair way OF heading
of its only great rival, England; so that to-
day American commerce is entirely III the
hands of foreigners. Before the revolution
England, by the exercise Of the taxing
power, crippled and suppressed the trade
OF the colonies. She taxed the wooden trade
out of Ireland. This country has taxed
numberless small manufacturers out of
business, and BY the INSCRIPTIONS use Of
the taxing power has rendered it impossi-
bic to carry ON some branches Of business
the result of which has been to concentrate
the possession of capital in few hands, SO
that the best results in the shape OF profits
can be secured, and hence, TRUSTS"
Pools and Combines. These have re-
stricted production whenever III their
opinion their profits were not sufficiently
large.
10 restrict production means to throw
men out of employment who are laboring
to produce the article made. This increases
the competition for employment in other
business with an inevitable lowering Of
| wages. Nor does the evil case here. The
power TO produce All article being taken
away or crippled. creates an artificial
scarcity, which enhances the price. This,
| again, has the effect OF causing people to
use less of the article. Consumption being
| diminished, reacts again upon the con-
sumer; because US he buys less of the
article, the quantity on hand diminishes
| slowly and those who produce ii are kept
out OF employment still longer, thus Grip
| ping their power to consume the article
| produced by others. This may be readily
seen IN cases where heavy internal revenue
! taxes or protective duties are levied, and
this is what has been shown very plainly
| of late years, is called "overproduction."
| On the contrary it is underproduction, for
| it is absurd to talk of there being too many
things produced so long as there are ueo-
| pie who want them and cannot get them.
| When We remember that seven-eights Of
the taxes of this country is levied on labor
| products, we can see how impossible of re-
| lief any remedy can be, that does not in
| yolye the removal of SO oppressive bur
| den. The amount of taxation levied upon
| land is Insignificant, when its value is
| taken into consideration apart from the
| improvements. improved land is seldom
assessed 1T more than half its value, often
| less unimprOved land is assessed at per-
| haps from onc,siNth to one-twentieth Of
| It's value, and when we get the right sort
| of an assessor" often less So that the
| whole vast amount of taxes raised in this
| country ls almost all FROM the fruits of in
| dustry. What effect can such a system
have other than impeding production and
throwing men out Of employment?
Let US see by close examination, the
way the system works right around u.s.
and the injustice Of it will be made APP
parent, AS also the reason why, if the
present plan is not replaced BY another
and better one, no method can he devised
by which a Just distribution of wealth can
be effected. Every one will, | dare say,
concede, that the best form Of government
is that which affords the greatest good to
the greatest number. Have we such a
government ! answer emphatically, No.
Our present government is pre-eminently
to the fcwest number, or in other words a
government eff capital for capital and by
capital This quotation from the late
message may not be amiss. THE blessings
Of God rest on our people" Let us sGe
whatof blessings they are Great industrial
disturbances all over the country; general
tendency towards revolution: the militia
Of live states under arms; these are some OF
the divine blessings under which this
country is Strupplinp
The above are my reasons for the total
abolition OF protective tariff, that is from
my point of view. II my fellow employees
OF the Republican persuasion should have
any better reasons for perpetuatng protec-
ton, let them state them, as | have no
doubt this journal will extend the same
courtesy TO all, but let those reasons be
over thtir writer's name A man ought
not to have opinions Of which he is
ashamed.
In conclusion | wish to say that | am
charitable enough to thing that Mr. Nc
kinley honestly believes in his own
doctrine. If he does not then all I've got
to say is that don't envy him his con
science. PATRICK WALL.
ROCKFORD, October 3D., 1892