South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-04-22
THE TARIPF.

Inc question OF the revision OF
the tariff is certainly to enjoy a
large share of public attention in
the coming cam pa'gn. as it is now
sharing with other measures OF re-
form the attention of Congress.
There Is an amount of determi-
nation on the part of the people,
however, to inject in.o the cam
paign q discussion Of the question
OF remonetising silver, and its res.
toration to its just equality with
gold, which does not seem to
"down" at the command of the
the leaders; and the sooner they
recognize that fact, the greater will
be the likelihood of harmony in
party deliberations, and just and
fair measurement of party strength,
with the probabilities of success
largely in favor Of that party which
will first meet the peoples demand
in spirit Of reasonable concession.
But the tariff is burning gues-
ton now, and will remain so as
long as there is any artificial bar
rier, erected by the authority of
law, in the way of fair and equal
exchange between the people of the
United States and those of other
nations who may be able to find it
to their interest to trade with US.
1t is not assuming too much to
say that protection" has never
been a popular idea in this country
or in any other. 1t is device of
the last two hundred years; and
the whole civilized world got on
without it till that time, and many
of the nations that tiled it, have
abandoned it with loathing and
disgust. Our country is almost
singular in its long adhesion to
the doctrine; and the probabilities
are strongly in favor of its abaa-
Comment, if the question could be
submitted to the whole people
without the interference of some
few hundreds of persons who have
enjoyed its great personal advant-
ages, and have realized from its pecu-
liar privileges such immense wealth
that they can control elections.
1t seems to be repugnant to the
doctrine of the Constitution, that
taxation shall be equal; and it
would be very difficult in our day,
II the Constitution were under re-
vision In a convention for the pur-
pose, to retain in that instrument
any power of Congress to lay pro-
tective duties at all. When the
Constitution of the Southern Con-
fedcracy was framed, that power
was denied, and We believe the peo-
pie, through convention for the
purpose, would refuse to allow 60
dangerous power to any depart
ment OF the government.
The burden OF Mr.. Wilson's
great speech in closing the debate
on the Free Wool bill, was to show
that a protective tariff yields little
or no revenue to Government,
while it legalizes the iniquitous
policy of laying the whole people
under contribution for the benefit
OF the manufacturer. We may
here find an explanation of the oft
repeated statement that tariff is
not tax. When the duty is SO
high as to exclude importation, it
yields absolutely no revenue to the
Government, and hence, no tax.
Nevertheless, the protected articles
can be sold at a price SO much
higher than the natural price that
1t leyies heavy tribute on every
one who buys them. But this is
no tax, as 1t is not source Of rev.
enue.
This idea is brought out in
clipping from the Advocate, given
below, which explaines itself.
THE REASON WHY