Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-07
A Tariff for Revenue Only
To he Editor Of he Dis3dtca

on the SUBJECT OF inc taIlh' ~ htoiIS ~ nv
that not quite enough trouble ~ taken 70 |
define TO the voters the meaning of tie |
Democratic doctrine. There ~ too muoA |
taking for granted that every body knows |
what IL meant bv "a terl1 for revenue |
only" when, IN truth, not few. even |
among those who have some general no
ton that sucn q tariff would DO gOod |
thing. would be at q loss 10 say how II IS |
10 lessen the burdens of taxation TO them. |
This article is written with the hope that |
some reader may he helped 10 see TINS |
principle IN clearer hghi.
Protection means taxing manufactured |
goods. 20 that the American manufacturer |
may force the COusum ? 70 pay him Tue |
same amount in addition - the natural /
price OF an article that the consumer mrs |
to pay the government where such arbcle !
IS imported; and protection means placing
the tax az high "a practicable. 50 that the
amount the manufa ,urer j. .ahlG 70 exact
on each separate article maF be IS great as
possible. and so that the greatest possible
of manufacturers may be pro-
tccted.
If the American manufacturer collects
the same amount of tax on every piece oil
goods he sells that the National Govern
mont collects from the same quantity
when imported, aud sellsfuur times As much
as IS imported, then the tarlh upon ms pro-
duct brings hm IN four times as much rs
accrues TO the government. That IS 10
say. the manufacturer gains - by the
oDoratlOu OF the turH - every
dollar that goes INTO the Urea
sury. The manufacturer whispers IN
to the ear OF the Republican party
that If IL Will so adjust the tdfih tnat re
NAV collect "A high tax from the con inner
he will pay tor the privilege bv contri-
butlnp a portion OF the gains to mnpal@n
funds so long as the benefit Is continued
10 ham. The Kepubhcan party enters INTO
the shameful partnership, and the govern
ment, IN collecting what II needs nom
man. leaves his hands lad 30 tnat tAe
manufacturer can come along ana i""t
from him tour or 1--WE times aS much ana
ne be pOweriess to resist thus ~ ma n
tanned n system of taxation that forces the
tax-uaver. while cOntr tutlng dollar 20
the Government that protects hin, 10 part
with fine sum of four or hye dollars De-
sides. which does rot touch the treasury
but - a tribute paid 10 the manufacturer.
1t Is well known that greater revenue
may be derived from tolerabiF IoN VA
than from one much higher, because tHc
inference III the tax rate ~ more tnan
counterhaianced by the decrease ~ I'M
portations. The decrease in importatohs'
In turn. Is caused partly by decrease IN
consumption on account OF the aiVanco
in price and partly Toy tho fact thai WIN
high tax the American manufacture can
afford ~ forego for awhile a little OF the
amount he might collect from the peolIe'
with the purpose OF underSeIilhG MS l"I-
eign competitor. depending, upon maSlh"
M what he has ab-talncd from taxing
when he has DESTROYED competition: for
then he NAV not only add TO the natural
price the amount of the tax, hui may carry
thr price even higher On account OF having
the monopoly.
To illustrate how greater revenue may
he derived from a low tax than from hlsh
one: Suppose that with tax OF cents
100 900 knives of q certain klnd were IN
unrted Tins would bring IN revenue 81
- OCO We're the tax raised TO 80 cents
probably not more IMAM LOCO knives womb
ba imported. which would realize but
@30l-a difference OF $500 received Win
a scent tax above the amount received
with a tax FIVE times as hlGh.
1t is the policy OF the protectonistS 10
enforce bloh taxes rather than low, be
cansr I'D II enables the American manu-
facturer to collect the same high TAX from
the consumer. ~ It enables the American
manufacturer to destroy foreign compel-
tlou. ,3i II admits Of "A tax beng placed
moon more kinds of manufactured Eoois
than If the maximum OF revenue were De
rived from eacn kind. 10 - evident that
II we dismiss the ldea Of projecting
American manufacturers ana III arranging
"a scale OF duties nave III mind naught save
Tho hest method OF raising the necessary
amount: that IL to say, II we 90 10 WORK
10 make no tariff tOrrcvenue Only. we
may obtain the same amount OF govern
mental revenue either By placing lower
duty on fewer number OF articles OF oy
placing very low duty on greater NULL
Der of articles. 1t mas readily be- seen
that either one of these courses, whlle
Z 10 Al II ~
a protective tarlH brings, would greatly
lower the tax the home manufacturer u
able to exact upon MS prouuc''
The farmer now tears down
part of his fence TO give Uncle sam en-
trance to his fields, with the result that
the hogs slip IN through the opening ana
while ncie sam Is gathering what corn
he needs Tor his support the hogs are
DESTROYING four times as much. 1t Womb
be far better for the farmer 10 build ut
lie cate and swing IT so mat 1t would close
after Uncle sam, 50 rs 10 Keep out the
h0us. Then Uncle Sam might take lust rs
much corn. and the farmer be saved al
that the hogs are devourug.
The Democratic party would pay very
little attention to protection OF the manu-
facturer, realizing full well that what IL
canned to the manufactures Is lost to the
poople. and that one industry cannot DE
thus built up save at the expense OF ether
industries. Hence in formulating tarlii
the Democratic party would not De ued
down in its selection q Such artlcIeS as
mipht feel that they needed the support Oh
the other industries of the country, out
would be able to Iise to tho high plane OF
Justice TO all the people, and II any manu-
facturers were protected II would not De
from tn sole consideration of protecting
them. ont merely because 1t might be
found best to raise portion OF the reVe-
mes from manufacturers, as they COM
mise go large part of the lmpOrtatoas
10 this country. lhis incidental prOtec-
tion should give our manufacturers all the
outside support necessary III, indeeu'
they need any protection whatever, ana
reduction to the basis OK "a tarln loT FtFe-
uue in intent. with mere incidental pro
+nct;on would hit q tremendous load 81
taxation from the people, while III no wav
abridginc the revenue accruIug 70 the
government. lii,
Nor - this all that Democratic admin
istratiOn would save to the great mass Oh
the people. 1t Is tine fixed policy oi the
Democratic party to reduce expenditures
10 the uecessi ties of a government ecolom-
,cally administered. In doing tins. less
money being taken out Of the Treasury, IL
would not be necessary that AS much
should be carried into the Treasury.
Morris this all. The Republican party,
in prosti:utiug the tari1 to the purpose OF
protection. places rs much OF the burden
AS possible on manufactured goods. But
these manufactured articles are to great
extent necessities. The Democratic party >
being free to consider the best interests of
the people, would transfer portion OF the
load from these necessities TO Injuries.
Isubmt as plain, business proposition
that II IL to the interest OF the great ma
jority OF the people OF the country To wipe
Cut n system OF taxation that lets IN u
rayenous pack, who snap up great deal
Of what IS thrown down by the people to
feed their government, and substitute for
il tari1 that would leave the people as
nearly as possible. all Of their earnings,
save inst enough to meet the actual neces-
sites Of the government only, ana even OF
this amount fair share 20 be contributed
bv the rich from their iuxuries, instead OF
being squeezed from the necessities oi the
moor. Yours very truly.