The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-23
THE NEW TARIFF.
Protection for Northern Industries-No
Protection for the South.

To the Richmond Times: ] have just
| read Mr.. Wilson's report accompanying
| the presentation Of the new tariff bill TO
| Congress. To the great majority of the
| people OF the South a protective tariff
| has been, ever since the days of John c.
| Calhoun, a name to conjure up hostility
| a shibboleth of the party Of the enemy,
banner under which the hosts Of New
England and the North marched 10 take
the spells OF the South. We little dream
ed that the result Of the grand Demo-
cratic victory Of 1852. in which we elected
President and Congress upon a platform
which denounced protection" as rob
berry, would be nothing more nor less
than n new protective tariff The Demo
cratic platform says: I'VE denounce Re
publican protection as 4 fraud-a robbery
OF the great majority Of the American
people for the benefit of the few. We
declare u 20 be a fundamental principle
of the Democratic party that the Federal
government has no constitutional right
10 impose and collect tariff duties except
for the purpose u revenue only" Mr..
Wilson himself declares that the Amer!-
can people have decided that the power
Of taxation has no lawful or constitu-
tional exercise except for providing reye-
nue. for the support Of the government"
merits Of new tariff BILL which he adj
mits ana ayows will protect the high
class OF industries Of New England and
the northern States, but win take of the
protective duties from the lower grade Of
infant Industries i'm the South
In his report, as printed in the Times
he mentions but two articles on which
the duty has been "gauged with reference
to the revenue IL will bring into the
Treasury" These are tin-plate and cigar
wrappers. But he avows that Tin adj
justing duties upon finished products 0hat
is the manufactured goods which New
England and the North sell 70 u.s. we
have tried 10 impose such rates as will
not destroy or distress any OF our home
industries"-that is. such rates as will
give them ample protection.
In other words 10 is frankly stated by
Mr. Wilson that the finished products OF |
New England and the North will be sufi- |
ciently protected. while the unfinished |
products Of the South which he chooses |
TO call raw materials, shall be deprived |
OF all protection.
Now, II is certainly true that the indus
tries Of New England and the Middle |
States, having enjoyed the protection af-
forded by high tariff for three-quarters
Of a century have reached q nigh state
Of development
They manufacture what Mr.. Wilson calls
finished products including some OF
The finest fabrics that can be produced IN |
any portion Of the globe.
10 is equally true that until q few years
lgo the South was a purely agricultural |
country. But under the stimulus Of the
twenty-five cent duty placed on coal and |
ron some twenty years ago, she turned |
Ter attention 10 tho Development Of her
-reat coal and iron fields. Slowly and
painfully these Industries struggled into |
feeble existence, then into "A healthy
evelopment, and now occupy n firm foot
old in the business Of the country.
Hundreds Of thousands Of l4bOrers are
ependent for their living upon the pro-
ucts OF these southern mines. England
nd the United States are the largest |
for ihose minerals. which Mr..
wilson calls raw material. although their
alue is composed of about lie raw ma
erial and $40 labor. We are New Eng
inds best customers for the fabrics made
y her educated artisans and highly train
mechanics.
This state of trade. however fair II may
'em to us, is far from satisfactory to
ar New England bosses" They can buy
leir coal and iron cheaper from foreign
luntries. They have been so long levying
tribute upon the South that
ate OF things which compels them 10 re-
procate and pay a little tribute 10 us. ,
rouses their highest Indignation, and ap- ,
ears TO them an intolerable hardship.
IN order 10 excuse the gross perversion | !
Justice and Democratic doctrine,
r. wilson puts forth the hackneyed ar !
iment that free raw material will ena- ,
e The manufacturers Of the fine goods
sell them cheaper 20 the millions or )
'ople I'm the United States who are con-
imers.
Experience teaches that under a pro- I,
cuve tariff such will not be the effect ;
free raw material Mr.. Wilson himself .
IS stated In his report that the protec- !
re tarln causes the manufacturer In this Z
untry to sell his protected goods az :
CHER price 10 our own people than the !,
ices al which he sells them TO the .
oDle Of South America.
80 long as the manufactured goods =
e protected, the manufacturer will :
arge our own people the highest price !.
at the tariff enables him 10 charge y
ID keep out foreign competition. =
IT. for example. the protective tariff ?
ables the manufacturer OF steel rails =
charge "a per ton, free ore will not -
iuce him 10 reduce his price 10 s23 -
r ton
rhis has been thoroughly demonstrated n
the last i've years. during which the \,
zee OF rails was maintained at $50 per | ~
2 by the combination. Ii is notorious h
Al the cost OF iron has been declining n
er since 1887. but the decline In cost | n,
YER brought down the price OF rails 5,