The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-09-14
THE NEW TARIFF LAW

I
gcucral remarks, which Will b,
more Than sustained By a minute
examination, Ia the first place, TIA,
lmw has made certain tho replonish
meat Of the Treasury, aud remGv
ed allris OF a further increase il
the permanent national debt
Again, il insurcs the cheapening
To substantial extent, of multi
tudr of the accessories and comforts
OF life, reducing the cost Of living
for every household without weak
rnmg the resources OF the govern
mcnt Clothing of every descriP
ton, cloths, dress goods, blankets
and carpets will bc cheaper and
better everywhere for its passage
Imported food, woods aud lumber
china and glass ware, pockct-kniHc-
and tablwkniNcs, nearly all the
completed goods tho use Of which
Is SO Large part of civilized life,
togcthcrWith the materials of which
they are made, share in the large
reductions Of duty, These change,
alone will certainly, within few
months, make every mans daily
earnings moro valuable to him than
now. But they will do far more
than this. They will do much 60
revive depressed industry and to
restore general prosperity. a pre-
tense is made by few manulac-
turers OF anticipated distress from
the reduction Of certain protective
duties, but for this we can find no
foundation Ia the law Even the
eNorbitant profits of certain forced
and pcttcd industries, which never
could haveeXisted without artificial
subsidies, at the general cost, have
been treated tenderly But enough
has been done TO give Hreal and inn
portant help TO those Industries
which are not and can not be TOs-
tered by taxation, and which must
Away constitute by far the greater
part of the economical activity of
any community. Thus the law in
all is parts will itself be a continu-
al obiect-losSon to the voters, teach
ing them that the imposition OF
needless taxes can mover benefit
the people Us o whole, but that cv-
cry removal OF them is a national
boon.
But the brightest feature Of this
tariff is found in the fact that it is
a turning poiut in the history Of
our economic legislation. II sig
nalizes the slnal stage in the most
costly experiment ever tried by a
peaceful nation. Foran entire gen
Grafton Of men this country has
continued to apply the doctrines Of
an unscicntiiic, narrow, provincial
school Of economists, who teach
that apuopfo can enrich themselves
by diverting their energies FROM
more TO less productive industries,
by taxing, hampering, and discour-
aging those activities for which
their soil, climate, and abilities ARE
adapted, and fostering those whose
are unnatural to them. AS all
economists OF worldwide reputc
have taught from the first, such an
effort must fail, and the scmblanco
Of success can only be maintained
as long rs the taNos and discrimi.
nations the system requires contin-
ue 10 grow heavier. Accordingly,
tariff after tariff has been passed in
successive years, each more bur
donsomcmd more unjust than its
predecessor, until in the Mckinley
law 1870 the protective system
reached Is elimination, and broke
down. The experiment has failed,
In The new law the nation has turn
cd it, face towards justice, towards
economical truth, towards lasting
prosperity, towards ultimate free
Idom OF trade; aud the movement
heueclorlh will be inthat direction,