New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-26
.SHfN PROTECTION.

The fiat denials and the positive assertions
about the action Of the Senate committee on the
Tariff bill which have darkened the air, dis
ordered business and fed the fires Of spccula
! ton for several weeks will come 10 an end
to-day. il may be hoped What the committee
has done or will do seems almost as much
in doubt as ever. since men Of one side
declare that nothing has been decided. while
others assert that duties have been imposed
on coal and ir)n sugar and various other
products. in order TO placatc enough members
| 10 secure Il majority. When indignant Senators
/ demanded Il caucus the committee was forced
! ont of its hole but has not yet emerged far
enough 10 let the world know what ii proposes.
| Behind tha, is the question whether the full
committee will agree To the changes proposed,
and then whether the caucus will assent.
This is the time to remember that duties
which do not protect can only plumber consum-
crs without doing any good. If SUGAR grown
in Louisiana kept alive but did not advance
with duty of two cents per pound, and has
prospcrcd only since bOunticS We're substituted.
il may fairly be inferred that Il duty Of only
one cent per pound would give the market 10
foreign producers. ruin many of the planta-
TONS and prevent the improvements necessary
to make the industry permanently profitable.
In this way duty which is only almost
enough may crush an industry as completely as
abolition of all duticS-a fact which the LouSi-
ana men never could understand when they
were dealing with Northern manufactures.
But the duty which docs not develop home
production may and generally does enhance
prices. that it is paid by consumers and
not by foreigners. The bounty took about
S1oOOo,O0O from the Treasury. but would in
time have secured control of the markets To
home producers 50 completely that the cost OF
all sugar to Consumers would have been cheap
cncd. Instead Il duty Of one cent per pound
would take about S3S.000.Ooo from The CON
sumcrs directly. ard would probably fail alto
gcthcr to build up the home industry or 10
cheaper sugar for the people.
This is the principle which it is most ncccs-
sary to apply in judging of the small duties
which, according 10 reports, may he imposed
on coal and iron ore and other products. The
question is whether protection is desirable II
il is If it would develop home production and
ultimately secure cheaper products. then il IS
infinitely better for al concerned that it should
he sufficient protection to bring about those
results surely and quickly. An inadequate
duty, which does not stimulate home prosperity.
can never bring to consumcrS the return Of
cheaper goods. nor the larger benefits Of bet
ter demand for American labor and American
products In that case, like the inadequate
duty Of one cent per pound so long foolishly
imposed on tnpate. the duty can protect moth
ing and do no good. except that 1t may cxtort
from consumers Of n particular article Il revc-
nue. for the Treasury. The duties said 10 be
contemplated by Democrats on the committee
are of this sort. Such duties would not suffice
TO secure the advantages Of protection or 10
avert the evils OF free trade. but would only
tax the consumers Of one article rather than
the consumers of another.
OF course, to do this would be to keep the
word of promise TO the ear, but break il 10
the hope" Nothing better can be expected
from the party whose members in the House
voted almost soldy for free trade in the
products in question. The men Of that party
do not intend TO protect anything except their
own seats. If they can save their political
lives but in no other way they may consent 10
duties which they can pretend to believe large !
enough, but which will nevertheless doom in |
dustres TO destruction surely as if all !
duties had been removed Texas, Arkansas !
and Missouri have been making a tariff for |
manufacturing and mining States. 1t is not TO be |
expected that Il tariff from such Il source will |
grant anything more than sham protection.
Whether the Senators from New Iork and New
Jerscy, the NirginiaS. Ohio, Wisconsin, Ala
bama and Louisiana will consent to be placatcd
and bcfoolcd by duties which, without protect
ing, would actually destroy industries of their
States, it must with regret be admitted. will !
probably remain Il matter Of doubt until final
action on the measure shows how far they are
slaves Of the caucus.