Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-10
AUGUSTA, NAME WEDNESDAY MORNING. 10, 1884,
purpose of a Democratic tariff, namely,

purpose of Democratic tariff, namely,
revenue"
| On the other hand, the Republican party
believes in a tariff which, while yielding
revenue for the support of the government,
shall at the same time be 90 adjusted as to
promote the establishment and the main
tsnance of domestic industries and the pro-
lection of American workmen; and to that
end would admit free of duty all articles,
raw or manufactured except luxuries)
coming from any place on the face of the
globe, the like of which are not or cannot
be advsntsgeously produced in this coun-
try, and impose duties only on the things
we do or can produce, and make that rate
high enough to insure the difference be-
tween the cost of the foreign and domestic
product, and by that means stimulate the
development, of all our resources and insure
the employment of sll our people.
Circumscribed within these narrow limits
lies the whole field of the controversy, and
on this ground the contending political
forces confront each other in open and de-
termined hostility.
The Republican party stands, believe.
securely intrenched behind the bulwark of
the American policy of protection, and will
resist to the last the combined forces of
free trade from whatever quarter they may
come, confident of ultimate and triumphant
support by the enlightened judgment of the
American people.
Mr.. Burrows then entered upon de-
fence of the conslitutionality of protec-
tive tariff, quoting from Webster, Fisher,
Ames, Presidents Wa.birgton, John Ad-
ans, Jefferson, Msdison. Monroe and John
Quincy Adams, as to the construction of
the constitution upon this point, and con-
GLIDING from the citations.
That the want of power uader the con-
federation to impose duties on imports. with
a view not only os rai'ing revenue, but of
insuring the development and protection of
domestic man fractures, was cne of the
most potent reasons urged in favor of the
adoption of the federal constitution, and
ihst these powers were embraced in that
instrument. and promptly invoked by the
national government without hesitancy or
question.
Passing from these general matters, Mr..
Burrows began consideration of the SUBJ
stance of the measure, prefacing it with this
definition of tariff reform"
And here we have at last translated into
apt phrase the hitherto mysterious doctrine
of tariff reform You have now con-
jured with these words for the last time.
Having ceased to be mysterious, they lose
their magic power to deceive and mislead
the people.
Tariff reform" is finally interpreted to
mean "free raw material" and reduction
of duties on competing foreign products
entering our markets below the prote ctive
point, regardless of the consequences to
American industries or American labor.
This is riff reform.
The bill proposed, he ssij, the transfer
of l31 articles from the dutiable to the free
list, nearly one-half of which are the fruits
of dome site husban1ry. As whole the
proposition is to open our markets to the
free importation of nearly $40, 900 600 of
foreign products, accompanied with the
voluntary surrender of nearly $4,000 900
of annual revenue. 1t is free trade gone
mad.
The present free list ought to be sufficient
to satisfy the demand of the most advanced
free trader. The act of 1890 enlarged it to
the very limit of safety to American indus
tries and American labor.
The value of our free imports increased
from S26G, l03 ,04S in 1890 to S444,1 ,172 ,064
in 1898. while our dutiable imports fell off
from S507 ,371, ,764 in 1890 to $500 2S2, ,Sl5
in 1898. And yet it is proposed to increase
our free imports to more than $3.50 900 900,
while reducing the dutiable to 1854 900 900.
The speaker discussed at length the ef-
feet of the proposed free list, setting forth
many alleged inconsistencies that must en-
sue, through prejudiced classifications of
"free raw MATERIAL two illustrations being
these:
Zone would suppose that hoop iron
would be the same, regardless of the uses
to which it is applied. Not so. On the
farmers bucket it is taxed, around the
planters cotton it is free. Washed wool
and washed clay ought to hold the same
place in Democratic philosophy. Yet, the
WOO, of the northern farmer is "raw mate
RIAL" while the washed clay in the hands of
the southern producer is a highly finished
product"
Considerable time was devoted by Mr..
Burrows to presentation of the effects of
The bill upon the wool and iron ore indus
tries, which articles are among tho.e pro-
posed to be Transferred to the free list.
When this shall have been consummated,
he claimed. the manufacturer of woolen
goods will surely secure his raw mateiisl in
lne cheapest MARKET. ne VIII oTdw DIS
supply of wool from Australia, South
America. Turkey and South Africa. where
lanis are practically free and climatic con-
i,tions conduce to the cheapest production.
The manufacturer of iron will turn 10
Spain, Cubs, England and the worlds
sources Of the cheapest supply for his iron
ore.
This will inevitably result in one or two
tbngs-the destruction of cur flocks and
the closing Of our mines, or the lowering OF
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