New-York tribune., 1895-12-16
TiyEs THAT ARE Not REPrBLICAN.

Here Is a marvellous thing. Jealous RepuDll'
can in his private affairs a business man Of
sacacity and success, seriously proposes revival
Of duties on tea and coffee in order to raise ade
Quate revenue without duties on imported goods
which are known to be necessary to the pros
periy Of important industries. Is 1t possible mat
this and other worthy men have not yet mas
tered the alphabet of Republican principles!
There are two kinds Of taxes-those distributed
according to population. and those distributed ac'
cording to the wealth. the fashionable tastes or
the luxury-loving habits Of the individual The
former burden labor, make living more costly for
all wageearners increase the cost Of production,
and retard the progress of home industries and
the uplifting of American citizenship. They are
not Republican.
More than twenty years ago the Republican
party abolished the duties on coffee and tea, CIV
ing the people "a free breakfast table" because
II was desired to retain duties which encouraged
home manufactures and defended American Ia
Dor. rather than duties which taxed every labor
ing family The old duty of five cents per pound
on the 532 100000 pounds coffee imported last
year, would now yield over S26,O00,O00. The old
duty Of % cents per pound on tea, the imports
now averaging about 90,00O0OO pounds would
Weld about 500 800 900. These two duties would
meet all the deficiency in revenue, and SO would
in part. though not entirely an additional tax OF
81 on beer. Of which over 30000000 barrels are
consumed, and this also Is considered possible
by some Republicans But does any Republican
think these will do as much good as the little bill
Of twelve lines, recently suggested by The Irib-
une restoring the duties of 1890 on schedules Il,
j. X and J., and on earthenware, tin plates ana
gloves? That would yield about S,OOO,OOO, ana
,xperence under the reduced duties of the pres
cnt tariff has proved that the cost OF living FOR
the working people has not been diminished by
these reductions in the least degree.
tax on coffee and tea is distributed per
capita. Ii is nearly as heavy for the poorest
working families as It is for the families Of mill
ionares The consumption in pounds is perhaps
even greater per family among the poor than
among the rich. and while the latter buy more
costly qualities of coffee TEA, the old tax per
pound would take about 81 20 from every work
inc family for coffee and about 81 G1 for tea, as
the yearly consumption averages about 80 pounds
of coffee and 643 pounds of tea for each family.
Lower duties would take less, but put less money
into the Treasury The question is whether 1t is
for the welfare of the Nation to relieve the rich
lens silks, cottons and linens, kid gloves and
decorated porcelain or china, compelling the
working millions TO pay over So 80 per family in
order that the Government may have needed rev.
enue This is so far from The Republican policy
that it is surprising to find a single sincere and
intelligent Republican toleratlng the idea even
for an instant.
The country produces neither tea nor coffee,
and the whole of the tax would be paid by the
consumer. But the competition between Ameri-
can and foreign producers Of textile goods gloves.
earthenware and tin plates would force the for
eign producers or dealers to lower prices and cut
down profits in order TO retain part Of the great
American market. which is by far the most valu-
able in the world. Every cent Of the tax thus
paid by foreigners for the privilege Of selling In
that market lessons the amount which Ameri-
cans must pay for the support Of their Govern
ment. and whether the amount thus paid should
be tenth or half the duty S5,00O,000 or $4,000
900. it would 10 that extent be cheaper for the
people Of this country than to impose duties on
coffee and tea which must be wholly paid by
themselves. Not much education in Republican
doctrine is needed 10 perceive this important diff
ference But the difference in the distribution OF
the tax is far more important. Certainly q small
part. probably not tenth Of the imported goods
Of classes above mentioned IS bought by wage
earning families. and the tax would fall almost
wholly on those best able 10 bear II. who could
avoid the whole Of ii, moreover, if they chose TO
be content with goods manufactured in this c0un.
try. But fully S40OOO000 Of the revenue from
the old duty on tea and coffee would be borne
bv wage-earning families. and not $1,000 900 by
the rich and mXllry-lovng Can il eyer be for the
good Of the country 10 make production more
costly by increasing tie cost Of living for The
worker. and producers?