The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-12-25
The TARIFF.
A Zew Ideas Upon the Great American
Political Problem.


Ed. ENTERPRISE:-Th writer, for one,
has never been able to reconcile the two
platitudes, ga protective tariff and a
tariff for revenue" into the harmonious
deduction, "a protective revenue"
1t is true, that recognize this tariff
issue as one Of Americas greatest politi-
cal problems, because Of its complex
nature, and on that account, do not af-
firm for my conceptions Of it, entire in
fallibility. But if my conclusions may
stimulate closer study of the broad argu-
ment and be the means of bringing ever
so few into more rational relations with
the question, then l shall not be sorry
for having spoken.
tariff does not protect when it per-
mits of the importation, on competi
tive schedule, Of foreign made goods, in
to our home markets, already well sup
piled with American products Of the
same kind.
Suppose the United States consumes
$4,000 jack-knives in year. Let $4,000
jack-knives of an equal quality be i'm
ported and pay duty, which will still
allow the dealer to sell them for the same
price as the American blade.
The chances are that at the end Of the
year there are upon our markets 1900
American knives and 1900 foreign
knives, uns0ld; whereas under natural,
protected consumption, all Of the home
made goods would have been used. Now
that is not protection. 1t is no better
than an internal revenue placed upon
the home product to the extent Of the
revenue paid on the import, for the deal
er collects it of the purchaser of the for
eign article-nay, he figures interest up
on his foreign investment in your be-
half. Is not that the case, or am 1 at
fault.
l claim that duty should be imposed
upon foreign manufactured articles that
would practically debar them from en-
trance into our ports, or Of being brought
across our customed borders. We could
do the rest. Competition at home and
proper legislation against internal com
binatiOn for the purpose Of extortion,
would keep prices right. If I am not
reasoning fairly, remind me Of it.
II a general tariff would be detrimen-
tai to some portions Of our country, the
government should recognize ihe injus-
tice Of the condition and remit the duty
an importer would be obliged to pay.
can scarcely imagine upon what article
this might arise, yet it is possible there
might be occasion for it. 1t is plain
to see the injustice to Louisiana of i'm.
porting free sugar, and it is satisfying
: to know that she received a bounty on
+ each pound she produced, so rated as tC
place her upon a competitive footing
in her vital industry.
The rebate should have been main
tained, for l believe the south properly
fOstered under the guardianship of the
government, can grow all our sugar,
Not only that, but under similar cOndi-
tiOns, l believe the variable climate and
and soil of the United States is capable
of raising all our spices, drugs and
fruits.
As'we do need protection, tariff fol
, revenue is out of the question. Our rev.
enue must be gathered internally and
upon luxuries that we cannot produce
and which those most able to pay are the
/ the ones who consume. II / have the
wrong notions upon these few phases o.
the tariff question, 1 am anxious tt
stand corrected. ?.?.?.
Do