New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-12
PROTECTION STILL NEEDED.


1.-THE Washington Post will not, upon due
consideration. ascrlbe to The Tribune any de-
sire TO get up discussion on the question
whether or not Protection defeats its revenue
producing capacity. nor will it imagine that
this journal is either disturbed or grieved by
the fact that a particular protective duty,
when it succeeds in its object. may entirely
cease to yield revenue. The fact which was
illustrated by the nearly complete stOppage OF
imports of tinplates. and consequently Of reve-
nue. derived from such imports, does not occa-
sion grief but most ardent satisfaction. In
like manner the success Of any other duty in
so developing home industry that 1t can en-
tlrely command the home market and perma-
nently reduce the cost of the product to Ameri-
can consumers must crafty all who sincerely
seek the welfare Of the country. If some reve-
nue. Is thereby cut off there remain other OBJ
jects in great number upon which duties have
not reached the same stage Of effectiveness,
and others still upon which duties can be laid
with every prospect Of good results. The mis-
construction Is in confounding the effect Of a
particular duty with the effect within limited
time Of the protective system as a whole.
Thus the protective tariff OF $780, with its
revival in principle last year. may be said to
have permanently established In this country
several branches OF industry. the manufacture
of tinplates for one. EXactness in detail Is
not necessary TO the present purpose. and it is
enough to say that former revenue amount
ing 10 about $7.OO0,000 n year on tlnplates and
as much more on other products has ceased.
That is about $50 per cent Of the whole revenue
derived from customs duties and the effect Of
the same system has been TO increase the pros
perity Of the people so that OF the articles
formerly yielding 800 per cent Of the customs
receipts they are able TO buy ut home or from
abroad more than they formerly did For IL
lustratiOn merely. taking the volume Of business
represented by exchanges in August. the people
appear to be buying about 23 per cent more
than In the same month Of 1892. and IL three
quarters Of that increase also had gone TO home
instead of foreign producers the Increase In
the 065 per cent would yet outweigh largely
the 3.5 per cent lost 1t Is not intended to pre-
dict what will be seen when the effect OF gen
cral prosperity Is fully felt. but only 10 indicate
how that prosperity. affecting the revenue from
q great MANY articles tends TO Increase receipts
even while all revenue from some articles is
cut of.
There Is not the least disposition to deny or
regret that when all protective duties have ac-
compllshed their object. and the entire home
market for products which this country can
well supply is commanded by American pro-
!, ducers, the revenue from protective duties will
scense. That time Is not near. although for
purely academic purposes it may seem worth
while to discuss what will then happen. Duties
imposed for revenue purposes will remain. and
will yield large receipts. and others can be
added, and further protective duties not yet
undertaken and internal taxes can be relied
upon for the balance. But for the rest OF this
century at least, and a while longer large
revenue Will continue to DE derived from the
protective duties which have not yet fully &c
complished their purpose. but are gradually
enabling the home industry TO develop and
advance toward command of the market VIII
some Of them II Is and must be slow progress
even II rendered sure by unwavering adher