The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-08
A TARIFF OF ADMINISTRATIONS

lplethoric and superior mortals. To
take from a man by improper taxation
one dollar, caused by extravaganza
and reckless appropriation, is a sin and
an offence. To rob him to enrich an
lessence.
The great tariff nov in operation out
;Herrod's Herod. 1t is huge and grasp
ing and plucks and Expresses fifteen
or twenty millions of bread winners
without concience or right or decency.
A republican supreme court promised
such taxation robbery" No man of
honesty and information believes for a
moment that it is really intended to
lraise an honest, equitable revenue for
the support of the government, but to
make richer the manufacturing extor-
Itionists. No man of reading and expe-
~Irience believes that such a tax is in
tended for the benefit really Of COM
lmerce. To put up a high tax fence is
Ito hut put importations. When Rus
lsia retaliates and strikes back at the
UNITED States for its unjust obstruc-
ltions. the republican gang howl over it
and grunt and goan and ond 1t
is but fair that Russia should resort
ito American methods. What is sauce for
the goose sauce for the gander. A pro-
Elective tariff is justified and Endorsed
by it's promoters because Of that lying
I"home market humbug they have
lconcocted to deceive and hoodwink the
country at large. They pretend that
lif you will shut out all the world you
this country will consume it's own pro-
ducts. This is one Of the biggest Of
ldeceptions, a lie out of the whole cloth.
The same fellows are whooping over
the immense and unequaled exports
from the United States to other coun-
tries. 1t is all right, most excellent,
Ito ship the American products, and it
lis very just and proper they argue to
keep all foreign competition, and
Ito all nothing to come in save with
the payment of a high tax, which af-
ter all m out Of the American con-
Isumers, to their great detriment.
The Philadelphia Times thus explains
lN@~ ONASS vi NoSSASl
Commerce means an interchange Of
goods. and since we cannot continue for
long to sell goods to foreign countries
without taking something from them in
return, and the republican
Theory of protection are practically in
compatible.
Our farmers found this out long ago
and now u manufacturers are getting
lit into their heads. They not only con-
troll the home market, but have over
stocked it and must find additional
markets abroad. They have a good
customer in Russia, that docs not need
to buy food stuffs, but has been buying
ia great amount of American machinery
and other manufacturers. The trade
is largely one-sided n Russia would
like to sell us something. She pro-
Iduces sugar cheaply and has sold some
of it in this country. But here our
tariff system interposes and forbids."
Any government that is unfair and
mean enough to act upon the principle
Isuggested-to tax heavily all foreign
products while gladly, eagerly sending
tout to all foreign countries American
products richly merits to be dealt with
strictly by all other governments. A
lpeople who hav so little conscience.
sense and character as to put up a
high, most exorbitant tax upon for
leign products and then seeks for trade
for their own products in foreign
countries should be treated with indig-
Inant scorn Int vere r~eprisals.
We desire that u readers should
fully understand the clamor raised by
Iprotectionists as to Russia's plan of
retaliation, and also see why it is Rus.
STA is disposed to deal with the AMER
lean protectionists with a measure
both just and drastic. The Philadel-
lphia Record. we'll posted as to tariff
matters. says Of this Russian move
ment:
When foreign governments witness
the imposition of enormous duties on
steel rails, structural steel, billets, wire
and nails. woolens, etc, by his govern
ment what is more natural than that
they should maintain maximum duties
on American goods? Russia,
with her exports of wheat and petro-
leum, is one of the greatest rivals Of
the United States in the worlds mar
kets; and for this reason, if for no 9TH
er. she has little desire to sacrifice her
commercial policy for the accommoda-
ton of American trade. While Russia
ieNportS to the United States are incon-
siderable. Russia has become in recent
years a most favorable market for
american manufacturers, with a prom
Use of a mighty expansion of this trade
Through the ports of the far east.
But Great Britain and Germany pro-
lduce most of the articles of the same
kind hat are exported to Russia from
the United States. and those countries
Ihave no discriminating tariffs against
Russian trade. Nor are they CONNER
Iciai rivals OF Russia. So far from it
they are most valuable, customers for
Russian products"
While a great manufacturing country
like England has free trade with the
Exception OF some twelve OF thirteen
PARTICLES taxed. the United States have
q high protective wall of republican
construction shutting out foreign pro-