The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-30
THE TARIFF.
T. D Gold Explains What the Protective Tariff
is and How it Operates

Is and How it Operates.
The tariff is vital or living question
with u.s. because it is a source of revenue
Tor the support of the government, and
OF wealth to manufacturers Instead of
direct tax levied upon and paid by the
people for the support of the govern
ment, this government resorts to a
tariff in order to raise money for this
purpose. Every article that is brought
into this government, that is brought
here from foreign countries, must paw a
toll or tax at our ports, and this all
passes into the public treasury.
suppose one of our merchants should
buy hats from England. he must pay
tax or impost on each hat he thus buys.
Now, of course, he will add this tax on
the hat when he goes to sell it, and the
purchaser Of the hat pays for it. .
Internal revenue-the tax on tobacco.
Whiskies, etc. is another source of
revenue for raising money for govern
mental expenses.
But now how about protective tariff?
What is that? And whom does it pro-
teCt? protective tariff is a tax i'm
posed on foreign goods for the benefit
or protectiaon of home manufacturers
1t began years ago when there were not
many factories in this country The
policy of the government was to cncour-
age what was then called the infant in
dustries. It was held that they were
weak and just starting up. or just born
and weak like infants and needed some
good nursing. How was this done? 1t
was done by putting SO high tax on
foreign goods, and called high tariff,
that foreigners could not sell their goods
here. Why? We will suppose that
tax Of two dollars was put on a foreign
bat by our government. This would
enable a hat manufactures of this coun-
try to sell his hats cheaper than the for
cigner could sell his hat here after pay
ing two dollars tax, so that kept the
foreign hat out of this country, and the
American manufacturer sells his hat at
higher price than ne would if he had
foreign competition, for when he can he
will raise his prices. He will sell it so
as TO pocket that two dollars. How much
OF it goes to the government? Not a
cent, but the manufacturer gets it all.
and the government must put a tax on
some American goods to raise revenue.
They tax whiskes brandies, tobacco and
such goods.
Now you can see that the consumers
are burdened. Those that buy goods must
pay the manufacturers these high prices
for them, and not a cent of it goes to
the government. The manufacturers are
enriched. The people at large, the con-
sumers, are poor. Great combinations of
wealth are formed. Millions of dollars
are made by the producers or manufac-
turers. They combine and make ma
chincry do the labor Where a hundred
years ago a hundred men were employed
to labor, now ten men Will run the ma
chincry and do the labor Then in great
trusts expenses are cut down by making
machinery do nearly all the work and
many men are idle, so that our nation is
fast becoming ruled by a few very rich
men, and that will make the people
slaves.
1t is said that just before Abraham
Lincoln was. killed he appeared sad, and
some one said to him: why are you so
sad? You have been successful in the
war. and the Union is restored. You ought
to be joyful He replied: THE people
have. got a taste of the power of money
Army contractors are rich. They know
what power is. This love of money will in
crease. A few viii become exceedingly
wealthy, and the many will become poor
and we will have slavery in another
form. We have destroyed African slav-
cry. but soon we will have a great many
white people enslaved, and this fine
government viii be corrupted and des-
troyed."
Is there manliness yirtue love Of frce
dom, hatred of corruption, enough yet
remaining in this country to throw off
these shacklcs so rapidly coiling them
selves around this body polite?
Is there yet enough hatred of ill-gotton
gains. enough of love of man. still re-
naming to dethrone this awful scouree
of the worship of money?
P u. GOLD.