The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-12-31
the NEW PARTY
Slavery, Tariff and Money Questions are
Discussed.

Editor independent: The first tar
iff law had the following preamble:
"Whereas, it is necessary for the
support of government, for the dis
charge of the debts Of the United
States and the encouragement and
protection of manufactures, that du-
ties be laid on goods, wares and mer-
chandise," etc.
This act was passed July a, 1883,
only three months after the organi-
cation of the government under the
present constitution.
There was not a dollar in the pub
lie treasury, except what was Dor
rowed There was no prospect OF any
money, until the new tariff law could
be enforced by the machinery OF the
law. There was no way OF getting
money, except by duties on imports OF
goods. The new government was loo
unpopular to impose direct taxes up
on wealth. Nearly half Of the people
were opposed to the constitution; and
il direct taxes had been imposed, there
would have been rebellion at once.
Therefore the fathers" had to resort
to indirect taxation. In those days
tariff taxation was far more popular,
or at least less Objectionable, than di-
rect taxes. The tariff duties could be
imposed, frequently, without the mass
OF the people knowing that they were
taxed. For this reason, statesmen fav-
ored indirect taxes.
The treasury of the new govern
ment. was not only empty, but there
was great public debt to be provided
for-that is-the debt of the old con-
tinental congress, besides the debts OF
the states. which had been assumed,
or were to be assumed, by The new
government.
The new government mad to assume
ali the old debts, in order to induce the
public creditors to support the new
constitution. Hamilton was one OF
the wise men of those days; and he
saw that it was impossible to get
the public bondholders to vote for the
new constitution, unless their claims
were to be paid. Their support was
absolutely necessary, in order to get
the new constitution adopted by the
necessary number of states, namely,
nine.
Under such circumstances the first
tariff law was passed by the first con-
gress sitting at New York; and 1T
was passed without any opposition. 1t
might be called tariff for revenue
only. were it not for the fact that the
fathers were mindful of the great and
fundamental principle of protection.
We know this, not only from the pre-
amble, but because there were duties
for protection. For instance. there
was a duty on foreign cotton. AT that
time there was not much more cot
ton produced in the south than tea
now; and certainly there is very little
tea now produced in the south-not
enough to Justify South Carolina to
ask for protection of this article. |
believe it is matter of record that,
while the first tariff law was under
consideration. a member from South
Carolina said that if his state could
have some protection, it could raise
cotton. Therefore. they put duty OF
cents pound upon cotton. And yet
South Carolina threatened in 1898 to
90 out of the Union, on account OF
high protective tariffs.
In 1889. when South Carolina want
ed protection, slavery was not pow
err. They had not yet learned that
they could make slave labor SO profit
able.
But in 1928, when South Carolina
threatened to nullify an act of con-
gress and to go out of the Union on
account of protection. slavery had be-
come great power; so powerful In
1920 that it threatened to go out of
the Union. not on account of a tariff
law. but because the north objected to
the further extension Of the peculiar
institution"
The tariff law of 1889 was in sub
stance a law, first. for revenue, be-
cause the government was In great
straits for money, and there was no
other practicable method of getting II:
secondly. for protection. II has been
called a law primarily for revenue
with protection as incidental. This
is very good DESIGNATION or dcscrp-
tlon OF the net. There are politicians
now advocating such a law. but law
framed on these lines would not
amount To ANYTHING and would be
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