The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-12
A New View of
Tariff for Revenue Only.

Tariff for Revenue Only.
We have been noting with consid-
cradle interest the tone OF the Flor.
Ma press on the fundamental demo
cratic issue of tariff-for-reyenue-onIy
now that tariff revision is promised
and we want to get fair measure OF
protection for our citrus fruits and
Sea Island cotton.
No unanimous voice comes up. All
agree to the good old democratic doc
trine as a cardinal article OF demo
cratic faith. but when there's profit
IN the opposite doctrine. which now
prevails opportainism seems to have
the call
From many articles on the subject
we select the following from the Jas
per News whose veteran editor-is one
of the democratic beacon lights OK
Florida:
The Pensacola Journal seems to be
troubled by what seems 10 it to be a
Savoring OF republican policies by de-
mocrats In their insisteRce on tariff
5 for the protection of Sea Island cot
ton. etc. II says:
I'VE are no tariff expert. thank
Heaven, but IL tariff for revenue only
is right, how can 1t be right also to
insist on a protective tarif for our
Sea Island cotton and our citrus
fruiis?'
On the subject OF democracy the
editor Of this paper takes back seat
for no one and he is able to make
good his professions by his actions
and labors In the past And accord
ing to his view a tariff for the pro
lection of Sea Island cotton and citrus
fruits is in exact accord with the de
mocratic doctrine of "a tariff for reve.
nue. only" 1t is democratic doctrine
also. that ''the tariff for revenue only
shall be raised from duties imposed
on the Injuries OF life. leaving on
the free list all things which come
under the head of necessities"
Sea Island cotton is not a neces
sity-it is luxury. 1t is manufac
tured into laces. embroideries, edg
fngs. insertions and imitation silk
goods. 1t is manufactured into ar
ttcles which are used bv the wealthy
and well to do in the world and if an
other seed of it was never planted not
a single necessity of the world would
be affected thereby. The same is
true of citrus fruits. They are all
1uUuries. 1t is true that lemons and
lines, and even oranges and grape
fruit. are often valuable in a sick
room, but other Injuries find place
there too, and IL citrus fruit cost four
times as much as they do. now the
cost of enough to supply the wants
of the sick would be too small to be
appreciated. Put on the tariff till Sea
island cotton shall be worth fifty
cents a pound and oranges I've cents
each, and the poor people who de-
pend upon their cultivation will be
benefited; the world will be deprived
OF no necessity and It will be in exact
accord with the old democratic doc
trine of "a tariff for revenue only.
and that tariff imposed on articles OF
luxury"
There's deliverance for you worth
very careful reading and thought II
IS ingenious and we indulge in no
dogmatic opinion about 1t, for, like
other reliable democrats, wa are some
what at sea just now on this issue
and are willing to be shown the light
But it will strike most people as sur
prising. at least that Sea Island cot
ton is a luxury-to say nothing OF
oranges. lemons. lines. bananas, etc.
That is a deep subject and we must
go deep into evolution to thoroughly
understand 1t. To make the proper
differentiation between Injuries and
necessities we must go back to man
as a cave-dweller when he was par
tscular about neither his attire nor his
bill of fare, and coming up with him
through his long ascent from print
tive conditions we must recognize
that the luxuries of one period in his
development become the necessities of
the next as his capacities develop.
II this were not true we would
have no civilization today. and raw.
meat and breech-clouts would be the
simple solution OF all our gastronomic
and sartorial problems and 1t might
we'll bring the blush to any. modest
cheek OF either sex TO think OF what
this condition would imply in the gem
eral aspect of society at this present
stage of things.
The truth is that luxuries and me-
cessities are purely relative and shift
ing terms; there is no fixed standard
for. either. and we can't dodge behind
such words any more than the ostrich