The Washington herald., 1909-03-29
Tariff on Art.
idito- Tbs Washington Herald:

Editor Tbs Washington Herald
herein voice my own sentiments. and
that OF many others, on the proposed re-
duction in the rates levied on foreign
works Of art seeking a home. asylum. or
sale in our own land
Congress has been compelled 20 recog-
nize that the time has come for a ma
terial reduction in the duties levied on
imports seeking entrance into our
land. that when our manufacturers are
enabled to send goods TO foreign shores
and sell the same at price reasonably
below the price or that sold in our land.
thus building Up huge fortunes and COM
bines In such manner as to control all
products manufactured by those manu-
factories-that then the need OF protec-
ton for articles produced in the shops OF
such huge combines has ceased.
But in the arts and crafts movements
and interests II IS recognized by the art
ists themselves that the continuance OF
the present rate Of imports levied on
works Of Ike nature seeking asylum and
sale in our land. II is essential and neces-
sary. in order that our own artists and
craftsmen may overcome the advantage
artist and craftsman has over him or her
self in these essentials.
Americans. as a whole. have not come
70 recognize fact plain 10 foreign con-
noisseurs, that America has schools and
material capable Of producing artists Of
I international note in the sphere Of es-
thetics- In support Of this statement we
have only to say that Sargent, Whistler.
Herkomer. Bridgmen. Shannon. Marr.
and others OF recognized ability studied
and remained abroad because they were
appreciated more there than at home.
while Stuart. Elliott, Sully, West, Cop
ley, Trumbull. Church. Moran, Allston.
Malbone, Vanderlin. Leslie, Hunt. Full
Ter. Thayer. Vedder. Ryder. Eaton, Beck
with, Mosler. Alexander, Birge, Harri-
son, Loeb. Smith, Knight. Walker, Her
ter, Osthaus. Diehlman. Inness. Wyant,
Martin. Homer, Ranger, Patton. Blash-
field. Fowler, La Fargo, Van Ingen, St
John, Blenner, Wiles. Benson. Melchers.
Chase, and other painters too numerous
70 mention, and Macmonies, Saint Gau-
dens. French, Proctor. Partridge. FL
well, BOrglUm. Guild. and other sculptors
Of note have remained most of their time
on our own shores and fought for a na-
tonal art for America These artists and
sculptors have made the name American
been slow TO recognize IT, So that they
stiil travel abroad and bring over sam
pies Of European art as mementos for
their friends 70 admire, so that our own
artists, with few exceptions, have been
overlooked when these unpatriotic people
listed the catalogues OF their galleries
So that while we have the nucleus OF a
great national art, yet. because of the
neglect by their countrymen, American
art has been made 20 suffer. and is still
50 to speak-in swaddllng clothes: the
national element is wanting. So our art
still remaining in an infant state. must be
nourished and protected from the foreign
craze which still animates our collectors
In estketic matters. Otherwise the in
ability OF our younger artists 10 compete
with those Of foreign birth would crush
the ambition OF those anxiously striving
to increase their talents. thus putting a
damper on the broadening OF our art
production The Efforts OF our young
ladies 20 emulate the bloom OF health