Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-17

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New York. before the law students
and others at Princeton University;
Governmental subjects-in which
category The Tariff" l+iongs-ar.
often wont 10 be discussed either
along lines OF eXpedtcncH. or to suit
the special audience, rather than with
respect to the inherent qualities OF
h" subjects.
To this audience, truth is .( more
Importance than temporary advantage
in debate and weight will be given
to consideral ions OF the moral aspect
whether the question be of relations
or individual to state, or OF persons
among themselves. Therefore, here
The Tariff can be- discussed under
ass lmption that any impairment of
public or private morality involved IS
matter of moment.
We cannot expect. under the stress
Ct the commercial struggl" which rules
the Twentieth Century. attention
from those absorbed in that struggle
10 the ultimate tendencies OF steps
promising material advancement. For
that reason We ascrlbc value to train
ing afforded at school and college:
that through subsequent period OF
practical life. remnants OF early I'M
planted ideals may remain For mer"
education. in cOntradiStinction TO hum
smiling Influences. it wrr" hardly
worth while to cndow institutions OF
learning. AS is collOquially said. there
are more things than BOOKS to be
learned at collnge-amOng others. the
acquiring tendency to test subjects
from higher standards than eXpedieh'
cy or immediate advantage. Where,
Tor" educational institutions should
no become suDserviant TO materlalls'
tic surroundings. nor bow before what
ar.. -iphemistically called "practlcal
views. That thi, venerable and IN
iiuenlial academy may not yield TO any
such tendency, is an aspiration sure
of supper, a. all having At heart the
interests of he land.
1T needs no apology in this forum
10 declare that TIL" Tariff has mo- Al
aspect. and that that aspect is TO-DAY
it's most important one-in 4 word.
that The. Tariff has become a moral
Issue.
Note the fact that We have. per-
.nn:fed this raising a revenue b.
levying charges upon importation OF
:ocd. Have made of the :,fact;:'' an
entity and currently refer 10 it as Inc
Tariff its ramifications have reached
into the recesSes of our political Struc-
ture. Like nerves in the human frame
leading back through every particle o.
the BODY to q central repository o.
sensibiliiy. so the network of The
Tariff exists throughout the body poll,
tic present in every aspect OF soclai
and political existence. moldinR. SWAY
ing and changing legislation and prac-
ticp, affecting indeed matters widely
removed from apparent relation
We need moi delay TO note ac-
auiescence in the proposition that,
other things being equal. that country
is happiest where there is as great d.
vrrsity Of employment and as great
productiveness as is capacities VIII
hermit. We all cOncede that where
there is great and diversified activity
among a people, there is increase OF
material comfort for all; and increase
OF intelligence and moral improve
ment unquestionably attend up 10
certain point improvement in material
things.
"A Happy Medium ..
Pear In mind though: l"t al TN"
way. person or people can attain
so great material prosperity that
moral advancement suffers-the con.
vclient phrase a happ: m' dun!
must answer briefly as demonstration
d the principle involved in the
thought
We need not discuss this question.
for all must admit that a tariff DUTY
having for its sole object the rails
ing of revenue. in view Of an expendi-
ture Of more than a billion dollars
YEA. affords incidentally all the pro
lection for which any claim can be
honestly made.
But the instant We impose a tax
IN the importation Of anT merchant 30
not for the purpose Of raising money
for the support Of the government
hut solely for the purpose of shutting
gu, competition. that instant W. nm
iusu; tax every other class IN the
community not for the common good.
INT for the undue benefit Of thos" On
gagged in producing the particular ar
ticle. immediately on doing 50 as 10
one article. the manufacturer Or produc-
or Of another desires earnestly TO pass
into the favored class. Example fur-
nishes precedent: precedent creates
new example. This is bat the work
ing out Of ordinary human impulse
|, is neither to be wondered at nor
savagely condemned. Presently. a gam
following human law. a. cult arises.
All those unduiy benefited hasten TO
ascri:. to the practice from which
they have resolved benefit sacred.
ness Of aspect. claim the thing itself
pr.ncirIe. strive to make a fetish
M i, in the ewes Of the community.
,.st interference be had Herewith. I;
becomes in the language OF supers'i
lion. taboo or "sacroSanct.
Senator MeDuffie a. . Prophet.
..ux.t.r1, frrnin, fn the history o.