Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-12-15

The time was bound to come, and to
of the protectioniSt creed would be
tackled fully and squarely on its merits;
and it is pleasure 10 find that at this
formative stage in the situation that task
has been performed in the most admira-
ble manner by Professor TausSig in the
December number of the Atlantic. The
force Uf mis- exposition is enhanced by
the circumstance that Professor TAuSSig,
as writer aud teacher. is eminently
cautious in his statements aud judicial
in his expressions of opinion; so that
when, near the beginning OF his article,
he says Of the difference-in-cost-oE-
-duction thai 'sas solution OF the tariff
question this much-paraded true prin-
ciple' is worthless" many persons will
take notice who might otherwise stop
their ears. And that the principle, as
principle, is literally worthless, Profes-
sor Taussig has no difficulty in showing
to the satisfaction of any intelligent and
unbiased reader.
Even from the high-protection stand
point, it would be difficult to find any
body willing 10 follow this principle out
TO its logical conclusions, and it will be
utterly impossible to offer tariff strict
ly based upon those conclusions with the
faintest chance of acceptance. Applied
unflinchingly. it means, as Professor
TausSig says, that 1.-THE production of
any and everything is 10 be encouraged
not only encouraged, but enabled to
hold its own. Ii the article is
tea in South Carolina, for example, as
certain how much more expensive it is
20 grow the trees and prepare the leaves
than it is in Ceylon, and put on a duty
high enough to Offset" This principle,
to be sure, is already acted upon in our
existing tariff; for on this basis the
duties on lemons and pruneS were raised
IN the Payne Aldrich act; but it is ono
thing TO apply the principle irregGlarly
by the use of pressure in particular cases,
and quite another to establish il as
decisive, and make it the ground of an
indefeasible claim. The attempt actual
Iy to do that in good faith, SO far from
saving protectioDism, would prove 10 be
Just that last straw which would break
its back.
Nor does it lie in the mouths of the
gentlemen who have been acclaimlng
this great principle as tariff panacea 10
plead that the principle is to be applied
only within reasonable limits. In the
FIRST place. IL has already, in the judg-
ment Of The vast majority of the Ameri-
can people, been applied far beyond
reasonable limits, No better illustration
OF this can be given than the tariff on
wool; recognized ~ al outrageous burden
On the whole people of the Uaited States,
Il is looked upon by tAe weoa- growers as
the simplest et rights, TAe nsive letter
IRON The owner eg feck OF sheep"
which appears ia oar eeaamak to-day, is
absolutely typical III the atNtade which
has been maintained Ay the wooagroW.
ing interest for halt . ceatary. The
idea that any demand on The para of the
mere consumer can be reasonable IL his
own support as producer Is rot irss
provided by the government. does not
enter this honest gentleman's head. A
second argument against il Is furnished
by such declaration as that quoted by
Professor Tanssig from . speech by
Senator Aldrich in the tariff debate OF
1909:
If IL costs ten cents 70 produce . razor
in Germany and twenty cents In the