The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-06-17
FROM THE PEN OF DR.. O|BBLE
Former Paw Paw Man Writes on Origin
of "Tariff." Article Published in
the Kansas CITY Star.

thc Nity
Following is an article from the pc D of
LIE Roy Dibble, at one time a resident
of Paw Paw and now Of Kansas City,
Mo. Mr. Dibble will be remembered by
many of the older residents here. La a
recent letter to Hon. b. +. Heckert in
which the article wac enclosed, among
other things was the following:
Friend Ben:-It may surprise you to
know | am still in the land of the living,
al d at 60 years, very much alive. After
reading this marked article, turn 1t over
TO The True Northerner, with my com-
pliments. / know it is not your or their
kind of politics, neither is it julius
Caesars, but possibly there are few old
land marks left, that will be glad to hear
from me after an absence of 81 years"
Following is the article which deals
with the origin of the word Tariff" 1t
was published in the Kansas City Star.
AS DR.. Dibble has indicated there is a
portion of the same that does not coin
eide with the views of The True North
erner, but is published in full, as coming
FROM one OF Paw Paws former residents,
who still has many friends here.
ITO The Star: 10 your morning issue
l.of the 10Th notice clipping from the
Chicago Times Herald, by William f.
| Curtis, on the origin of tariff. 1t is all
right as far as it goes, but does not cover
the whole ground.
Last summer during the tariff revi-
sion by Congress | was spending the
summer on the shores of Cape Ann,
Mass, a few miles from Boston. Want
ing to know the origin Of the word tar
| if, one day while there, consulted
some rusty old books in the library, and
there found:
On the mainland, just across the
straits from Gioralter Ia rough. barren,
mountainous region), there lives half
civilized tribe of Buccaneers and robbers
known as Riffs, mixture OF Moors,
Arabs and negroes. Spain, Portugal and
Italy have had frequent clashes with
them over their we'll known propensity
to rob their subjects. Only last fall
Spain had trouble with them.
10 the straits between the mainland
and Gibraltar there is small island
that was called Tenaraff, on which these
Riffs had piratical station. When
commerce was carried in sailing vessels,
in rounding the straits near this island,
they were frequently becalmed. This
was the opportunity these Riffs were
waiting for and they would board the
vessel, rob it and frequently enslave the
crew.
The man who afterward became Com
modore Cathcart Of the United States
navy was captured while on one OF his
trading vessels and WAS slave on the
mainland for twelve years On his re-
lease, after attaining high place among
them by dint of ability he returned to
civilization and wrote book giving the
details of his captivitv -. is now in
the possessicI VI ais grandson, resident
~ ..tals city.
10 order to prevent the robbery of
their vessels the governments of the
United States, England, France, Ger
many and Holland paid the Riffs stip-
uated sum, but the spirit of plumber
was too great to be always repre- ssed,
even when paid to do so. These robbers
became so frequent and annoying that
finally the United States government
sent Commodore Stephen Decatur down
there with two men of war and literally
"blew them out of the water" lin sailor
parlance). Seeing the success of the
Americans these other nations joined
them and ended their plumber.
This forced tribute that was levied on
| these goods in transit was added to their
price and was paid for by the consum.
mer, as the goods manufactured here are
under what is known as the protective
tariff system of to day in our country.
| This forced tribute was known as the
"tare" of the Riffs lin merchantile par
lance), hence the origin of the word tar
| if. The term originated in piracy at sea
and 10 the highway robbery on land. 1t
is tax on one class Of citizens (the con-
sumer) for the benefit Of another without
compensation and is justly characterized
as robbery under the forms Of law.
The greed of these tariff beneficiaries,
like the greed of the Riffs, will surely
lead to their downfall and the end is not
far off LIE Roy DIBBLE.