Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-10-18
A Tariff Catechism.

The following short catechism was found
among the papers Of Geo. Otis, a wealthy
American recently deceased Il is pub
lished here to show what queer way he
had Of looking at things. Still, that may
have been because the things are so very
| queer:
Q-What is the meaning of the word
tariff 2
Alt is so called because, hundreds Of
years ago, sea pirates at Tariffa, Spain,
forced every passing vessel to pay for the
privilege Of going into and from the Med
iterranean Sea.
Q-What is its meaning nowg
"A certain sum forced from the peo-
pie by land pirates.
Q.-Why do you say taken by forceS
A1Because Coneress says to the people
Stand and deliver"
Q.-Stand and deliver to whomi
A.-To the manufacturers, etc.
DIN which part of the Constitution
does Congress find power TO pass law
compelling the poor to support the rich'
AIN no part.
Q.-Then where did it find the power ?
AIN the Bible.
Q.-Give the book. chapter and verse.
A.-Matthew. thirteenth chapter, twelfth
verse: For whosoever hath. to him shall
be given, and he shall have more abun-
dance but whatsoever hath not. from him
shall be taken away even that which he
hathr'
Q.-Is such law republican in the sense
of being democratic--a Government in
which the people ruleS
A.-No. It is aristocratic.
Q,-What do you mean by aristocraticf
A Government wherein the few rule
the many where the many work to sup
port the privileged few
Q.-Explain how the tariff law estab-
fishes an aristocracy in democratic Gov
ernmentS
A.-Consress says to the poor. Because
this or that man is rich and produces iron.
or cotton goods, or wooden goods. you shall
pay him so much money for so many
pounds, or yards, or 60 naked and work
without tools.
Q.-What reason does Congress give for
such a tyrannical lawS
A.-Congress says. the law is differ
entiation of industrial function" which
means that industry is the function Of the
poor, and the difference goes to the rich.
Q.-ls that the only reason Congress
givesS
A.-No. 1t says the tariff is intended
to foster infant industries at home.
Q.-Are the iron, cotton and wooden in
dustries infantsr
A.-No. They are hundred years old
Q.-What date has Congress fixed for
those industries to become Of ageS
A.-When Gabriel blows his horn. One
Congressman did move to make the time
later, but when reminded that asbestos
was not protected. he said he would with
draw his motion. "as 1t would do no good
after Gabe blew" He sighed and sat down.
Q.-What is the meaning of protective
tariff
A.-Protection of the rich from getting
poor, and Of the poor from getting rich.
Q-What is the difference between the
tenants in Ireland and the farmers in
American
A.-None In both cases the taxeatherer
lives in the East. and the Sheriff is after
both.
Q.-Is there any other similarity in the
condition of many Of the Irish tenants
and American farmersS
Ayes. The tenants are too poor to
stay. and the farmers too poor to leave.
OBS that the only benefit the protec-
tive tariff confers upon the p0orS
A.-NO. II improves their morals keeps
them c0ntented; keeps down useless de-
sires
Q-How does Protection produce such
happy resultsH
A.-The poor have to work so hard TO
support the rich they have no time for
mischief. Having no money to leave home
or travel. they see nothing. and their de-
sires are kept dormant. That brings con-
tent