Year: 1872

mandiug the serious attention Of cul
manufacturers


| It is evident enough from the


above that our tariff shoes pinch, not


the foot Of our own people bat tlIe


factory lords Of England. The tariff


is undoubtedly tax, but it is a tax
upon the foreigners who need our
markets for their goods. Else why


ia there SO much complaint about it
in English journals and from English
manufacturers and their agents here,
and such general contentment and
| acquiescence among the masses OF the
American people?


Since writing the above we have
seen an article in the Hamilton (Can
ada) Spectator, which confirms and
emphasizes the same argum ent. The
writer, under the caption of de
| clrned with Thanks" acknowledges


the receipt of copy of the Peoples
Pictorial Taxpayer, \ sheet issued by
the Free Trade League Of New York
! enclosing an offer OF an elcctrotype
plate, called allow the Tariff Robs
1.-The Farmer" for the sum o. S25. He
| admits the price to be moderate, but
respectfully decfinss the offer for the
reason that there are ''enongh pic
lures in the Spectator now to please
the children, and we doubt whether
the cost of the plate offered would
be returned to ms by increased sales
of the paper"


The article concludes with the fol-
lowing, which, despite the ardent ex
preston of sympathy and goo'
wishes, we tear would not be consld-
cred by the League" az exactly the
sort OF tree-trade doctrine proper to
be disseminated IN this country


Nevertheless, the American Free
Trade League has our sympathy and
good wishes, We do Mt want any
free trade IN Canada. We have too
much of the article now; but we
think it would he an excellent thing
for the United States. We entreat
the people there to adopt it, because
it would be the best thing for Canada
that could possibly happen. For the
people there owe large national
debt, and the interest and a portion
of the principal must be paid every
year, making the taxes very heavy.
These heavy taxes raise the cost #
living and the price of labor. Now,
the cost Of living and the price
Of labor being very much less in
Canada than in the United States, il
the Americans would only take off
their tariff, we would fill our land
with shops, and supply them With
al descriptions of manufactured arti-
cles at lower prices than they can
make them for at home, and thus
build up prosperity here far be.
yond anything we have yet dreamed
Of. For this selfish reason we should
be pleased to see the principles al


vocated by the American Free Trade
League triumph, and the tariff ar.
ranged on the plan OF opening every


branch ofindustry to foreign COM
petition, taxing only those articles
which cannot be made at home.
But we repeat that We do mt want
any more pictures Just now, nor any
free trade. We would rather see


more judicious protection, the estab-
lishment of more manufacturing in
dustries, and the introduction of
more mechanics and laborers to eat
the surplus food We now have to
ship to Europe.


There is trankness in this which
delights US. The Canadlans-that IS
the more crafty ores. like the editor


of the Speetatcr-do not desire free


trade or any free trade pictures
for themselves. but nevertheless,
| recommend both to the people OF the
United States. And then their reas-
ons fer wishing us to have done with
| tariffs, how refreshingly disingenu-


Gus and eharmingly selfish they are


With our tariff removed, Canada


could grow so rich and prosperous


by supplying all our wants. Their


land would then be filled with shops


and manufactures, and their artisans


and skilled mechanics, who are now


either out of employment or work.


ing at very low wages, would be


such great gamers by the change =


Our feelings are touched with com


passion tor the needy tradesmen and


workpeople Of Canada, AMI we are


almost ready to appeal to Congress
to take off the dutles, and thus con


fer great boon upon our neigh


bors!


| But, then, how would our manu-


facturers and working men and shop


keepers fare in such case? There


is the rub. Charity begins at home


and on the whole it is probably wise


that Congress should legislate TO


the prosperity of our own people


and until Canada is willing to COM


into the Union and assist in payin!


our national debt, let her be de


barred from acquiring prosperity a


our expense.


I This voice from beyond our north


ern borders is another evidence tha
} the tariff taxes chiefly not ourselves
but the foreigners who sell US goods
So long as 1t is III force, they turnis
us with their wares either at loss Q
at reduced profits. Were it abolish
ed their gains would be correspond
: ingly increased.


Mr.. Colfax had occasion to enfore
the rules OF the Senate under somt
what peculiar circumstances the otl