Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1891 — HIGH-TARIFF ABSURDITIES. [ARTICLE]

HIGH-TARIFF ABSURDITIES.

A Muddle-Headed Protection Editor Whom a Low Tariff Will Hurt. It is impossible for the high-tariffites to escape the absurdities of their position. 4 llovv often, for example, have they assured us that protection cheapens commodities? Only put on a high protective tariff, they say, and we sha 1 very soou be buying the very same article of better qua ity and at a lower price; and the higher the tariff, some even claim, tho lower you will make prices A very pretty fable, only tho hightariffites are net ab e to be ieve it themselves. If they do, why these pictures of The ruin and desolation that will follow if tho tariff is removed or even reduced to 40 per cent? Here, for example, is tho Boston Commercial Bulletin, which is reputed to bo one cf the ablest of high tariff organs. This journal, in trying to break the force of tho argument flhat since sugar has been so greatly cheapened by the removal of tie duty a similar result would follow in the case of ported from Great Britain, Gorina y and other European countries, says: “Their manufacturers have the advantage of cheaper labor, and <an undersell us on that account. To throw dowrP the protective barriers, which alone keep out theso competitive goods, would simp'y result in depriving our people of occupation or compel them to labor for reduced compensation. ” Vet tho blessed tariff, as all orthodox protection organs assure us, cheapens tho things made by our manufacturers and does not guarantee them artificial profits. But this specimen protection organ commits another specimen absurdity. After painting the universal misery which would follow a reduction or abolition of the tariff, it assures tho consumer that he would get little or no advantage. “A small reduction at first hands would in many cases mean nothing but additional profit sci the reta ler, and where a concession was vouchsafed the consumer it would be too insignificant to figure in the total expense of a family’s support. ” Confusion worse confounded! The consumer will not get lower prices, and yot he will go off and buy foreign goods and ruin the domestic manufacturers! How could the home market for homo goods be ruined unlo s consumer himself could buy foreign goods cheaDer? A market for goods Is not made by accident or caprice; it depends upon the intelligent choice of the consumer in seeking for the best goods at the lowest price Unless lie can get this in Europe our American manufacturers have nothing to fear from the freest competition: and if he <an got it, then our-wan-ufacturers aio now enjoying tho benefit of an artificial price made possible by tho restrictive tariff. But our manufacturers are afraid, very much afraid, of such competition; and this fart is conclusive proof that they are squeezing tariff prices out of the domestic consumer!