Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1892 — Our First Tariff. [ARTICLE]

Our First Tariff.

Republican orators are fond of telling us that Republican protection is the “American system.” As a matter of fact, such a system existed in Europe before America was discovered, and the constitution of tha United States as framed by the forefathers, and fortunately still exists, prohibits the ' laying of protective tariff by one state of the Union against another. The forefathers were wisely determined that no such restrictions should trammel the infant interstate commerce of the American Union. But Republicans point with triumph to the fact that a tariff act was passed by the first congress. True, but there was little or no Republican protection in that tariff. Of 71 enumerated articles 48 came In under an ad valorem duty varying from 5 per cent, to 15 per cent., and the greater part of these 43 articles was brought in under a duty of less than 10 per cent., while many came in at 7>£ per cent, and 5 per cent. Luxuries were taxed at the highest rate, and many articles of necessity, including wool, were free of duty. If ever American industries needed Republican protection they needed it then, for most of them were infants in fact as well as in name. But the monstrous theory embodied in the McKinley law had few friends among early patriots, and, fortunately for this country, Republican protection did not lay its heavy hand upon our Industries until they had grown great enough to prosper even in spite of such adverse legislation. “A cheap coat means a cheap man” would he received with prolonged cheers by the 40,000 iron workers in Pennsylvania about now.—Butler Review. It has frequently been predicted that free trade would bring on labor riots. And yet blood is again flowing in the highly protected state of Pennsylvania. —Madison Herald. Carnegie has twice reduced the wages of his men since the passage of the Mo into effect.—Bloom-