Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1891 — IS THE TARIFF A ROBBERY? [ARTICLE]

IS THE TARIFF A ROBBERY?

The free-traders and revenue reformers assert that the Tariff is a “robbery.’.’ ’ Can it be a “robbery” of any one to secure to the people of this country the opportunity to supply our national wan t s hy t Ire h rnicl s of our own countrymen? That is all that the highest conceivable tariff can secure. <. In times of armed conflict our citizens are required to leave their liomes aud. fteiniUes to take up aims’ and at the. risk of their lives defend the country against armed invasion. Why should not the country in time of peace protect the labor of those men from an industrial invasion no less destructive?

If the tariff be a “robbery,” it is first to be observed that all classes of the people, the robbed as well as the robbing, are better fed, better clothed and better housed than the people of any other country in the world. That is the crucial test of all economical policies. It is undfeniable that the most perfect suiting of occupations to the various aptitudes of all the members of the community will be produced by the carrying on of the largest variety of It it uvt then the a coo fifty to maintain such ait industrial policy fts will secure the greatest possible extent and variety of prd’-? duction, leaving to the Natural competion between individuals the function of preventing undue profits on the part of any? There are 23,000,000 of active workers in this country. Among that large Dumber umLesis and compe-ti-»iou iitotC ■ engaged .u the same business may be relied on to adjust prices so that none can make a profit greater than the average profits of the community. - But let us see if there is any robbery effected by a tariff. As to sueh portion of the money collected; afrit is paid to the Goy-

ernment, that goes into the public Treasury and aids in defraying the expenses of the nation. Inasmuch as all the people share in its benefits, that portion cannot be considered “robbery.” It will hardly do to assert that “ the foreign manufacturer is ‘‘robbed” by our requiring him to deposit in our Treasury a sum of money in the nature of a license fee for the-privilege of selling his wares in this country. •% The “rob” therefore must consist of the difference between a reasdnable price and the price now charged by the manufacturer. If such difference exists, it must constitute a margin so ample as to become a strong incentive to the people of any section claiming to be robbed by it to organize for themselves competing establishments andthuswliolly protect themselves against the exaction of the robber. The tariff,protects them against'the foreigner, and all that is needed to protect them agjainst the native robber is for themselves to do the work—-to produce the article. Why do they not produce it? If they have not the skill they can employ it. There is ample skill in this country ready to go wherever sufficient inducement is offered. — American Economist.

Editor Republican.—ln the firs issue of the '‘'■Pilot” “Gr.” whose real name would not be hard to guess, occupies more than a column wrestling with the question “As Alliance men what part shall we take in politics?” In his starts out very easy by saying, “We attach too much importance to party creeds and party triumph.” Then again, “Now the ills of Which we complain have not been brought about by the success or defeat of any of the great political parties or questions that have been before the people for the last thirty years.” Again, ‘ ‘The great questions that are discussed before our intelligent, reading, thinking people from platform, pulpit and press are usually settled about right.” ' That gounds very will so far, but listen how the gentle “G.” makes his point. He says “At present one of the principal evils that afflict our country, one from which we as a class most suffer, is national extravagance, the voting away of the people’s money by our last congress. It is said that our last' congress voted away a billion dollars of the people’s money to corporations, to companies, to private individuals, opened wide our national treasury to the robbers, speculators, <fcc. &c.” Do Alliance men ask WHO said that?' No sir, this wiley writer enters his little poisoned pen there for a political purpose. His desire is to tlie Republicans who belong to the Alliance from their party while he will vote the Democratic ticket straight as he undoubtedly has done in past time. He docs not tell his readers what was done or is to be done with all the money “voted away ’ ’ ,JLAgain ’ ’ together in our opposition to the National Banking System of this country.” If so, why so? Who are running all of the Alliances ? He wants “equal rights for all, special privileges or none.” Who has special privileges in this country ? James Welsh, in his articles, exclaims “Alas 1 we poor deluded creatures. We, it is true, have a diversity of interest.” * * * “But one thing as co-workers we must agree on, and that is the repeal of all class kiws. Our prosperity as a nation depends on equal rights and privileges and freedom for all.”

“G.” is teaching Democrotic principles pure and simple while Jim Welsh is doing the “calamity shreaking.” Republicans need not fear those gentlemen if they know them. In 1862 the cry was, the country was being ruined. The black republicans were “nigger stealers” and the greenbacks were “Lincoln skins” and “they would never vote again” the “usurper Lincoln would be King.” In 1874 during the Grange movement about the same kind of talk was indulged in; Our calamity orators saw d “specter at every fireside and a skeleton in every eioset.” The Republican party went forward, the people and especially the farm-i ers prospered, they bought j lands, built good houses, barns, 1 churches, school houses, bought fine I buggies, nice pianos and organs, dressed well,.and lived off the fat of the land. It seems to me that if theydook around they will have to hunt a long time before they find a farmer who has starved to death. At the close of the war this government was paying about 140 million dollars per year interest, on the public debt Now it is paying less than 38 millions per year. “Prove all things and hold fast

that which is good,” is as good a mottoe in politics as in religion and one that every lover of his country should keep in mind. We need not lose our heads because of this new ■‘People’s Party,” Some of them are honest and many are dishonest. only hoping to ride into place on the top of the wave.

Blackford.

O. P. M.