Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1893 — A Free Trade Tariff. [ARTICLE]

A Free Trade Tariff.

From the Albany Journal, Democratic. Under a free trade tariff, with duties for revenue only, levied on non-competitive articles, the amount of money which is now secured by the McKinley tariff could easily be raised. The sugar duties repealed in 1890, and the coffee and tea duties repealed in 1872, if reimposed, would in themselves provide fully 75 per cent, of the amount wjbich is required. The Journal prepared during lhe campaign a statement of how the money is required to run the National Government could be raised in conformity with the demands of the democratic national platform. Consider the McKinley tariff law repealed in its entirety. This simple tariff may be substituted in its stead, and not only Garry out the Chicago declaration of the democracy, but, combined with the internal revenue taxes, will furnish all the money required for the Government. Sugar—B ci nis a pound <lO6 910,000 ('offer—Scents a ]K>und 32,047 OOQ Tea— 10<enl8 a ouuud I(,8s5,(»o Sutces— K> cents-jr-pbtrtrd.-.»,04».4K4 Cocoa— lu cents a pound 2,150,000 Cork, rubber, raw silk, (ura. 4c .. .25,000.000 Buuauus, dales, toooutiu s, 4c 5,000 000 Total <182,612,(00

Thus over 8182,000,000 of tariff revenue could be annually raised. This is all that is required. The entire revenue raised from the McKinley tariff during the year ending June 30, 1892, was less than 5175,000,000, and the estimate for' the present year is 8195,000,000. By this substitute tariff, which is simplicity itself, sufficient revenue might be raised, every shred and vestige of “unconstitutional” Protection might be stripped from the tariff, and the democratic demand for a tariff “for revenue only” might be met. This is the British method. It would raise the price of what the people buy, and take away their labor as artisans or workmen, cutting them both ways, like a twoedged sword. The democracy dare not do it. Let them try, and then look out for a cyclone.