Another point which we must note in the debate was
the per- sietent belief—no doubt quite' honest—of the Tariff Reformers that you can tax products without raising the prices of the things taxed. That is a pure delusion. If it were true, what would be the use of putting on a tax, which might just as well be imagined as imposed ? If prices do not rise after• the imposition of a tax on foreign goods, the Colonial producer can by no possibility be in a better position in our markets than he is now. The proof that the Tariff Reformers do not really believe in their own argument that a preference will help the Colonies without raising prices is to be found in the fact that, after they have stated the need for helping the Colonies by a preference, they begin to calculate upon the large sums that will flow into the Treasury owing to the tax on foreign goods. But when goods pay taxes, it shows that they are not kept out, but are continuing to come in, and so are depriving Colonial goods of their preference. No tax can possibly keep goods out to help the Colonies and let them in to secure revenue.
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