美国关税百年之争

The American Controversy over the Tariff Problems for a Century

从18世纪90年代到19世纪90年代约100年的时间内,美国政界在关税问题上展开了激烈的争论。这首先表现在著名政治家汉密尔顿和以杰斐逊、麦迪逊为首的杰斐逊党人之间的交锋上。随着时间的推移,国内外状况的变化,尤其是涉及到民族独立和生存的问题时,杰斐逊党人和汉密尔顿在关税问题上的看法渐趋一致,支持利用关税政策来保护和促进美国制造业的利益。其次,北部和南部的地区之争。最终代表北部工业家利益的联邦政府通过战争解决了双方间的论争,进一步强化了贸易保护主义的高关税政策在美国政治中的影响。第三,共和党人与民主党人之争。前者在争论中占据绝对主导地位。特别是双方在19世纪末20世纪初出现利益上的某些交叉处,揭示出美国贸易保护主义的强大历史根基所在,也是从18世纪90年代就开始的百年关税之争的结果所在。

American political circles debated vigorously on the tariff problems from 1790s to 1890s. It was firstly showed on the contest between Hamilton and Jefferson parties led by Jefferson and Madison. As time went on and the condition at home and abroad changed, especially when it concerned to the national independence and the national interests, both of them gradually came into the same viewpoints on the tariff problems and supported the government to make use of the tariff policies to protect and promote the interests of American manufacturing industry. Secondly, it was showed on the controversy between the North and the South. At last, the federal government on behalf of the northern capitalists solved the controversy by means of the civil war. This further intensified the protectionism power in American politics. Thirdly, it was also showed on the controversy between Republican Party and Democratic Party. In particular, it appeared that both of them had the common interests from late 1890s to early 1900s. This was just the historical base of American protectionism and the result of the tariff debate for a century.