Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-12-16

part, nut not ut al TO THIS extent, by tho
creased duties under the Tariff OF 1884. The
imports during the four years ending with 1928, OK
coed those of the preceding four years, by aver
age OF more than fifteen per cent, each year. The
exports OF domestic produce for the four years ending
with 1898, exceed those Of the four years ending with
1924, by an average of more than twenty -one per
cont in each year. The increase in the consumption of
foreign articles during the time has been, an
average upwards of eighteen per cent, each year.
1t Is believed that the shipping oithe United States
VIII bc found to have increased during the last four
YEARS. III fair ratio with their commerce and rcvc-
nue.. The returns under this head not sufficient
~ complete, ut the present moment To speak with
precision. II is certain that the whole mercantile
shipping of the Union, including that employed in the
coasng trade well ali ;hat is embarked in for
clgn commerce. and the fisheries exceeds at this time,
fifteen hundred thousand tons. That of no other ma
ton Is probably large, England excepted. In 1915
the tonnage ofthc Union was but little more than
twelve hundred Thousand. It's greatest increase since
that vcRr, ofthc wears under exam nation
VIZ III 1926. The profits Of freight upon this large
amount oftonnage, the ships OF tho United Statc;
being almost exclusively the carriers OF the commerce
OF the nation centre at come, and make lorgc uddi-
ton to livestock of capital at home.
The foregoing statements Indicate steady a;ivnncc
III the national prosperity. The reality of this ad-
vance Is only to be measured by aggregate results
oscertaned at proper intervals Of time 1t Is useful
to present such results. Thuv show the rcnerul
condition Of the country viewed not in parts bat
under one undivided whole. They attest the positive
growth OF its riches and the rapdy ofthc growth 10y
comparison They afford resting points for doubtful
opinions, when all desire 10 arrive az those that may
appear best supported by results. single ev, can
take them ull IN, unussisted by the authentic returns
which 1t Is the province ofthe Government and chief
~ OF the Department of the Treasury to watch oyer
ana Pf"hlgntc, endeavorlng also to trace them to
their causes. n State whose natural resources aud
territory arc abundant, whose institutions are free
ana whose interests diversified, may witness oc-
caSi"al ana temporary pressure upon some of these
interests whilst all the great branches OF It's industry
are III course OF SIRE development. But transient
inconvenience is lost III the aggregate prosperity, aud
must Ill the end, participate IN that prosperity. II is
thus that great States, under successful systems of
cgi''ation GO onward i'll their of riches and
power. Not only has there been II marked increase
o nportaiions and revenue iii the United States do
ring the last tour years. md Of IMPORTATION odomcstic
commodities, but like dnlinution in re-expcrtations
Inc latter is very striking, und justifcs the infer
ence not merely Of an increased desire to import for
tho purpose of meeting tho contingencies of trade or
spec ton, but of an increased ability in the coun-
Try 20 purchase and foreign fuhrics The incrcus
cd consumption ofthe latter and the increase in rev.
onuc have exceeded the ratio of the incroasr O. du-
ties under the tariff of 1924, and the presumed in
crease OF population also. The exports of domestic
products have increased more than four fold faster
than the increase opopulatica given by the ccusus
az periods the most favorable. Phese facts cannot
Inslead they point 10 unequivocal increase so
Tar, IN the prosperity the naton.-Statistcal test.
monia5, for single year, for more than ono NAV
Use or fall in amount from causes that POSTPONE all
permanent conclusions; but where thcy are soon 10
so OH IN an increasing train throughout n succession
OF years 1t Is rational to ascrhe them to causes be-
ginning TO assume fixed character. If we reyiew
The last four years period of time in commercial
history, we find little IN the circumstances OF the
world either from general otherwise to affect
i"rcISn markets beyond the ordinary fluctuations in
cIdent to trade at all times Pho extraordinary one
ratons in the cotton market that fell upon the irst of
these years. viz 1925 not conceived 10 iru,air
applicability ofthc reulnrll., because there has kn,
Tune enough ior diminished expectations, consc-
fncuce ofthe large expectations of that wear. No
torn indeed ofeght years, since the establishment OF
| tho GoverDmopt, has been exempt from the inH-
ence of external events that disturb tho regular one
ratons Of national industry and commerce. az tho last
eight Mono therefore could be fairly taken for the
I comparative statements that have been made.
1t DOES not escape recollection that from l79i to
D. there were cpocis when the foreign conuoIcc
ri tho country advanced with even moro rapiity than
~ here stated, when IL greater, aiIsolutclv anG
therefore greater in proportion to the population OF
tho country. But during that long interval there
prevailed IN Europe. with scarcely perceptiblo in
corruption d1soatuT WaTs, which created an urpar-
ollcd demand for staple productions and bro,int
them Up 10 cNtravgCan prices. This, with onr ncu
tral attitude. which gave 20 our carrying trade n
scope almost un5ouuded, raised expectations and i'm
portaoDsto I'm artificial pitch, that can never be re-
Cured TO as standard Of comparison for commerce
under circumstance moro ordinary and regular. It
Is known that during portions Of that interval orr
trndc n foreign produce far exceeded that in do,es
| TIC. Il - wholly otherwise now. Tho mere profits
VI Vdi tOldE" dL dJ carly cay 81 the tep.5iIC, by
the capital which 1t introduced gave ofitsef the en-
pacity for an enlarged consumption offorcrl articles
on a comparatively smaller basis of population.
Tho increased consumption of foreign articles in
inc united States, during the last four years, COM
pared with the four that preceded may it is beloved
he ascrlbcd in no ncon5derabc decree to tho advan-
crs which home labor has bccn making in various
ways IN tho country since 1924. The erection and
subdivision ofhomc labor must bring new wealth To
this country, they have to other countries:
and with u IN increased ability 10 buy articles Of all
kinds Fbe reports from this Department within
these four years have respectfully, but carncz h ur-
ged upon Congress Tho cSpcdicncy fostering manu-
featuring labor undrr tho conviction deeply cntcr9n-
ed, that in s is largely to be found the true
ground work OF financial power. 70 will ultimately
unfold tic means Of providing revenue Tor tho public
wants when war, other external cvcnts not to bc
controlled, may abrdgc ioregn commerce. How dif-
hcut u has boon heretofore to obtain any efficient sun
plies Of revenue from Of internal industry and
wealth, when snch vcissitudcs have happened, Inc f.
nancal history oftho country in times past sufficiently