The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-12

If there not further duty of rs per cent laid on
the goods imported by the trader The prayer of
the petitioner granted and the duty is increased
to fifty per cent. A returns with his merchandise
expecting to pay the usual duty of rs per cent;
but, much to his astonishment, the custom house |
officer informs him that the imposition "for the |
sake ofprotection" has been raised from 25 to so
per cent A sells out as usual at gross profit of
so per cent which is just sufficient to meet the |
custom house extortion, dvesting him entirely of
hisprofts. Will A be found again purchasing the
surplus flour of the farmers of Ross for that season.
OF any other season, while the protective imposi-
ton OF 30 per cent is drawn upon the foreign goods
he receives in exchange for his producer The
present tariff is thus operating; and yeti advo-
Gates OF high protective system are attempting to
make the farmer believe that his interests are ad-
vanced by the law. have shown how the tariff
of 1928 operated upon the domestic exports, and
how suddenly the exports expanded upon its repeal;
and now submit to you, Mr.. Chairman, to this
House, and to the people, table of exports since
epassage of the present law, to show that it has
already vastly reducedthe exports Of the agricul-
tural staples of the country The law took effect
in September, ls42, and from that day to Septem-
ber, 1913, we have the first fiscal year ofts opera
ton. The report of the Secretary OF the Treasury
for this period gives the amount of domestic exports
at 800, ,494 4s5, and for Is4l at 106, 1882 1922 and
for 1912, at $92, ,969 1886; thus exhibiting falling
fin single year, under the tariff of 1912, as
compared with the exports under the revenue tar
if of1S4l, of about SIG, 900 900; and as compared
with 1912, Of two and half millions of dollars and
this, too, chiefly upon the agricultural staples, ex-
elusive of cotton, rice and tobacco. The imports
and exports from the SOth September, 1s43 up to
February, 1874, are, imports about forty-fve mil
lions-exports twenty-eight millions. With these
facts from the official data looking in the face,
are we to be told that this law in its operation is
giving prosperity to the farmer or to the shipping
interest Or shall we sacrifice the shipping inter-
est, in which there are nearly as many persons en-
gagged Cncluding ship carpenters and their famies)
as there are in the manufactures of the country,
and the whole agricultural class into the bargain,
to the rapacity of the manufacturing INTEREST," Sir,
am not the enemy of the manufacturing interest.
II the incidental protection afforded il be restrained
within fair and equitable limitations, will be in -
vor ofit I am willing they should have all the
advantages revenue tariff can afford them be the
amount ofprotection what it may; and am sure,
sir, that such tariff incidentally, would abundantly
protect them say SO from the highest authority
in the estimation of the ppositon-auhority which
they will not dispute. l allude, sir, to Mr.. Clay
He expressly declares that revenue tariff will be
abundantly ample for the purpose of protection-
But, sir, when we are called upon to sacrifice all
the other industrial interests of the nation to one ex-
elusive branch of industry, must, friend ofthe
humble tiller of the soI and of that class who ego
out upon the great sea-" protest most solemnly
against it.
have few words to say now to the bootmaker
the halter and the tailor, who are appealed to by
the manufacturing interests to unite in their cru
SADIE against the farmer and trader They are told
that, if foreign boots and shoes, ready made cloth
ing, and hats, not exorbtanty taxed, they will
drive the home manufacturer Of these articles to
some other business, or to unavoidable starvation.
desire them to examine the reports of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to ascertain the amount of
the importatons of boots, hats and clothing, ante
cedent to the passage of the present law of home
protection, as it is termed By such examination
it will be discovered that the aggregate imports
were-of boots and shoes
In 1889, SOL 900
Exports the same year, $4,000
Hats, leather, wool, and fur, imported
In 1889, 5 $1,000
Exports the same year, $4,000
1870
Boots, shoes, and slippers imported, S 10000
exported, 2l4,OO0
Hats, leather, wool. and fur imported, 1000
" '' exported, lo3 900
ls4I-
Boots. shoes, &c. imported, $I7,166
&c +" exported, l00,725
The number of boot and shoe makers in the u.
States is estimated, (but cannot vouch for its
correctness) at 100000. Now, sir, the average
imports of each of the years 1899, 40, al, is about
900. coming into competition with the labor
of 10000 domestic boot and shoe makers; or
foreign competition averaging to each domestic
manufacturer about As cents per annum-all told.
Or, in other words, if no importations had been
made, but their amount equally divided among our
home manufacturers Of the specified articles, each
man would have an addition to his yearly aggregate
derived from the making of boots and Shoes Of the
enormous sum of 45 cents. Yet, sir, he is taught
to believe that the importer will ruin him without
a prohibitive duty of protection. The excess of
exports over the imports of these goods, however,
will dissipate the delusion. The same regulations
of trade will apply to the hatters. The compete
ton which they have to encounter is $4,000
worth of hats annually imported, which, divided
among the domestic manufactures, would scarcely
exceed the pro rata Of 10 cents per man.
Let US now, Mr.. Chairman, ascertain the amount
of competition against the tailors of the United
States. The report Of the committee of ways and
means shows that there was imported in 1910, Al,
az, about $2s 600 of ready made clothing, paying