Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-23

L
by quoting the language of Mr. Clay, in his great
speech for protection in the year 1888. Alter sta
ting the prosperity of the country up to that tme
which will do him the justice to say ne did not at
tribute to the low rates of duty, he proceeds TO oe
scribe the condition of the country during the eight
wears of the tariff of 1876 and concludes as follows
"In short, sir, if | were to select any term OF
seven years since the adoption of the present Con
stituton, which exhibited scene OF the most WIDE
spread dsmay and desolation it would be exactly
the term of seven years which Immediately preceded
the establishment of the tariff Of 1924"
Having once ingrafcd the protective system upon
our financial policy, it was strengthened and ex-
tended by the act Of 1924, and then again by the
act of 1929 when it reached the climax of its lnso-
there cmanated from Congress measure SO fraught
with mischief so unequal and unjust 1t was Justly
STYLED the bill of denominations The people felt It's
burdens The agricultural interest groancd espe-
cally under its oppression; and out OF this tariff
act grew fierce and bitter struggle, which is with
out parallel in our political history, and which
am sure no patriot would like to see revived.
For time the storm ragged with bitterness and
fury which acknowledged no barrier or check, and
defed all consequences A sovereign State was
driven to the very borders of desperation. The
Union was rocked to its center, and well nigh did
we approach that dark and dismal abyss of dissou-
ton, anarchy, and civil war; which threatened 10
involve in one common ruin, the Union, the States,
and with them the cause of civil and religious liberty
Fortunately, for mankind, the good genius which
presdes over the destinies of this country ruled the
Storm Gained the troubled waters and "bade the
raging tunult cease" Wise counsels prevailed, and
a compromise was effected. This was entered into
in 1888 By that compromise, it was agreed that
protection should continue for eight years, subject
however to an annual graduated reduction, until
the expiration of the tme after which, as it was al
legged, the manufacturers having succeeded in placing
themselves on permanent footing, could very well
afford to be generous and give in their adhesion to
| tariff upon strictly revenue principles Such was
the memorable contest, and such was the sacred
compact which drove back the tide of disunion and
again shed the sunlight of peace and amity over our
| glorious and blood-bOught Uni0n-a Union which
can defy the powers of earth and which no unhal-
lowed hand dare prOane so long as, true to IT.
SELF its constitutional powers, and the protection
of all alike it does but aim at and accomplish the
great objects of its foundation.
Will any one saw dare any one assert, that in all
this there were no wrongs no burdens, no grievan-
ces? Shall be told that your manufactures flour
ished that the revenues increased, and be asked to
take this as an evidence of the prosperity of the
country during the operation of these high tariff
acts? answer, as the South and West might have
answered: "Your manufactures have hOurished, but
at our expense your revenues for time increased,
dcnce smiled upon our labors and crowned them
with abundant fruits yet cotton, our bread
stuffS our tobacco, and other products, were made
subservient to the purposes of the manufacturers.
Our money was absorbed in the enhanced price of
the protected yet necessary article 1t was your
profit; but not unfrequentiy drawn from our neces-
sites. We were neglected-aye, more, oppressed
by Government. You We're rampered and fed by
its bounty. Your cities increased in population,
| nd nn1O Ep
provinces, were made tributary to your greatness"
In this compromise it will be observed that there
| were mutual concessions.
The friends of protection secured for the present.
their policy upon condition that, at the expiration
of eight years, it should be abandoned. This, sir,
with Them dying struggle. The then recent
elections showed that their days were numbered
The people had spoken; and their voice was not to
be disregarded Hence, they sought not to save
but protract its existence Mr.. Clay the great faith
er and champion of protection, saw its extremity,
and, with paternal anxiety, had pressed the COM
promise, as the only means Of prolongng life. He
says:
" How can this system be maintained against
numbers against the whole weight Of the Admins
tration, against the united South, and against the
increased impending dangers of civil war;"
Hear him again at the same time when he more
fully expresses his purpose and the objects of the
compromise:
Now, give us time; cease all fluctuations and
agtatons for nine years. and the manufacturers will
sustain themselves against all foreign competition.
| am anxious to find out some principle of mutual
accommodation, to satisfy as far practicable both
parties to increase the stability of legislation, and
at some future day, but not too distant, when we
take into view the magnitude of the interests in
volved to bring down the rate of duties to the
enue standard for which our opponents nave SO
long commended"
How, sir, was this compromise kept? Most faith.
fully, on the part of those opposed to protection
for eight long years but when the time expired
and they were to reap the fruits of their contract
thus faithfully performed on their part, the protec
tionists land some of them the very men who eight
years before, had pledged themselves to the compro
n,isc) repudiated their part of it. The manufactu
rers of the North, welding, from their position Of
wealth and power, an influence which always Sc
cured for them large party in the country, disre
garding this sacred compact determined not to give
up this source of their wealth and afluence without
still another struggle; and hence, in 1912, the ear
Hest opportunity that presented itself after the ex
pration of the eight years, another tariff act was
passed, which, though not quite odous, was
nevertheless, unequal and oppressive. This was
however, destined to but short reign. The peo
pie again spoke and that too, upon this very ques
tion it having been made of the principal issues
in the canvass of 1874. The protective policy wa.
. again repuuiateu; ana IN 1910 tariff Tor revenue
and exclusively upon the ad ralorem principle, wa
passed The old Wing party, that had chung 81
long and with such tenacity to this protective sys
tenn, had grown weaker and more and more divide,
in every contest had at last yielded to its inevta
bic destiny, which followed few years afterwards
and ended in its entire dissolution.
From 1916 to 1857, that tariff remained, with N
variation in principle. And yet sir, at no time i,
the history of the country, did all classes of its cit
! zens enjoy higher degree Of prosperity than du
ring that period For several years of the time W
: were engaged in an expensive foreign war apprc
prated millions of dollars in heacquisition of terri
tory and in negotiating peace Yet, sir, the pros
perity Of the country, from Maine to Louisiana, wa
almost without example. Our commerce was ez
tended; our manufacturers were not only sustained
s but even increased in number and wealth. All tn
. demands Of the public Treasury were met; and fo
the last four years of the operation of that tariff