The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-09
PROTECTION vs.. FREE TRADE.
Letters TO sme"ican Voters.

Etlbe opponents Oh pTOleCilob phoo lHcI I'll
gumellts upon tue assumption that protec-
tive duties enhance the prices Of goods pro-
tected. 10 this the advocates ofproty ctioD
rely, that i'm ting the nominal prizes
To be somewhat increased, it works no Ill to
the consumer, because the prices OF labor
and It's products in other branches OF indus
try increase in equal or greater proportion
But, as promised in former article, pro-
coed to show that, with adequate protection,
prices actually fall. This is not mere opin-
ion or theory; it is theory illustrated by fact,
in spite of free-trade logic. @ !
In every discussion i'll and out of Con
gress, it has been standing objection TO
protection, that the consumer is made to
pay enhanced prices for goods without re-
ceiving "a corresponding benefit In return
Tell The object9r that any temporary aug
mentation OF price is more than counter
balanced by an increase OF wages, and you
are met by d square denial. Refer him to
the figures, and he then replies that the
price of labor has nothing to do with pro
lection. But to the facts
In 1861, our protective policy,as designed
to be adapted to state OF peace, is general
Iy understood to have commenced although
the tariff OF that year, with few excep-
lions, failed to afford the protection antc-
ipated The bill encountered the usual OBJ
iections of free-trade partizans; it proposed
ito give bounty to tho rich capitalist by
taxing the community" The duty on cot
ton cloth, under the minimum principle OF
that act. was 81 cents per yard. This, 1t
was said, the consumer must pay III
addition to the % cents (more Or less) then
paid for such cloth. From that time down
| to 1916, the duty under the minimum OF
the various acts, ranged from 6 to y cents
yard and the prices gradually fell until
they reached point below the amount of
duty imposed. Our laboring men have at
times worn shirts of home manufacture,
actually costing less per yard than the nom
nal duty-while their representatives In
Congress were opposing protection with the
argument that import duties were unJus:
taxes to that amount upon the labor OF tteiI
constituents.
But, as has been said the tariff of 1916
was, as a whole insufficient to answer Its
Intended purpose A commercial crisis soor
followed Congress was petitioned but
failed to give relief, In 1920 a bill passet
the House, but it was swanped in the Sen
ate. The country struggled on until 1924
when the great battle was fought and won
under the leadership of Clay in the House
aoainst the giant free trader of that day
Daniel Webster, while among its distin
guigheGd champions in the Senate was the
| well-known protectlonst, Andrew jackson
This was the first efficient protective tarit
act, aud may be pronounced really the be
ginning Of the american System" Tn
der its operation, manufactures aud Other
depressed interests of the country prospered
| Capital, which had been idle, to a large ex
tent, was called into active employment
manufactures OF different kinds were erect
ed; and competition soon drove prices dowl
instead of raising them, as had been so con
fidently predicted by free trade prophets.
\ In 1928, the act Of "a was revised AM
duties upon some articles raised. This wa
probably the highest tariff ever enacted b,
Congress, Yet prices continued to fall
Sheet iron, protected by duty OF 81 cent
a pound, was reduced from $50 to $40
ton; and hoop iron, under the same out.
from $3.50 to $120. Small round iron
which, it is said, had not been proviousI.
made in this country, was. under the sam
duty, reduced from $3.50 to $l35 Nails
protected by duty of 5 cents in 1890
4 Window glass, which was sold i'll 1916 10
SIS the 100 square feet, was afterwards sol
for 81, so, under a protective duty OF .
to 81. Glass wares generally, lead, leathe
and the manufactures of leather, and almos
all the products of mechanical labor, pre-
tected by duties averaging about so pc
cent were reduced III the same proportion
4 while the production was soon Increased
to furnish large quantities for expectation
In 1892 the tariff was again modified, til
duties on some articles being reduced ye
not to the satisfaction of the nullitiers c
South Carolina, who then took the initlator
step to rebellion. Then was passed til
compromise tariff act referred to in u form
er article, which Frustrated our manufae
lures aud well nigh involved the countr
in ruin.
In 1910, the people having learned b
painful experience the effects OF free TRADE
elected tariff Congress- which i'll 104
gave them another act of protection. An
: what was the result {? | have before me e1
tracts from newspapers Of that day, publish
ed in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New 1or
and numerous other places in several OF I'll
States announcing the revival Of manutat
turing establishments which had lain ld
for years. Labor was again in demand
business Of all kinds again revived; an
general prosperity was fully restored in e'
: cry section of the Union But what was tn
{ effect upon prices2 t4
Il have before me list prepared by r.
spectacle merchants in the city of Richmon'
Va, OF the Wholesale prices of certain art
/ cles in 1S41 and in 1913 the year befol
and the year after the adoption OF the tari
, of AZ. give but few of the many art
cles named in the schedule F.: