Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
tCommunicated.I
Protection TO Industry.


Having traced the history of protection
and its effects until the enactment Of the,l
first tariff, Q7s9) design to follow up the
subject, If happily may show the necessity
of still continuing that important branch of
legislative action.
1t was soon discovered that the duty (i5
per cent. levied by the second tariff was not
sufficient. Owing to the flourishing state of
manufactures In England this duty was
easily overcome, besides the receipts from
customs was reduced so low, that as INIT
ter Of necessity, they had to be increased
The drnoclats advocating an increase Of
duty, and the ludcrals, a free trade party,
| opposing il.
| In 1883 James Madison had succeeded in
obtaining such ample protection to navlga-
tiun, thai that important industry of the
country was in u tlourishing condition, while'
manufactures, from the little aid 1t received,
was in u languishing condition. In l7S9
our tonnage amounted only to two thousand
tons. while in 1901 IL amounted to hve
hundred thousand.
Under the feeble protection afforded by
the tariff of 1904, the manufacturing indus
Try OF the country was completely prostrat-
ell anu EOulu llo lDuSCl stuiiN hP ~ hehsANS
oftlat of England, aided as it was by constant
protection and the vast improvements she
had made in machinery.
The industry Of America had persisted IN
the struggle with England, had not the en-
barge and the war Of 1915, come opportu-
ncly to her relief During this period as
during the war for independence, our man
uiacturcs received such a start, as not only
to supply the home demand but consider
able amount for expectation. BY a report
of the committee on commerce ana manu-
features, made TO Congress in 1910, IL ap,
, penred that the manufacture OF wooden ana
cotton goods in the United States amounted
to over sixty millions of dollars and gave
employ to more than one hundred thou
i sand workmen.
This happy state of things produced its
effect on tile whole country. All value:
i rose, as well raw material as manufactured
goods, labor real estate, and internal com
merce, f,lt the impetus,and common pros
= pcrty was the effect. After the war oil 1872
Congress, wise from the experience OF lISG
doubled the then duties in one year, ant
; still the country fourshed. But under thu
, free trade influence, in conjunction with tina
!, of commerce Congress, in 1916 greatly re
!, ,duced the duties, and il were well Tor I'M
: modern democrats who so loudly advocate
!, | free trade, to examine tne ulstoly VI III
! couutry aud see the effect of this reduction
= Industry became paralyzed The farme
who had been led to believe the manufac
!. tory tlourished at his expense, soon becam
: convinced of the falacy of free trade. Raw
! material went down in price-real estate dc
! preciated III value, com was sold, ON III
l5raudyWilr, 1T - cents per bushel, and a
. the mills a little way therefrom at % cents
!, Flour was down to $3.50, and pork til
., same. Thus in II state Of profound peac
2 with all other countries, the United States
+ under the disastrous effects of free trade
N suffered more than during the war OF indt
- pendence or that Of 1872.
t. viii mi oar law makers learn from thes
Il effects the ruinouS policy of free-trade for
i young nation which has TO contend with til
n experience oi years, the low rate OF none
+ interest and tie highly protective policy. {
!, the nations with which she trades! And
:. II not passing strange that men calling then
:, selves intelligent, will, in the face OF tn
~ historical experience and within the meme
~, ~ i. of living men of our country claim cith'
TINT free trade is beneficial, !oI that it is
i Democratic pariyy | shall resume this sui
~ ect at future moment ofleisurc, meantim
~ if have falsified history, let modern demo-
4 racy rciuic what !, rs an old old Democrd
4 have asserted
+, A. p. OsMoND