New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-12
PROTECTION AND RETENUE. PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE.


ontaius passage to when uoSne "0i0 '" "'''''O
attention, follows: ,,
As respects relation Of legislation by me
Government the results under consderaton ~ @ Of
the public lands it is difficult at least 1or me Hat
which elapsed between 1910 and 1850 TO afrn nGcn hat
"a nositiye unless conformity with the maxln Ia ~
that government is best which governs east
legislation is TO be regarded In the lgh OF
Ifmportant results followed the acquisition OF
such results were certainly neither iSsefn review Of
all the facts cannot fail to suggest d9D' NAVE not far
evils which have resulted from nsablty nav NAV have
more than counterbaanced any tpa p noev
proceeded from the experience OF t III oninion
me Commits soner well aware tDht VIE H
win not be readily accepted 10y those who have Deen eda
GATED to believe that the industrial ar sced by the Ies
stjo4 which took place during the years Wcn esso1
FSM IN 70 the facts are entirely contrary to what may
be regarded the popular oehe1 WHICH, tt m than
mere assertions. which, remaining for long time nn
questioned have at last acquired mStorc both in
Tor example 1t has been constantly asseL,etn, 90 r
Congress and Of Congress- that the producno 9 pig
Iron tpe 99o 200 inns I'm 1870 TO 100000 in lsIsand
that under the tariff OF 1916 the same industry wasl
t h3 t6a most Trustworthy statistics TO which
have viz: those gathered by inc AMERICAN A0"
Of Pig Iron N 1880 $4,000 tuns; in 1S4o
$4,000 tuns; increase in ten years. ~ per cent, s
Production in ls5 900 uns; increase In five years.
Production IN 1850 $4,000 tuns; increase in ten years
Production in 1885, $4,000 increase in five years.
Production in 1860 $4,000 tuns; increase in ten years.
thus appears that the great annual increase In the
production Of Pig took place prior 10 the year sto
OF 10 70 II Der cent per and that since then no
matter what been the character OF the leglslsuon
whether the tariff low high, whether the cohuo1
Of the country OF peace the increase OF
tho production has been at the average OF apo Per
cent per annum, than double the rato OF tue III
ny another curious Illustration Of apparent
mlsco5cepton of the effects past legislation upon the
development Of the country take the Ioao%S P Eon,
graph from the recent report Of Congressional 0On
mo business man Of mature age need be reminded OF
the revuon which followed IN consequence Oh tie aeG
trade system OF ls4ethe decline OF production, OF mn
semnson of the system in the tariff 1851 with the
memorable criAs OF that periodi the general rum vi
~ the hanks: Tie reduction Of the Treasury the
Of bankruptcy and the unparalleled distress among the
unemployed poor"
Here follows series of statements constructed in
manner similar that above given in reference to iron
the object Of their production being that OF proving that
the views Of the Committee thus presented had had no
foundation in TACT that they had allowed themselves to
be deceived by assertions" the part OF Others
and that the time had nOwome for setting the stamp OF
fsehood on all they had been accustomed to believe In
reference the Tariff Of 1885, and for obtaining such ao
curate of the last twenty OF our commercial
history might be entitled to claim to have the iorce
Of accepted historical truths"
Towhom however to be attributed the otrepeated
Inisstatements by which the Committee had been de-
Ceivedi No ia given; but Of course refer TO
me- the statements thus controvered having been tsl
published own signature, so early as 1901 anu
since then many times repubshed; and the Committee
having been misled II msled ALL by other than my
self To me- therefore is that have thus thrown down
the glove and take up prepared on the one Dand
to prove the Of the views You have thus called
in question or the other to admit of having through
long series Of years. mlsled my fellow citizens Admit
that such proof be funishedhat the "mere assertions
now proved real "historca truths fitted
your own acceptance, where, my dear Sir Will you your
self then stand Should chance to be proved that 1t is
that required TO mpale myself on the horns OF
dilemma which leaves but choice between the admission
OF gross careessness the hand gosser dshon
esty on the other does it follow necessarily that you
must be compelled TO take the place you had prepared
for me- and thus furnish PTovi required Ior
establishing the that you wholly disqualified for
cha office OF public teacher. AS 1t TO me, such must
be the case.
Leaving you to reflect at leisure on the ques-
tons thus propOunded, propose now to anayze the
"historica truths" of repOrtarst, however giving
brief history Of our Tariff legislation Tor the last nan
century, as follows;
The revenue tariff period which followed the close in
1876 Of the great European was one of great Distress
both private and public. Severe financial crises bank
rupted banks merchants, and manufacturers, greatly
contracted the market for labor and all its products
far diminished the money value OF property as to place
the debtor everywhere in the power OF his creditor
caused the transfer OF very large portion OF under the
sherifs hammer and far impaired the power Of the
people contribute to the revenue that trivial as we're
the public expenditures Of that period. loans
duired for enabling the Treasury TO meet the demands
upon it, With Is2I however there partial attempt
at remedy Of the evils under which our whole people
were then severely suffering tariff having been then
established under which pig iron and potatoes were
abundantly protected pipes and penknves being adj
mitted at moderate ad vaorem duties. The rude pro-
ducts Of agriculture were effect prohibited from being
imported in their original FORMS but whom they pre-
sented themselves those Of cotton and wooden cloths
all difcuy disappeared sllghtwas the benefit result
ing from such measure yet benefit did result and
hence was that came soon followed by the
admirable tariff Of 1923, the first really protective
ever established by Congress- Under 1t all changed.
and with rapdity great that but five years Of its
action requredror giving to the country prosper
y such as had never before been known for ncreas
ing the public render necessary the eman-
cpaon from import duties Of tea, Coffee and other
articles the like Of which not produced at home for
taking thus the first step In the direction Of real freedom
of external commerce. for finally annihlstng the public
debit and for causing people to forget the state Of
almost from which they had been redeemed by the
combined action Of the tariffs OF 1924 and 1928.
Northern submission to CarOlnian threats Of nulHca.
ton next gave the Compromise OF 1885, by Of
which the country was within the next decade, TO be
brought under strictly tariff Of 20 per cent
The South needed cheap food and did not therefore de-
SIRE that Western farmers should make market at home
which might tend TO raise its price. Most generously,
however 1t permitted protection TO remain almost
touched until the first Of January 1885, and how gradual
the changes then and for years thereafter
to be made will be from the following figures repre-
sentng the duties to be paid article that had stood
originally at 80 per cent;
1854 lsats 1881 1898 s! 1872 to Juue 80 Thereafter
For the frat two years general PROSPERITY continued to
be maintained. Thereafter, however, find the whole