New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-16
TIE LOGIC OF FACTS.

That journal kindly suggests way In which
he might have treated that question that
would have been satisfactory to 1t; but that,
of course, differs widely from Mr.. Colfaxs
way. Ii says:
M Colfax selects the article Of Pig Iron to prove that
manufacturers prospercd greatly since 1861 IL is
true that the production of Pig Iron has increased very
largely Mr. Colfax is undoubtedly aware that for sew
era years past the Government has been stimulating tho
production Of Pig Iron not only by prohibitOry tariff
but by donating it, public lands by millions OF acres 10
railroad companies upon the express condition that they
shall use only American iron In other words we have
been transmitting the public domain into Pig Iron. 1t
would be surprising if the production of that article I'M
such exciting stimuants, had not largely increased
But the American people have paid for all this iron nine
dollars per tun in god than it is WORTH and every
branch of manufactures TO which Pig Iron is mate
rial has been conespOndngly depressed and discour-
aged"
Comments by The Tribune.
|. A great many Railroads in the Western
States have been constructed by the help of
lands granted for the purpose by Congress.
The Illinois Central was the pioneer; but
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, &c,
have been largely favored by these grants.
Their greatest beneficiary is the city of Chicago,
which probably has 100000 more inhabitants
and one-tlBrd more wealth than if this land
grant policy had not been inaugurated. Yet
she is focus of the demagogue clamor that
the National policy, under Republican rule, has
constantly aggrandized the East at the ex-
pense of the West No natter We deem
that policy wise, benignant, and cannot doubt
that our country is to-day more pOpulous,
stronger, and richer, than it would or could
have been in the absence of these Immigrants.
But were the grantees required to use only
American front Not at all The Pacific Rail
road built mainly by Government subsidy or
upon Government credit, UaS required to lay
American rails; but the impression conveyed
by our Chicago namesake that all Immigrant
railroads were subjected to this requisition is
mistaken.
Nor is it true that the only Pacific Road yet
constructed has been tracked exclusively with
American Pig Iron. If We are not misin-
formed, immense quantities of worn-0ut Euro
pean rails have been exported to this country
under the low duty on Scrap Iron, and have
been rolled into American rails for the Pacific
Union and Central Companies, together forming
the line from Omaha TO Sacramento. This may
have been OF not been good policy; 1t GER
tainly is not transmitting the Public Domain
"into" american "Pig Iron"
II. The Chicago Tribune coolly asserts that the
American People have paid for all this lhome-
"made] Iron nine dollars in gold per tun more
ethan it is WORTH How sOP Why, because
the duty on imported Pig Iron has been 9S
per tun. Well suppose it had been 800: what
then Should we have paid 800 per tun more
for all the Iron smelted in this country? If
-ho+ fbo Int had
Der tun7 Can't man evince some common
sense, even though he is a Free-TraderP
Let us call attention to a few items, which
seem to us pertinent to the main question;
/. The duties levied on Iron of every de-
scripton were raised by the Protective Tariff
of 1828-that on Pig Iron from $40 to 1921 per
tun. Of course, says Free Trader, our people
had to pay $2i more per tun for Pig Iron
But NileS's Register states that not only was
this not the case, but that Iron was actually
cheaper in this country after than before that
increase of duty, and especially cheaper in those
districts tartheSt from the Seab0ard. What do
you say to that9
2. The duties on imported Copper Ore,
Sheathing, &C., were considerably increased
by special bill passed some two years ago.
1--WE shall have to pay 25 per cent. more for
" Copper sang the Free-Traders in chorus,
before and just after the passage of that bill.
What has been the fact Z Has not Copper
been cheaper here ever since7 Has one Free
Trade journal quoted its price to prove what
they so confidently predicted ? Not one.
8. We printed, last Winter, the circular of
British house largely engaged in the expOrta-
ton of Iron, and especially of Rails, to the
IrOn-masters of Great Britain. That circular,
after giving the product, exports, and prices
of British Iron for the preceding year, stated
that the hopes of an advance in the prices of
British Iron rested wholly on the prospect of
a reduction of the American Tariff. If we re-
duced our duties, the British Iron-masters
might advance their prices; if not, not. Is
not this pertinent to the main question: If
not, why not
A. Congress- at its last session, saw fit to
increase the duty on Steel Rails to the extent
of at least S., and perhaps of so, per tun.
OF course, we are now paying so much more
for Steel Rails, according to Free Trade and
The Chicago Tribune but not according to the
facts. On the contrary, the great Bessemer
Steel works at Cleveland are supplying Steel
Rails to all applicants at S104 per tun-which is
lower, we believe, than they were ever afforded,
whether from American or British works, be-
fore the late increase of duty.
3. Perhaps Mr.. Clay's exposure of the futility
of the fundamental Free-Trade assumption is
az cOgent as any other. "My friend" said a
Free-Trade canvassser TO rough customer
who was listening to his speech, % do you
" know that the Tariff makes you pay six cents
"per yard more for that shirt yod wear than
"you would under Free Trader "Well, / sup
"pose it must be 80, since you say it,n replied
the cOuntryman; "and yet, don't unite see