The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-10
Carey and Wells.

u6 pTOleCJlOD uRuJ 10 mdAihB no1i
and some of the Western respondents to
the New York Tribune are adopting it's
polite phraseology. For instance the
attempt of Mr.. Henry c. Carey to refute
the statements of Mr.. Wells is charac-
terized By the st. Louis Democrat as a
piece of "able- bodied lying" and that
paper not only proves the fallacy of Mr..
Carey's statements about the prices OF
grain and manufactured articles before
and after the war, but it fatty calls
them lies. Without endorsing its cpl
thets, we must confess that its figures
are true, while those of Mr.. Carey are
false. After citing the records which
sustain Mr.. Wells, and exposing the de-
ceptions employed by his assailants,
the Democrat says:
The monopolies begin to realize that
the farmers of the great West will not
stand it much longer to be swindled as
they have been, and hence the effort of
their attorney to make the farmers be-
lieve that they get more money for their
wheat, and pay less for every thing they
buy, than they did before the war.
These people must think that the farm
ers at the West have neither sense nor
memory. In January, 1860, Western
flour was worth in New York S. % in
gold, and in January, 1870, only 81 OF in
gOld-decrease, twenty-four per cent.
Michigan wheat, then worth 81 so, sold
January 1st, 1869, for 81 % in gold; de-
crease fourteen per cent. Western rye,
worth ninety-two cents in gold January
lst, 1860, was worth eighty-four cents
in gold January LIST, 1870; de.
crease, seven per cent. Corn, worth
eighty eight cents ia 1860, was worth
eighty four in 1870. Potatoes, worth
(at Cincinnati) Sl.35 bushel in 1860,
were worth Sl24 in gold in 1870.
Hides, worth twenty-four and a half
cents in 1860, were worth twenty-five
and half cents in 1870. Hay, worth in
New York S1.10 per 100 pounds in 1860,
was worth, in 1870, only seventy and q
half cents-a loss of thirty six per cent.
Saxony fleece sold for twenty.six per
cent. less; Merine for twenty four per
cent. less, and pulled No. for twenty
four per cent. less in 1870 (January 1st)
than in 1860 (January 1st.) These are
gold prices, be it remembered. But
when we come to manufactured articles
or imported goods, the boot is on the
other leg. Turks Island salt sold for
nineteen and half cents in 1860, (Jan-
uary lst,) and for forty cents in gold in
1870, (January 1st); increase, one hun
dred aud ten per cent. English
bar iron was worth S42 25 in 1860 (Jan-
uary lst,) and S7l So in gold, January
lst, 1870; increase, seventy per cent.
Carpets which sold for seventy-fve
cents in gold in 1860, sold for 81 0S in
gold in 1870; increase, forty-four per
cent. in gold. Mems boots. which sold
for 81 80 in 1860, sold for Sc SO in cur
rency, or S. e. in gold, in 1870; increase,
twenty-six per cent. in gold. Red lead
paint, worth six cents in 1860, was
worth eight and half cents gold in
1870; increase, forty per cent. Cut nails,
worth three cents in 1860, were worth
four and one-eighth cents in gold in
1870; increase, forty .one per cent.
Let it be remembered that this reduc-
tion in the price of articles which the
farmer sells, and this increase in the
price of articles which he buys, are
maintained for the purpose of protect
luX
In other words, a subsidy is exorted
from capital and labor employed in GER
tain enterprises, to increase the profits
of capital and labor employed in other
enterprises. There is no dispute about
a revenue tariff or such incidental pro.
lection as it may give, The issue is
solely as to whether the tariff shall be
so levied as to yield the requi-
site revenue without discriminating
against any class, or so as
to exclude imports, impair the
revenues and create monopolies for the
benefit of capitalists. The tax on i'm.
ports, when paid by the consumer, goes
to the extinction of the public debt and
the reduction of direct taxes, but the
bonus which he pays, in consequence of
a protective tariff to the home mauufac-
turers of the articles he must consume,
returns to him in no shape-does him no
good whatever. 1t is simply robbery.
The manufactures that cannot live with
the aid of that large measure of Incl
dental protection afforded by the heavy
revenue duties our Government is COM
pelled to impose, are exotics which can
not be acclimated and DO not deserve to
be nursed at the expense of the public
Conrier-JoUrndl.