New-York tribune., 1870-08-18
FACING THE FIG URES.

We asserted, in reply to The World, that the
constant assumption of Free-Traders that the
implements used by our farmers would be
supplied to them from foreign sources under
Free Trade more cheapy than they are from
domestic under Protection was unwarranted
by the facts. Here is The Worlds response
ain 1882 dozen Of Colinss cost s9 The duty on
iron per cent STEEL Is percent In 1870 the
duty on iron and steel averages from CO to 70 per cent?
and the cost of dozen is s2 Now in case the in
ated currency should be brought In as an excuse we
will here give the average premium on gold In 1870 at 10
per cent (Which Is above its actual averaged and there
fore the 50 in 1859 would be enhanced 81 49, and dozen
axes should be sold for $40 currency, instead of s2
currency"
Comments By The Tribune.
Though "15 per cent" is not "above the
"actual average" premium on gold in 1870, we
will let it pass and concede that dozen
American axes, which cost so in gold in 1859,
now cost $12 in currency-that is, every 70
cents of the gold-cost in 1859 is paralleled by
81 cost in greenbacks in 1870 This, we call
every man to witness, is less than the average
advance in price of Labor and its products
since 1859. In other words: A weeks or
months faithful labor at wood-chopping, axe
making, OF anything else, will buy more Axes
more in currency but less in the average of
his products for Axes than he did eleven years
ago. And, as with Axes, so with Plows,
Scythes and implements generally. If you
charge the Tariff with the enhanced (nominaD
cost of whatever he has to buy, you must
credit it likewise with the higher average
prices of whatever he has to sell.
The World is moved to assert that
"Durng the war, the woolen mills increased in four
years than during twenty years before Since the
war; than five years, enjoying roaring Pro
tecon hey haze decreased in number But give us free
WOOL free machinery, free oil, and free COAL and they
will increase, although you should reduce the duty on
woolens to 25 per cent ad vaorem."
The World is mistaken-very gravely
mistaken-in its assertion that American
Wooden Mills have decreased in NUMBER since
the close of our late Civil War. They have
considerably increased, and mainly at the West
as was best. The late exhibition at Indianap-
oils, entirely of Western Woolens, was largely
composed of the products of factories that went
into operation since Lees surrender. They dot
the whole region, from the Falls of st. An
thOny down to Missouri and what their own
ers think of Protection as essential to their
prosperity was set forth in their unanimous
resolves at their Indianapolis gathering.
But The World sghs for free wool, free
machinery, free oil, and free COAL" with "the
duty on Woolens at % per cent. ad valorem."
What is that but Protection7 How does it
differ in principle from the present Tariff ?
Nothing is needed but Reputation of the
National Debt to render The Worlds pro-
gramme entirely practicable; and it might,
very possibly, enable some of our Woolen
mills to live and flourish; but it would be no
more Free Trade than what we have at pres
ents We Protectionists try to afford PrOtec-
ton when we have power: Was there ever a
Free Trader who dare enact Free Trade?