New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-15
A FEW FACTS FOR IlR. WELLS.
JUDGE KELLEY'S DEFENSE OF AMERICAN
INDUSTRY.

SPEECH IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE, JAN. III, 1870
The following is the speech of the Hon. VIM. ID.
Kelley of Pennsylvania, before the House Committee
of the Whole on the State of the Union, Tuesday
last;
JUDGE KELLEYs SPEECH.
Mr. CnAIRMAN: have more than once underworld to
impress upon Congress the that fire is the material
power and iron and steel the muscles OF
our modern civilization. The tnphammer' with
wonderful power and wonderful precision ana
delcacy Of stroke has supplanted the sledgehammer
and circular and Gang-saws do In day the Work at
which the handsaw abored for months Machine Tools
such as athes drills planners and shaping machines i-
PEELED like the triphaumer and the saws OF Whch nave
spoken 10y the unwearying steam engine, itself mere
embodiment OF coal and iron ore, increase the perfection
and amount of the artisans product and relieve him OF
the exhausng which shortened the life OF his father
and made him prematurey old Nations too, are subject
so these new conditions. However free their institutions
may be- people who cannot supply their own demand
for iron steel purchase from foreigners beyond
seas are not independent sther dependence merely
commercial; they politically dependent and II the
nation they depend for these essential elements
Of modern warfare be arrogant and teacherOus rs En-
gland proved herself during late civil war; they must
endure contumely and outrage with unresistng humility
Commerce and war both demand iron ships we tell the
weight Of guns whether of steel ron by the tun,
and that OF seeponted shotby the hundred weight
and while depend upon her for the material OF which
construct ships, guns, and shot, the statesmen OF En-
gland know they trie with aud postpone the settle
ment OF the Alabama claims Able as wo were to crush
with irresistible power gigantic rebellion. they know
that until shall have furnaces forges, rolnGmiils.
nachineshops and skilled artisans enough 20 produce
and fashion supply Of iron and steel sufficient for
wants in peace and war, we cannot engage IN war with
England because we depend on her Tor these primary
am impeed TO renew these suggestions by the report
ofDavd A. Wells esq Special Commissioner OF Revenue,
which abouuds In propositions imnlcal to the best INFER
eSts OF the country, and which adopted by Congress
will compel to occupy subordinate position among
nations though our population may equal that OF all
Europe as our territory already does that OF the Whole
fnmily OF European Powers. As an expression OF the
opinions Of Mr. Wells this paper can do but little harm
hut its circulation IN Europe under the sanction OF Con-
grcss will impair credit and arrest the tide OF emgra
ton now flowing in upon lis in unprecedented volume.
that people, notwithstanding the amazing expansion
Of our country, are tending toward bankruptcy and
the oppressed abOrers Of other lands that our working
people are becoming not OIL relatively but absolutely
poorer from year to year. 9nd tnat TINS Is th5re9Ge not
CRATE 1t demonstrates TO the satisfaction Of Mr. Weiss
admirers and clients though wealth increased
during the last decade 1876 per its utmost
during this decade be hut 65 and 800 per cent and
versally conceded it WILL largely over si3O90OO0O that
the grand total can by 10 possibility be S2340OO
MASSACHUSETTS, OHIO, INDIANA, AND NEw-TORK GOING
10 THE DOGS ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER WELLS
Time will permit TO point out the fallacies In
this portion Of his report as would gladly do and pro-
ced at once to invite the attention Of the committee TO
points which 10 require more special animadver-
But before turning 10 these, let me request, gen.
tIemen from Massachusetts, Ohio. Indiana, and New
York il they have not already done So to turn 10 pages
a d seq, and learn how rapidly their respective states
are sinking into poverty and how much poorer their
people are per cdpita than they were In 1860 The sng-
gt.On will doubtless surprise them yet 80 curnlngly
ioes Wells present II that foreigners Who are not
familiar with the truth patent 10 every observer VIII
De deceived by it and re. feel they mad l better
Than ~ 70 others that they know not Of
One Of the processes by which Mr. Wells sustan' hs
theory though not TnS IN 9F SaM ysr very FROM
per less that ii at the time with winch he pro
poses his comparison. We know that wheat ana hOur
every variety OF cotton ana WOODEN cheaper
now than they In 1850. But Nh Weiss theory Is,
that as there difference in the market value OF gold
aud greenbacRs, commodities OF domesuc production
ought to be dearer; and applying this theory 10 snch
iaCs he fit To present ne assumes thdt lhtI
are and SO establishes the melancholy warning TO all
persons proposing 10 emgrate that tins not me country
Ia which they should come. No demonstration OF the
alsity of his theory of its aDsurdy induces him TO
malt spite OF these he presses onward ana apples
I in every case When examining his last annual report
the savings banks evidence that the wOikuSlnen OF
he country not then, as he asserted, growing
poorer, while the rlch were growing richer anu at.I
years reflection he answers my array OF facts III 'hs
M prosperous condition Of the Properly considered Low"
ef they very different state Of tosS Thus the trN ana
'uosI the ouly fact Which sTaes ne a''tn'G | n IN
osis 1868 1853 Bot intelligent tHsuua" VII
ip0son FOR example take the Of Massachusetts,,
e4e the conditions for increase would seem 10 he most sOfaot
IN 1907 toe savings banks deposits In this state were ~
10 JsSGsTy 1863 10 currency s95OcOooo IN gold -
'l"''v
,.. G. ,i-b, rear. ....,.... : .oo
the time at con pound interest seven Per &
~ I'M ether woris deposits Of 1850 made good On l
% natural increase At compound interest II is evident therefore,
hat has eaten into The accumulation ee D,