The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-16
History of the Tariff Laws.
IFtIsburg Commercial Gazette. !

History Of the Tariff Laws.
iPitisburg Commercial Gazette
1t was in 1924 that the first high
protective tariff was enacted, under
me presidency of James Madison.
Under its fostering influence mann.
l"eturing establishments sprang into
neihg all through this State, New
ORR and New England. This tariff
was increased in 1928 under John
quincy Adams, and The workshops
anu manufacturers multiplied and
hourlshed more than ever. But in
1903, when the Democracy came into
power with Andrew Jackson, John G.
Sa'h1un. of South Carolina, had the
act passed multiplying the law of Con.
g2rIsess requiring duties to be collected.
. Wsf was threatened in South Caro-.
Ina, and Senator Henry Clay, in
order to avert trouble. got up his fla
nous compromise tariff bill, which
proyided sliding scale for the grad
ual reduction of the tariff to a mere
revenue standard, the time for it To
fall being fixed at five years. Down it
slid till finally it became "A tariff for
revenue purposes only Terrible de-
preston ensued and on can full tilt
the memorable panic of 1887, which
closed most Of our mills and factories,
throwing thousands of workmen
out of employment and causing tie ri
bic restitution and suffering. This
state of things lasted till 1910, when
Presidential election came along, and
the suffering people hurled the Demo-
cracy from power, seating William
Henry Harrison in the Presidential
chair, succeeding that pronounced
freetrader and great Democrat. Mar.
tin Van Buren,. Under Harrison's
administration the protective tariff
was restored in 1912, ard the long
closed mills and workshops reopened.
others sprang into existence and
prosperous times returned. But in
1914 the Democrats succeeded in res
gaining power with james K, Polk,
another free trader, and the free trade
or low revenue tariff OF 1916 was en-
acted. What followed in this State
plenty of workingmen now living in
Pittsburgh well remember. In this
one State oyer 10000 men were
thrown out of employment by the
closing OF over 200 factories, rolling
mills and glass houses. The state of
affairs was terrible and the poverty
OF the working class never reached a
lower stage in this country. The
manufacturers in order TO compete
with the pauper labor of Europe
were compelled to reduce wages to
starvation rates. Not content with
this horrible condition of affairs
Democratic Congress in 1857 reduced
the small tariff to a still lower rate,
bringing about the great panic of
1857. A II our gold flowed to Europe,
the country was drained of money,
the work shops and mills were all
clossd. Immediately on the return
of the Republican party to power the
tariff Of 1861 was passed. We all
know what an impetus the industries
OF the country received then, how
wages rapidly increased. We had
another panic in 1878, resulting from
the great difference in value between
the great volume of paper currency,
forced into circulation by the war.
and gold. Under Republican adj
ministratlon resumption has been
accomplished, paper money is as good
as gold, and the workingmen never
made better wages or We're more
prosperous than now. This has all
accomplished despite the determined
opposition of the Democratic party
bringing about this condition of
affairs. If the Republican party con.
tiHues in power there is no reason to-
doubt that this condition of affairs
will continue, but if Hancock is cleo
ted, and the Democratic party con-
troling,as it does now, both branches
OF Congress, carries out the principles
enunciated in its platform and enacts
a low wages revenue tariff, look out
for trouble. / do not believe the
workiugmen of America are prepared
to turn their backs ON their friends
and give the reins of power to the
Democrats. They will have to bear
the consequences if they doc"
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Speaking of the Rebel Claims that