Morning journal and courier., 1880-10-25
ALEssoN OF HISTORY.

The Whig protective tariff of 1S42 was of great benefit to the languishing industries of this country. Even before the act went into effect preparations for manufacturing, min ing and other branches of industry began to revive, and workmen again found remunera- tive employment. But unfortunately, be- fore the country was entirely free from en- barrassment, the same reckless party which had helped to bring on former disasters came into power and arrested prosperity by over- turning just and wise protective policy, against the almost universal remonstrance of the people, and instituting a policy which brought on universal distress and suffering.
 In 1944 the Democratic party, with Jame s K Polk as it's standard bearer, was success full on false pretenses. In the tariff State of Pennsylvania downright swindle was prac- ticed upon the friends of protection, large portion of whom were ignorant of the views of Mr. Polk on the tariff question. MT. Polk had in 1842 when a candidate for | Governor of Tennessee, written a letter for | publication, addressed to the people of that State, in which he said: q had steadily | during the period I was Representative in | Congress been opposed to protective policy, | as my recorded votes and public speeches | prove Since I retired from Congress have held the same opinion. In the present can vass for Governor have ayowed my opposi- l tion to the tariff act of the late Whig Con gress,' (the act of 1842). Yet his friends were now (1s44) circulating letter through the Democratic papers of Pennsylvania writ | ten by him to Judge John K. Kane, repre-
 senting himself as in favor of a reasonable protection to home industry. And to give l greater effect to the fraud the motto inscribed on the party banner was Polk, Dallas and the tariff of 1842" The ticket was voted for
 by the honest but deluded Pennsylvanians, l who gave the electoral vote of that State to Polk No sooner was Mir. Polk inaugurated than he commenced with assertions and ar l guments against the protective policy and in favor of free trade. All his annual messages | teemed with these assertions and arguments.
 and were calculated, if not intended, to mis- lead the people on the subject.
 | Early in Folks administration an attempt
 was made to destroy the protective policy,
 but it did not succeed. But in 1846, there being Democratic ,majorities in both houses
 of Congress, the policy of Ca tariff for reve- nue only'' was victorious. The unfavorable effects of the new tariff were soon felt. Com | plaints came from different sections. A large 1 number of woo1en and iron manufactories l were very soon adversely affected. Some
 suspended; others discharged part of theil
 hands: others reduced the wages of opera
 lives. Before two years had elapsed there
 were indications of another revulsion at nc
 distant period But the discovery of Califor
 mia gold and the rapid increase of coin ln creased the circulating medium of the coun
 try and the means of paying for imported goods, and thus postponed the apprehendeo
 calamity But importations continued to in
 crease beyond all precedent. until, in 1857 they reached the enormous amount of $36o,