Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-08-26
Beneficial Effects of Protection.

The Republican party has ever been
the exponent of protection to American
industry. In this it has shown itself to
be the one true friend of the working
closes. 1t still adheres to the protec-
tive principle, and would fain foster our
National industries, until, like those Of
England, they can withstand any and
all competition. England, as her histo-
ry proves, built up her vast industries
through protective tariffs, and it was
not until she felt able to undersel the
world that custom duties on manufac-
lures were repealed.
1t is now question whether the Re-
publican policy, such as it has been du-
ring the past twenty years, shall cOntin-
ue, or whether the Democratic idea of a
tariff for revenue and for the benefit of
the pauper labor of Europe only shall
prevail. This matter must and will be
settled by the results of the pending
canvass. 1t is a squarely drawn con-
test between the Republican and Demo
cratic parties, and it is for the people -
the producers and toilers of the nation
to choose between them. 1t is need
less to say that the Democratic press
and party leaders, as whole, are deci-
dedly hostile to protective tariff. They
contend that it is inimical to the coun-
try's best interest, that it is tax upon
all save the manufacturer, and detri-
mental to the toiling millions every
where.
That the Democratic position is false
one, can be made plainly manifest. First,
then, we assume that a protective tar
iff is not a tax, but rather reducer of
taxes to all who occupy the position of
consumers. Take, as an illustration, the
matter of cotton goods. Prior to our
building mills and entering into that in
dustry we imported cotton goods at a
cost of so cents per yard. Under pro-
tective tariff that industry has been
built up in this country, and we have
been able to export a far better quality
of goods at the low price of 6 cents per
yard. In this case the tax on cOnsump-
tion has been brought down to a mini
mum through the operation of protec-
tive tariff. Between 1860 and 1868 the
price of cotton hosiery was reduced
nearly one-half, and delaines, formerly
imported at so to so cents per yard, were
manufactured in this country in 1860 at
20 cents per yard, the quality being
equal to the imported article
That protective tariff is not tax is
well shown by the Congressional de-
bates of 1914 and 1916. Glass was then
selling at $3.50 per box, while the du-
ty on the foreign article was 81. Amer
lean nails sold at 81 cents per pound,
while the duty was 315 cents, and home
made cotton cloths sold at cents per
yard while the duty on the imported ar
tlcle amounted to seven cents. Such
facts as these show the position of the
Democracy to be untenable, wholly
without foundation.
Again, let us examine the cast steel
industry. When no steel was made in
this country the English article sold at
IS cents and upward per pound. Under
the influence of high tariff our steel
makers began work at Pittsburgh and
elsewhere. They made a quality equal
to that of the English article aud br'ot
the price down to 13 cents per pound.
During cur late civil war American
steel sold at 81 cents per pound, while
the British product was held at 45 cents,
and this difference saved large sums to
our Government in the consumption of
that article.
Once more Bessemer steel rails were
not made in the United States until
1867, and not largely so until 1870. Un-
til the opening of our first steel rail mill
English manufacturers controlled our
market and charged us $3.50 in gold per
ton for Bessemer rails. American pro-
duction brought down prices, and in
1870 such rails were quoted in England
at $50.37, gold, per ton, equal to $57.93
in our currency, at that time. At the
price quoted they could be sent to New
York at cost, freight included, of $62
per ton, duty excluded.
4 protective tariff has built up our
Bessemer steel industry. 1t has fur
nished .ur railways with 2,504,763 tons
of rails at an average cost of 5000 per
ton currency. The business now>em-
ploys 10000 American workingmen, pays
over $7,500,000 in wages per annum, and
has furnished our railways with steel
rails for the past ten years at an average
cost of little less than the English price
in 1870.
Instances of the benefits of protec-
tive tariff to American industry may be
multiplied almost indefinitely, but we
heed go no farther at present to show