Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-08-05
Foreign Trade-A Contrast.

EOTe1gn lrdut--A OUuIrdSJ.
The exports from this country for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, exceed
by 120 per cent those for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1870. During the same
time the increase in the imports has
been only So per cent. Looking back to
the last year of Democratic rule, we find
that the exports of domestic products
exceed those of 1850 by 13O per cent,
willie the imports for 1880 exceed those
of 1860 by SO Per cent
These figures are based upon the Off
ciai report from the Treasury Depart
ment for the fiscal year 1880. In 1860,
exports of domestic products fell short
of imports by S37, 100000, and in 1870 by
s59,OO0,OOO, but in 1880 the excess of ex-
ports of domestic products over i'm
ports was s156OOoOOO. The policy of
the Republican party certainly has not
diminished exports, for the increase
since the last year of Democratic rule
has been 1870 per cent, while the increase
in population has been less than one
half as great On the other hand, the
policy of the Republican party has not
suppressed imports of foreign goods, as
some ill-informed orators and writers
suppose. On the contrary, the increase
of imports. 50 per cent, has also been
much greater than that of population.
What the Republican policy has done
is to prevent an excessive and danger
Gus increase of imports, beyond the pow
er of the country to meet by its ship
ments of domestic products. In 1860,
the country was sending abroad, of ali
goods, foreign and domestic, S20,000,O0O
less than it imported. This was the re-
suit of fourteen years of uninterrupted
and peculiarly prosperous traffic under
Democratic government, and then, if
ever, the Democratic policy appeared at
its best But the net result of the latest
year of Republican rule is an excess of
exports over imports OF S167 ,90S,359. In
other words, the country ran into debt
at the rate of $4,000 900 year at the
end of a long period of Democratic gov
eminent, while it accumulates wealth
at the rate of S1G7,OOO,OOO year at the
end of twenty years of Republican rule.
The official report as to the movement |
of specie calls attention to the same re-
markable change in the condition of |
foreign trade. In 1860, the latest year
of Democratic government, as in either
of many years preceding, the country
sent abroad nearly ali its specie pro-
duced from the mines. This happened |
also, not less, during the period of grad
ual recovery from the effects of Demo-
cratic rebellion, and at later day,
when the restoration of specie payments |
was resisted and delayed by Democratic
influence. But in the fiscal year 1880,
the first after resumption had been ac-
complished by the wisdom and firmness
of Republican statesmen, the excess of
imports over exports Of specie was
S75,S91 ,391. Against this vast sum, add
ed to the wealth of the Nation by i'm
portation during the latest fiscal year of |
Republican rule, the Democrats can |
nothing better than the net loss Of
S5S,OOO,OO0 during the latest year of |
Democratic rule.
1t is not surprising thai, in the opinion
of some Democratic politicians, the Bu-
reau Of Statistics ought to be abolished.
1t does gall them exceedingly to have
the most effective campaign documents
for the Republican party issued by Off
cial authority from those bureaus of the
Government which are created to record,
and which do record, nothing but naked
facts. The growth of the country, of its
commerce, and especially of the foreign
market for its products, has been per-
fectly marvellous. The change in the
public credit, as another document re-
Gently issued most completely proves,
has been wonderful. If the Bureau of
Statistics would show, in another report,
the increase i'll production of wheat,
corn, cotton, petroleum, iron. coal, pack
ed meats, and other principal products,
since the latest year of Democratic gov
ernmeut in these United States. the con-
trast would be singularly effective. In
order to win, the Democratic party
needs to abolish facts. What that party
needs--in its own opinions to subsUi-
tute campaign ISLANDERS respecting some
of the purcst and best men of the Re
publican party, for official records show
ing the marvellous development and pros
perity which the country has attained
under Republican administrations. Ev-
cry record of facts is an argument against
the party which stubbornly resists the
growth, prosperity, and advancement of i
the Nation.--[N. Y. Tribune.
Beautifiers.