The daily gazette., 1882-04-03
THE TARIFF BY A PRU-
TECTlONIST.
Extracts Frem Mr. Hewitcs speech.

causes which have produced the I'M
proved and satisfactory condition Of
business In order TO demonstrate my
second propositions, which is, that the
existing tariff has been as poweiless to
produce the prosperity that we now en-
Joy as II was to prevent the depression
OF business from which, happily, We
emerged In 1879, which it then served
to sggravate by denying US access to
foreign markets for our manufactured
products. In spite of the tariff, and not
because Of It, we alone of all the nations
of the world can be said to be IN q pros
porous condition. To insure the con-
tinuance OF this prosperity is the first
and highest duty Of state smapship. Let
US, then, see how far the causes of..,,our
present prosperity ire continuing
causes-how far they are permanent
and how far they are transitory. In
considering this question let me say that
the great natural resources upon which
the prosperity of the country is founded
cannotin our day be exhausted or SEN
sibly impaired. We have, IN fact, but
explored the outcrop OF the treasures
with which our common country is en-
dowed. There will be population of
200, 100000 before there can be any
pressure for room or upon the means of
subsistence, provided perfect freedom
| for development and for the interchange
OF commodities is secured and access for
our products Is not denied to the open
markets of the world.
The exports of 1880 we're 1876, 564,
075, the exports OF 1881 were $S14,-
| 16i, ,5T3, showing o decrease OF
| $61, 402, 500. This decrease itself
would be most suggestive of serious
changes iu our commercial position,
but when it is found that the whole
| OF this enormous decrease has taken
place during the last four months oi
the year and is, therefore, going al
the rate of $3.50, 600, 900 per annum,
we cannot shut our eyes to the peril oi
the situation. While the exports have
thus decreased the imports have in
creased in the lSst five months f thu
year $32, 900, 900, or at the rate o
nearly $50, 900, 600 per annum. II the
same proportions should continue du
ring the year 1892-and so far as tbs
month OF January is concerned it ha
continued--the change will.amount Il
over $3.50, 900, 600 in our internatiUna
balance sheet. The balance in on
favor Ia the fiscal year 1881, amount
ing to the enormous sum of $3.50, 712,
7lS, would thus be totally extinguish
ed, and we should be compelled to dis
gorge the treasures of gold and silver
of stocks and bonds, which we haV
accumulated during the past tire
years Of plenty with US and famin
with our customers,
What will be the actual result ! d
not pretend 10 predict, but the ship
} ments of gold have already com
, menced, the stock exchanges of th
country are deeply disturbed an
values have seriously fallen, mercan
tile failures are increasing and con
fdence is impaired, so that halt ha
} already been called upon enterprise
of speculative character, while others
! based upon sound principles, are com
PEELED to move with great caution
The situation, If not alarming, is YER
, serious.
OPEN MARKETS NECESSARY TO PROS
PERITY.
! This brings me to nay third propo
sition, which is, that access to tn
or On markets Of the world for ou
3 manufactured products is essential t
= tts continuance of our prosperity
:. II we could consume our surplus foo
. in the production of manufactures
! articles which could find an outlet Il
!. the open ma kets of the world, whic
Q we could sell in competition wit
+ other nations who are not impeded b
charges upon raw materials, We coul
at least, if no longer able to draw int
our Golfers the accumnlatSons OF gol
and silver with which ourLndustry ha
been fructified-we could at least fin
s occupation for our working populatio
4 and gradually establish our indus
0 tries upon so broad a basis that tn
J. failure or superabundance of singl
j harvest would not affect their genera
r stability. 1t is true that we canno
q hope to provide remedial measure
8 which will produce immediate results
t but any improvement in the condition
d for production by which our market
:. may be widened will moderate th
;, impending calamity and shorten II
:, duration. What steps eau then :
10 taken in order to relieve the force {
8 the calamity which will result frol
o being cut off from the abundant mar
# kets which we have had for oCr sui
!. plus products during the last thre
yearsS
APICTURE OF DISASTER.
m But let us reverse the picture and 81
what is likelV to happen IN case we d
u lay the reforms In the tariff, which a
y demanded by both political parties al
) by every consideration of auOli Q interel
If good harvests should be- secur'
F. abroad we shall have great surplus
in food upon our hands and the Lrlco W
fall wages will 20 down with the Il
in price; the reduction of wages will
resisted by strikes and lockouts; n
~ conf es between capital and labor will
b. reopened ami indeed have already b
N gun the prosperity OF the country W
be arrested railroad transportation W
fall of; new railroads will cease to
constI ucted /; our shops will lack worl
there will be a dsarth of employme Mt
n over the country; the volume OF lmu
p grafton will fall off and the career OF Q!
r. II pansion and general development W
~ be brought to disastrous conclnsior
d the sad experience of 1S7G79 will be T
ii peated until through the gate of ST tfe
I'd ing, poverty and want we shall eBiaollt
he a lower rate of wages, and the produc
u Of the country, weighted es theY q
ie with Obstructive taxes, which must
deducted from the wages Of labor, W
y force their way into the open markets
Of the world in spite of the tariff. v
~ shall then reacn the era of fee trad
- but on conditions that will depuve II
9 geuer tion of workmen of all tue beu
oi dts which they would have deriv
oi oi from it IT the way had heen proper
~ 'nii | nranarad for its hnal triumph. The