The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-14
THE NATIONS INDUSTRIES.
The Progress Under Democratic and
Republican Rule.
Astonishing Increase I'm Manufactures,
Attributed Entirely to the Republican
Policy of Protection.


facts to show how great our progress should
have been and how small it was during the
census decade of 1s5o-1s60. Under wise reve-
enue laws this decade would have been char
acterized by phenomenal national growth
and such unparalleled prosperity as, Danish
ing discomfort, would have rendered civil
war impossible. In 1919 the gold fields of
California were discovered During each
year of the decade to which I refer they
yielded more than a hundred millions of dol
lars. Had we been q manufacturing nation,
this enormous addition to the money metals
would have remained with US, and by WITTY
ing and expanding all our industries would
have given steady work, increasing wages,
and unexampled prosperity to the whole
people We were, however, not manufac-
turers, but were little more than producers
of raw material for export, and the gold
which should have enriched US went abroad
to purchase consumable commodities which
we could have produced, and the materials of
which lay in rich profusion around
u.s. Thus swelling our exports it
augmented our foreign commerce, but
did it at the cost of all other interests.
Though we had since 1S49 mined 81 100-
900, 600 of gold. 1850 found US STEPPED in
bankruptcy and dependent for a medium of
exchange upon the irredeemable notes of in
solvent banks. Cheap foreign imports had
closed our furnaces, FORCES and factories, and
thus destroyed the farmers home market
for his productions, labor was without
employment, enterprise without capital,
and the government without revenue or
credit.
T., x,iaxv Of tho foot +hot tho oaf;o1ol Cd
ADMINISTRATION had, in default OF the receipt of
adequate revenue been compelled to apply
for loan with which to meet its current
expenses, Southern enthusiasts might we'll
believe that cambria handkerchief would
suffice ''to staunch.the wounds" incident to
the war that could be made in defense of the
Union by government 50 destitute of all
the means of warfare. Such was the condi-
ton of the country when, on the 4th of
July, 1851, Congress convened in obedience
to the proclamation of President Lincoln
FOR the purpose of taking such measures as
the public interest and safety might de-
mand." In its judgment the safety and
interest Of the country demanded the
sending into the so-called Confederate
States of adequate armies for their conquest.
1t approved the Presidents call for $4,000
troops and made provision for an indefinite
increase of the number, including artillery
and cavalry. 1t recognized and enlarged the
naval establishment, and recognized our mer-
chant marine rs the militia of the sea, APP
pealed to it for volunteer officers and men
for temporary service during the war. 1t
built, bought and chartered ships, and estab-
lished blockade of our long Southern coast
20 effective that 10 government dared dis
pute its validity or attempt to break its
lines.
Having, by the acquisitions il made for the
supply and maintenance of the army and
navy, provided work for the idle people, it
coined the public credit into legal tender,
and thus furnished the government with
ample means of paying the enormous expen-
dithTes it hao ordered The retirement of
Southern members and senators left Congress
in the control of those who knew the tails
manic power of labor to pro-
duce wealth, and believed in
the constitutionalitv and propriety of pro
teetive duties To increase the revenues
Of the government and quicken the enter
prise and industry Of the people. it imposed
on foreign imports unprecedented rates of
duty, and thus stimulated the manufacture
OF every fabric and ware that might be pro-
duced in a non-tropical country Suddenly
mines were opened, factories erected and the
tide of immigration, which had shrunk to
less than 100000 per annum, revived, and
people skilled in every branch of industrial
art poured into the country Railroads,
weaving together remote sections of the
country, were planned and constructed as If
Dy magic. VIZ CedS6Q bO De exclusively pro
ducers of raw material for export and en-
tered into competition with the manufactur-
ing countries of the world for the American
market.
RESULTS OF PROTECTION
Of the measure of success that has attend
ed this change of policy the world has taken
nots. 1t is part of universal history that the
United States, under the system of cosmo-
-oOlitar fraa6nr1 If tra1a tor,oht Nv tn 81
economists and their american disciples,
had been able to make little more than nom
inal progress in wealth and diversified in
dustries; and that in twenty years of life
under the protective system, more than four
Of which were passed in terrible warfare,
they had assumed undisputable possession of
The position OF the first industrial and COM
mercial Nation of the world
1t has with truth been said that, had the
war bestowed no other blessing than the
abolition of slavery, it would have been
worth all the life and treasure 1t cost; and 1
affirm that if it had but illustrated the wis
dom of each nation securing to its own peo-
pie the right to employ their time profitably
in supplying their own wants, by the con-
version of the raw materials found within
the limits of their own country it would
have been worth all the life and treasure it
cost.
Between 1850 and 1860, Notwithstanding our
unparalleled production of gold and the CON
ssquent increase of immigration our devel-
opment of manufacturing power was scarce
lyappreciable. When in 1861 Congress adj
yanced the rates of duty upon manufactured
articles we had not in any year produced a
million tons of pig iron. Since then our in
crease has been steady, and last year our pro-
duction was nearly five million tons
In 1860 the manufacture of steel in com
mercial competition with England was an
experiment of doubtful issue; now we pro-
dnce one-third of the steel of the world, and
export much of our product in the highest
forms of varied manufacture, including saws
and surgical instruments.
The truest test of nations civilization is
said to be the average consumption per cap
TIA by its people OF iron. Let us apply this
f, In oixt 81