The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-14
Wonderful Prosperity.

FROM the Chicago sentinel
According to Mr.. Blaine's letter Of &C
ceptance. the degree Of prosperity this
country has undergone as direct result of
protective tariff is truly wonderful. The
value of the presen, revenue system to the
people Of the United States is not matter
Of theory, he says, and shall submit no
argument to sustain it. / only invite atten-
ton to certain facts of official record which
seem to constitute demonstration.
1t is not our purpose 10 notice that por-
ton of his demonstration which relates
TO the moral religious, and educational
advancement that has attended the opera
ton of this benign system: but we propose
to confne ourselves to that which refers to
our material advancement.
Mr.. Blaine states that the total accumu-
ations of the people of this country from
its settlement to 1850 amounted TO about
fourteen billion dollars. From 1850 To
1880, Notwithstanding the fact that count
less millions had i'll the interval been wasted
in the progress Of bloody war, the in
crease had brought this sum up to forty
four billions The population had in
creased 90 per cent while the property in.
creased 2li per cent.
The statements are made in a manner that
seem to carry with them the utmost assur-
ance that this phenomenal increase is the
direct result Of the tariff system: but what
connection there is between the two other
than that Of implication is left for the reader
To discover by mental process Of his own.
A superstitious old lady sees the new moon
over her left shoulder for the first time in
the month and she instantly declares il an
omen of bad luck. During the month
some mishap befalls her and she at once at
tributes ii 10 the i'll effect of this chance
observation Of the moon. The two occur
rences are related TO each other simply rs
matters of coincidence; and il will require
argument To show any further connection
in this case just as it really does in the in
ferental case of Mr.. Blaine's "demonstra-
ton.
But there are other factors that only re-
quire stating to be Ut once recognized and
appreciated IA being fur more potent aids III
producing this enormous increase in wealth
than TINT of tax. There il day In the
early part of July OH which the people of
this country are wont To assemble them
selves aud listen t. ..ng,ny peruaiions If
which Yankee ingenuity aud American en-
terprise are prolific subject, and these are
among the general causes given as pro-
ductise of this marvellous material advance
ment: but We doubt very much If IL ever
occurred Ia any Of these Fourth of-Juls
orators that the tariff tax was the one great
source Of increase ia wealth. That dis
coyers il reserved for one in search Of ma =
terial out of which to manufacture IA cam
paign issue.
In 1850 the era of great inventions had
just dawned upon the United States. The
farmer who ut that time owned mower
with which to NOW his meadows was an
extremely fortunate one out of probably a
hundred. The grass VAS for the most part
cut with the scythe; aud the grain cradle
was the only improvement Oh the sickle in
general use. The spinning wheel and the
loom were but recently laid away In the old
garnet where the dust had hardly begun TO
settle upon them. The shoemaker made all
the boots aud shoes by hand; and the
wagon-smitk had no organized establish.