Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-02
FREE TRADE.
An Extract from Andrew Jackson's
First Annual Message.
Ideas Of One Of Our Greatest States
men on the Tariff Question.

FORT WoRTH, TEX, Oct. l, 1885,.
70 the Editor OF the Gazette.
From all the manufacturing dis
trlcts of the United States comes the
cry of over-production and conse-
quent depression of values in the mar
kets. SO, hoping it may prove inter
esing TO those Of your readers who
study American politics, l offer for
publication the following extract from
Jsckson's first annual message.
BY way of explanation, however,
! allow me to say that in 1928 the Twen-
! tieth congress passed bill increasing
| the duties on imports with view to
additional protection to American
manufactures. And as President Jack
sons first message came out December
s, 1929, the tariff law alluded to was
that Of 1928. He says:
No very con ierab'e change has occurred
during the recess of congress, In the condi
| lion OF either our agriculture, commerce or
manufactures. The operation of the iarin
has not proved AS Injurious TO the Two
former or as beneficial to the latter, a. was
anticipated. lmpOrtntiOns of foreign goods
nave not been senslbly diminished, while
domestic competition, under an Elusive ex-
eli EN- emit has increased tue production much
beyond the demand for home consumption.
The consequences have been low prices, te M
porsry embarrassment, and partial loss.
That such of our manufacturing ostablls b.
ments AS are based upon capital, ana are
prudently managed, VIII survive the shock.
and be ultimately profitable, there is no good
reason to doubt.
TO regulate its conduct SO as 70 promote
souaily ahe prosperity OF these three card T.
MAJ interests IL one of the most difficult tasks
of government; aud 10 may be regretted that
| The complicated reStrl ctions which now EN-
D. = la a could
common consent be abolished and commerce.
| allowed 10 how in those channels 10 which
| individual enterprise, always It's surest guide
might direct IT, But We must ever expect
| Sein-h legislation in other nations, and are
| therefore, compslled 10 adapt our own u
their regulations in the manner best calcu
| lated 80 avoid serious Injury and to .harmo
| nize the conflicting interest OF our agricul.
ture, our commerce ana our manulaetures
! lion to the existing tariff, believing thai
SOME Of its provisions require modification.
On the same subject he says further
"rhe agricultural interest OF our country II
so essentially connected with every othel
that n Is scarce y necessary U invite to II
| your particular attention. IL Is principally
as manufactures aud commerce tend To In
crease the value OF agricultural productions
and to extend their application TO the want
and comforts OF society that they deserve
the foltering care ofgoyernment.
The ideas here set forth were con
ceived by the most powerful mind Of
that period-by man who hac
raet the enemies of his country in th'
war of 1912. The patriotism OF Andrew
Jackson was answering and no mar
, will question either his judgment o
hls fidelity to the constitution.
Therefore, i hold that these opinions
which were formed at an early perioC
of our history and by man who hat
watched every change and been II
| public life since the adoption of tn
constitution, should have weight.
Another thing to be considered /
that the potent argument used in 1925
that our manufactorlts were IN thei
infancy and therefore needed the fos
; tering care of the government agains
: the old world, cannot be successfully
urged now. Simply because with on
, natural advantages we can success
/ fully compete with AT y country on tn
. face of the globe.
The raw material for making cottol
5 and wooden clothsis grown here,
/ Iron and coal are taken from tn
= bowels of our own mountains. w
a ship meats grRzed upon our own prai
D ries, and gran grown in our Owl
: fields TO feed the toillng operatives Il
European manufactures; 80 certainl
e we can live as cheaply as they,
/ Therefore II Is not "A fact that in oil
!. der TO save our own manufactured
a from ruin, we must tax 81 per cent. Q
r our people 20 pay a bonus to Ii pc
+ cent. engaged in the protected indus
tries. H. II. w.