Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-10-14
WHY HE FORsOOK FREE TRAD

WHY HE FORSOOK FREE TRADE.
Colonel William ii. Grosvenor was known
| for about fifteen years as an earnest opponent
of the protective theory, but he is now hear
tily in favor of the protection of American
industry. He gave some reasons for his
change of mind before the Union League OF
Philadelphia, and they are well worth the at
tention of all interested in the prosperity Of
the country. Colonel Grosvenor frankly ac
knowledges that he has learned something
''Many things" he says, (which / have
doubted or disbelieved have been demon.
strated before my eyes. It is not the part OF
manhood to shut the eyes to the truth ]
have tried to be an honest student of facts
and when the facts call for new conclusions
I am not afraid to form them. My own opin-
ions have in many respects been changed by
the results realized during the past ten years
and especially by the increasing rewards OF
industry here" The protective tariff,
which has built up American indus
try, and the Homestead Act, which has
dotted the West with thriving farms,
Colonel Grosvenor regards as two parts OF
one grand system. While the Homestead
Act has increased the number of farms thir-
ty-fve per cent. since 1850, the tariff has IN
creased the number of workmen employed
in manufactures 108 per cent. In 1860 the
farmer had, for every 10000 acres of i'm
proved land, eighty manufacturing workers
to eat his products; in 1880, for every TO- O00
acres, ninety-six manufacturing workers,
and because the wages of labor had advanced,
the sum which the consumers were enabled
to spend in buying the products of the farm
had increased. In 1850 the wages of
manufacturing laborers amounted to
So. 33 for every acre of improved land in
farms; in 1880 the proportion had risen
to So 80. The increase, forty-three per cent,
fixed the return for labor on the land, as
shown by the Massachusetts Labor Repor ts,
farm labor in 1860 having received $13. SO
per month in that State, whereas now, ac-
cording to the latest statement of the Bureau
of Agriculture, the average wages of farm
labor in the whole country were $19.58-an
increase Of 43 per cent. ''Yet," added Col
onel Grosvenor, 'fthere are men who call
themselves economists, and others who call
themselves statesmen, who pretend that a
tariff can do nothing to help the farmer, and
Colonel Grosvenor showed that in twenty
four years protection had lifted the nation
past France, past Germany, past England, to
the position of the richest, the most power
full and the most prosperous nation in the
world. In 1860 the wealth of the country
amounted to sixteen thousand millions, in
Guiding the value of slaves as property. In
5iJ1rr 10 thoo fo orod I,xy
the Census Bureau, and with property in hu-
man flesh no longer existing, the wealth of
the country was forty-three thousand and
six hundred millions. IF the census items
only should be included on each side, the
wealth of Great Britain fell below
forty thousand millions, but upon
any mode of computation the United
States was now the richest nation
on earth Great fortunes were
comparatively few. The policy of the ma
ton prevented great landed estates, and the
country was rich because the people
were rich Without presenting statistical
details Colonel Grosvenor asked to be per-
mitted to say, on whatever personal reputa-
ton as student he possessed, ttthat there
is no nation of 1o0, ,OOo, 900, no body of 1OO,-
600, 900, in any two or more contiguous
countries, which consumes as much, in sup
plying human needs and comforts each year,
as the so, 600, 900 inhabitants of the United
States"
In view of these facts it is not surprising
that Colonel Grosvenor is persuaded that it
would be folly to abandon the Republican
policy of protection. This policy has pro-
duced magnificent results and it is not yet
time to abandon it.