New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-19
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experience of all other nations. ancient modern
Even the opponents of the present revenue system
do not pretend that in the whole history Of cvilza
ton any parallel be found to the material pro-
gress of the United States, since the accession Of
the Republican party to power.
The period between 1860 and to-day has not been
one of material prosperity only. At time in the
history of the United States has there been such
progress in the moral and phllanthropic field. Re-
ligious and charitable institutions, schools, semi
naries and colleges have been founded and endowed
far more generously than at any previous time in
our history. Greater and more varied relief has
been extended to human suffering. and the entire
progress of the country in wealth has been accom-
panied and dgnifed by broadening and elevation
of our National character as a people.
Our opponents find fault that our revenue system
produces a surplus But they should not forget
that the law has given a specific purpose to which
all of the surplus Is proftably and honorably ap-
plicd-the reduction of the public debt and the con-
sequent relief of the burden of taxation. No dollar
has been wasted, and the only extravaganza with
which the party stands charged is the generous PEN
soning of soldiers. sailors and their familes-an
extravaganza which embodcs the highest form of
justice in the recognition and payment of sacred
debt When reduction of taxation is to be made,
the Republican party can be trusted TO accomplish
it in such form will most effectively aid the in-
dustries OF the Nation.
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE..
frequent accusation by our opponents is that
the foreign commerce of the country has steadily
dccayed under the influence of the Protective Tariff.
In this way they seek to array the importing inter-
est against the Republican party. 1t is common
and yet radical error to cOnfound the commerce OF
the country with itS carrying trade-au error often
committed Innocently and sometimes designedly-
but an error gross that it does distinguish bo
tween the shin and the cargo. Foreign commerce
represents the exports and imports of country ro-
girdeSs Of the nationality of the vessel that may
carry the commodities of exchange. Our carrying
trade has from obvious causes suffered many dis
coura gements since 1850, but foreign commerce
has in the same period steadily and prodgiOusly in
creased-increase indeed, at rate and to an
amount which absolutely dwarf all previous de-
yelopmentS of our trade beyond the From 1860
to tho present time the foreign commerce of the
United States divided with approximate equality
between exports aud imports) reached the astound-
ing aggregate of twenty-four thousand millions OF
dollars (S24 coo ,000). The balance in this vast
commerce inclined in our favor, but 1t would have
been much larger if trade with the countries OF
America, else where referred to, had been more
wisely adjusted.
1t is difficult to appreciate the magnitude Of
our export trade since 1860 and we can gain
correct conception of it only by comparison with
preceding results IN the same field. The total ex-
port, from the United States from the Declaration
of Independence in 1776 down to the day of Lin
coins election in $50 added to all that had preyl-
ousiy been exported from the American Colonies
from their original settlement, amounted to less
than nine thousand millions of dollars (S9, ,OOO,-
600 OOO). On the other hand exports from 1860
to the close of the last fiscal year exceeded twelve
thousand millions of dollars (Pl2,0OJ,0JO, O,000)-
the whole of it being the product OfAmercan labor.
II
port trade when, under ITS influence We exported in
twenty-four years 4 per cent more than the total
amount that had been exported in the entire previ-
ous history of American commerce. All the details,
when anaiyzed, correspond with this gigantic
suit The commercial cities of the Union never had
such growth rs they have enjoyed since 1850. Oar
chief emporium. tho City of New York, with its de-
pendencies, has within that period doubled her
population ana increased her wealth five fold. Dur
ing the same period the imports AMI exports which
have entered aud left her harbor are more than
double in bulk and vah.e the whole amount imported
and exported 10y her bctwee1 the settlement Of
the first Dutch colony on the island of Nam
haitian and the outbreak Of the CivII War in 1860.
AGRICULTURE AND THE TAGIFF.
The Agricultural interest is by far the largest In
the Nation, and Is entitled IN every adI Iustment Of
Revenue Laws to the first consideration. Any poi
lev host le to he fullest deyc pment of Agrcuturen
tine United states must be abandoned. Realizing
this fact the opponent, of the present system Of
Revenue have laborcd very earnestly TO persuade
the farmers of the United State, that they arc
robbed by Protective Tariff and the effort Is thus
made 10 consolidate their vast influence IN favor
of Free Trade But happily I'll" farmers of America
are intelligent and cannot he mslc'l by sophIsry
when conclusive facts before them. They SEQ
plainly that during the past twenty four years
wealth has not been acquired IN one section or by
one interest a the expense of another section or am
other interest They that Nh" agricultural
states have made even more rapid progress than the
manufacturing states.
The farmers SEQ that in 1850 Massachusetts, and
Illinois had about the same wealtll-be' wecn eight
and nine hundred million dollars each-and that IN
1850 Massachusetts, had advanced 70 twenty-sIx
hundred millions. while Illinois had advanced to
thirty two hundred millions They sec that New
Jersey aud Iowa were just equal IN population IN
1860, and that in twenty years the wealth of New
Jersey was increased by the sum Of eight hundred
and fifty millions of dollars, wmle the wealth Of
Iowa was increased by the sum of fifteen hundred
millions. They see that the nine leading agrlcult-
ural states of the West have grown 50 rapidly in
prosperity that the aggregate addition to their
wealth since lsGO is almost as great the wealth
of the entire country in thar year They that
the south which Is almost exclusively agricultural,
has shared IN the general prosperity. and that hav
ing recovered from the loss and devatation of war,
has gained rapidly that its total wealth at least
the double of that which it possessed IN 1850, ex-
elusive OF slaves
In these extraordinary Developments tine farmers
see the helpful impulse of home ma. let, and they
see that the financial and revenue system enacted
since the Republican party came into power has es
tablisncd and constantly expanded the home
market. Tho see that even III the case of wheat,
,;,h chi al hoy baVa i'm
the average the years since the close of the war;
three hnshes at home to one theY haye sold ahrond