The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-05
what Protection has Accumulated,

| hold that the Government is but
a large family, and that many of the
rules that govern the family are ap
plicable to the Government. The more
people you have employed in wage
earning in your families, the more
prosperous YOU are We had 10000
600 when the last census was taken.
and less than 100000 were engaged
IN active employment-people over 10
years of age-and of these 100000
were engaged agriculture; but these
raised enough TO feed the whole so
100000 in this country, and there was
a sufficient surplus to supply all the
wants of Europe Four millions are
engaged now in manufactures. What
would be the condition if England
should succeed in breaking down our
protective system. What would the
100000 people do? DO not under
stand me to say that if you repeal the
tariff it would destroy every manu-
factory in the country. There are
very strong ones that would exist, but
there are hundreds that would 90
down. Even as Il result Of the repeal
Of duties last winter there are among
iron men more than 10000 people
thrown ont Of labor. The protective
tariff was passed in 1871. Our COM
merce that year was 4 little over
S50S,OO0,OOO. Last year it was ST.
547 100000. In 1860 our manufac-
turing products amounted to 81 ,1S5,
/ 100000, In 1880 they had risen to
1850 100000. Last year we i'm
ported of manufactured products ii
little over s479,000,000. Therefore,
Of manufactured products used in this
country to-day we are making over %
! per cent, and we are importing of
manufactured products from abroad
less than s per cent.
/ Not many decades ago the thing
was reversed. OF the manufactured
goods used in this country there was
not more than 10 per cent. made here,
and more than so per cent. came from
Europe. Now over % per cent. are
made here, and less than s per cent
are brought from Europe. That is
what protection has done. Great
applause) Nor has it increased the
price for nearly every manufactured
article to-day is less than it was in
1860 (Applause.) In 1860 you could
not get steel rails for less than $50
per ton. | have known Of contracts
made this year ut S31 per ton. Furn-
iture is 20 per cent. less than in
/ 1860 Stone and carthenware is .
per cent less. Cotton goods are %
per cent less; silk goods over 80 per
cent less; wooden carpets II per cent
less; WOODEN dry goods, . per cent.
less. The products of our toundries in
l. 90 --t,--n-..Ng I->-9- m 1900
they had risen to oyer S2ll, 100000.
Our exports have increased under our
protective system, and our farming
implements, cars, carriages, carts,
edge-tools, cutlery goods and even
glass are being shipped abroad. And
the rate of money has also gone down,
as you know, and that Is asubject that
enters into business Of all kinds.
Now such is the American system
of protection. Under its stimulating
impulse our progress since 1861 has
been without an example either in
modern or ancient history, until our
nation to-day, in wealth, power and
civilization, stands the first among the
nations Of the world. (Appause.) |
hold that Governments are formed not
only to protect persons and property,
but to render the people prosperous
and happy, and that Government
which by its laws come nearest to at
tanning these ends comes nearest to
accomplishing the purposes and OBJ
iects of It's foundation. | claim that
my Government has accomplish that
thing.