New-York tribune., 1884-01-28
Washington. Jan. %. 1884.
HENRY CLAY NEVER A

HENRY CLAY NLh ER A FREE IKADLK'
To the Editor Of TAe Tribune.
SIR: The following paragraph, expressing the
views OF Mr. Z. s Jadgay, appeared in The TRIBUNE Of
the I'd inst.
am an ont and-out FIRE trader but 7 would rather
have bad tar for twenty years than new one every
year You are too young to remember the workings 0i
the Clay compromise, it was called. II worked we'll
took of per cent Of the duties every second year
until everything TO silk goods, came IN free The
Civ, War gave the New-Ensland manufacturers an ex-
clisc 10 90 back 10 protection. But Henry Cays free
trade tendencies killed him politically.
l. tie distinguished merchant right in his statement of
the compromise tan Of 1892 Did that tarih take oil
per the due, every second year. until every
thing even to silk goods came IN free - II then
where ala we get the for the expenses Of our
Government
Tie Customs duties received by the United States from
1882 to 1912 were an average Of $l9,3SO,il7 year.
These facts taken from the report Of Mr. Secretary
Folger Of December g. 1855 and they prove most con-
clusivcly that the memory Of this eminent merchant
Mr.. Janay, fault; failing Of most free traders.
The duty silk manufactures in 1898 as follows
From India SO per cent from other places % per cent
raw silk 16ls per cent Under the tariff Of 932 the
duty manufactures Of silk from India was % per cent
from other pacesO per cent? silk l2la per cent
The tariff of 1872 put duty on manufactured silk OF
81 80 pound: sewing silk. s. pound; on raw silk
q duty OF 80 cents pound.
Mr.. Clay never abandoned the system of protection to
American industry In his speech on the Compromise
Tariff February = 1892. he said The danger 10 our
Union does not lie the side Of persistence IA the
American system, hat that Of ia abandonment He
hoped the manufacturer would 20 ON and pro,pei con-
hdrnt that the abandonment OF protection was never III
tended and looking favorable times for renewal
OF more efficient tariff" Ten years later at Dayton,
Ohio and at Indianapolis, Indiana Mr.. Clay again and
again before tho 0Isands OF people declared nm
self in favor tariff for revenue 10 the Govern
mcnt and protection 10 the manufacturer. Henry Gay
had no trade tendencies. lie always Ina favor oil
protection American ndu,try-tO labor lie was de-
ieaed the Presidency in 1871 because OF his AIi-
bama letter, in which hc said OF Texas: PerSonhli{
have Lu objection and you'd De glad TO see II annexed
Thi- sentence dcfcatcd him. Bur lr Clay died senator
OF the United states from Kentucky. The tallt was NOT
of New England origin. JptO lH2t a majority oi tnc
votes IL Congress from NcW-Engaud was Hgllnst lle
tariff II wa, of Southern parcntaCe; ana VINO uoubls
that in few years the South VIII he again IN IhN0r OF
protection 20 American manufactures Educated, III
iegent labor will make the people OF the Solh pro
tectiou-t. IIayuc in 1882 SAID IN the senate
0 We rauuot uanufactrrf . Slave labor is utterly
iucapabe OF being successfully applied 20 such an 0D-
jcCt.' Ignorance Was tIt cause ol ht!,l'Alii"'l W.
Slavery has gone; the >choohous has taken the place
the slave PEN the schoomaster l. IN ihe place Oi Ihe
s,aNc-driycr ana the south viii DC prosperous.
BiOokiya, Jan. ., i5si JAMES A bI'Gs'