Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-16

iutufe ulScustlOnt ana cODnne tnls
article to the single point that he
makes, to-wit: Many think free trade
will close down our manufactures.
II free trade meant disaster TO our
manufacturing interests, with the
thousands dependent upon them, then
the advocacy of free trade is treason to
the country. The belief that such
would be the effect Of free trade has
been carefully cultivated by protection
lsts, more Jealous in their own behalf
than In behalf of the truth. There is
abundant proof that under free trade
manufactures would not be injured,
but would be promoted. The period
in our government from 1850 to 1860
when the tariff was at its low
est point, and imposed exelu-
sively for revenue and not for protec-
tion, was the period Of greatest ad.
vance ia manufacturing prosperity,
The United States census re-
ports show that from 1850
10 1860 manufactured products i'm
creased in value IS per cent, while
from 1870 to 1850, during the era Of
Republican protection, the increase
was less than So per cent. From 1850
to 1860 the increase of capital invested
in manufactures was over 50 per cent.
from 1870 to 1880 less than 81 per cent.
The increase In wages paid from 1850
to 1860 was go per cent, and only 81
per cent. from 1870 to 1850 The in
crease in the number of hands EN-
ployed from 1850 to 1860 WAS almost 81
per cent; from 1870 TO 1850, 80 per
cent. This showing Is strictly unpar
tisau, and the figures tell their own
tale. They prove that under the com.
paratively rree.trade decade from 1850
TO 1860 there was larger increase Of
manufactured products, OF capital in
vested In manufactures, in wages paid
to employees and in the number OF
hands employed than in the protection
decade from 1870 to 1850. II "Texann
or anybody else can say, in the face Of
this proof, that free trade will be ruin
Gus to our manufactures, further argu-
ment will be thrown away on them.
The late OaRes Ames, one of the
largest manufacturersin Massachusetts
testified before congressional com.
mittee in 1865:
Q.-"what, according 10 your experience,
was tho effect OF the increase OF the tain in
ls8i?' A.-"Ths nrst effect was TO stimulate
nearly every branch OF indusry--to give an
Impulse ana activity to business; but in
few months the Increased cost OF production
and tho adyano 60 In ths price OF labor aud the
products OF labor were greater than the in
crease Oh the tarin, 80 that the business Of
production was no.better,. even hin so good a
condition, as II was previous TO the advance
Of the tariff referred to-
So far from being ruinous to manu-
features, we believe free trade would
greatly promote activity IN manufac-
turing enterprises, furnishing employ
ment to far larger numbers than now.
VAS long as our protective tariff pre-
walls, everything tnat enters into man
ufactures is taxed. Consequently the
cost OF protection is augmented by the
amount of that tax. The machinery
that makes our goods costs more. The
coal that is used in generating steam
costs more. Under the burden of this
weight OF tariff tax, orr manufacturers
caunot make goods as cheaplY as man
ufacturers Of other countries that do
not pay this tax. When they attempt
10 sell their wares in foreign markets
they cannot compete with these
cheaper goods, and they lose the sales.
England sends hundreds of millions
OF dollars worth OF merchandise every
year to Mexico, Central and South
America, which naturally should
buy from the United States. The
profits from this merchandise go to
England. We cannot hope for any
trade outside of our own borders. The
supply now so far exceeds the demand
at home that hundreds Of establish
ments are closed and thou
sands OF operatives idle. Plain
ly, then. there can be no III
crease of manufacturing in this coun-
try until there Is fresh demand for II;
and this demand can only keep pace
with the growth of population, which
creates 1t, For the present we can
only supply the wants OF $1,000. 900
people. If we had free trade ana
could make cheap goods, we could sup
ply 100000 or more. That would
almost double the demand, and neces-
state a proportlonate increase Of man
ufactures, making, in turn, demand
for labor that would employ almost
twice as many workmen as now.
The result Is that the money
to pay for this increased produc-
lion would be drawn TO this
country from abroad manufactures
are stlmulatad and canifaI ap,,,Io,,.d