Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19
Mr.. glaine's Letter OF Acceptance.


limited some time ago that he might formu
late platform OF his own; but we had NJ
expectation that ho would build Brobdig
pagian structure Of that sort. Mr. BLAINE
letter reminds US that he was once 81
editor. II II had appeared in the New
York Tribune as q commentary upon th
Republican platform, 1t would hay
seemed most appropriate article
but appearing IS il does. IL tell
the story OF Mr.. BLAIsB's dissatisfaction
with the Republican platform as 1t stands
and OF bis determination to set up for him
self. II was, 10 word, Intended 10 super
scde the Chicago platform Of his party, and
will probably do so. We expect to learn
from some OF our exchanges that Gan
HAMILTON bad a hand in its preparation
Certainly ii reads wonderfully like her pro
ductions. But Mr.. BLAINE has no need h
call upon anybody TO assist him in prepar
ing documents for the public eye. lie Il
skilled In that art. COyKLISG is master
OF rhetoric, rs we have said before, but
CoSKLISG cannot put bis hand upon the
public pulse and test IL IS he writes.
BLAINE can.
II Il strong letter. II was written I'M
der stress OF circumstances which com
PEELED supreme effort. u bespeaks 8
mind laboring to fnd q way out OF dark
ness and into light. 1t tells OF suppressed
fears and abandoned hopes, but hopes that
the writer would fain recover. 1t is di'
dactic, too. II smells OF the shop. II re-
minds us that Mr.. BLAINE was once q
schoolmaster as he was once an editor. He
appears in both characters in this remark
able production. But, rs my Lord COKE
said OF some one else's, we will say OF Mr..
BLAISE's lsbors. that like the labors Of the
slchemist they will end In smoke.
"Tbe new South " has been represented
TO Mr.. BLAINE az In favor Of protection to
American Industries. He makes . colossal
array OF figures to convince this new South,
andto keep the North convinced, that the
Republican party has not only made this
country what 1t is by It's tariff policy, but
that Il Is the only party that can be relied
spon to conduct the country through the
perils OF the future. "Our opponents"
quoth he, "insist upon a revision (of the
tariff which practically destroys" the
policy Of protection alluded to. Let him
consult the Democratic platform. lie will
find therein q clear and explicit jechra-
ton against reducing the wages Il the
American laborer to the foreign standard.
Mr.. BLAINE makes what he considers q
far-reaching argument, when he says that
the wealth Of the country, which In 1860
was only sI4,o00, 600, zoe, had in 1850 in
creased to $4,000, 900, 900. He shows that
agriculture has also prospered. When we
read this part Of bis letter, it struck us
that we had seen it before, or something
very like it We overloaded our papers
and found document which was recently
handed TO us in New York by its author,
who Is 8 Blaineite, and in that document
We found what seems TO be the original OF
Mr.. BLAISE's argument. DR.. MILLER. the
author Aforesaid, says:
"{n the year 1860 the total wealth Of the
United States was estimated at Sl6,l50,-
100000. This represented the accumuIa.
tons OF the nation from the time OF the dis
coyery OF America up TO the yesr the war
broke out-a period OF about $50 years.
According 10 the opinion OF Mr.. David A.
Wells, who Is one OF the ablest champions
OF free trade in this country. the wealth OF
the United States in the year 1882 was
S64,636, 100000 This shows an increase OF
national wealth OF nearly 400 per cent.
in twenty years. Mr.. Mullhall, OF the
Royal Society Of London, estimates
the entire wealth OF Great Britain
in 1889 at S40,640, 100000. II these
estimates are approximately correct the
increase In national wealth In the United
States during the last twenty years has
been about S3,S48,0O0,0O0 more than the
entire wealth OF Great Britain at the
present time; in other words, we have
gained more in wealth under twenty years
OF protection than Grea! Britain has gained
during fourteen hundred years OF home
rule and free trade"
"Mr. Charles 5. Hill, statistician OF the
United States Department OF State, places
the national wealth Of this country in 1880
L
growth OF our national wealth has been
marvellous during the last twenty years"
"0ur agricultural industries have in
creased In a corresponding ratio with our
manufacturing industries. The number OF
farms In 1850 was estimated at 2,OOO, 900,
and In 1880 at 1000, 900. and the value Of
these farms has increased from $4,000, 00O,-
600 to over 10000, 100000. The produc-
ton Of cereals increased under protection
from $50, 000, 900 bushels in 1860 to 2,70O,-
100000 IN 1Sso--oyer 100 per cent. The
value OF live stock has risen from 81 ,000,-
100000 In 1860 to 1900, 000, 900 in 1850.
and the annual products Of the farm have
reached u, 000, 100000. Owing 10 the duty
on wool the number OF sheep has increased
from $4,000, 900 In 1860 10 10000, 900 at the
present time. The home products OF wool
have increased from 60,0O0, 900 TO $40. OOO..
900 pounds. The number OF persons re-
turned as employed In gainiul occupation
bias Increased in the last ten years from
12500,000 10 1880, 900, the rate OF increase
being In excess OF the increase OF popna-
ton, the former being 40 per cent. and the
latter 30 per cent.
sour exports have more than doubled
since 1860, Notwithstanding they had in
that year reached about s409. 200, 600; the |
increase has seen over 500, 900, 600. aggrc- |
eating nearly 5000, 900, 0O0, 900. The imports
have increased In this period from $780, |
100000 IN 1850 10 nearly 1851 900, 900 in |
1883. Over ESQ, 100000 Of these came In |
duty-free.
"The facts and figures here given are
from authentic sources, and many were
collected by Mr.. II. p. Porter, one of the |
members OF the late tariff commission, who |
has been investigating the tariff question
during the last two years. and who has
travelled extensively through this country |
and Europe seeking facts and figures that /
have bearing on this question:
These figures show tina, Mr.. BLANK Is
entitled TO no credit for bis apparent In
dusiry. They may strike the uniformed
IA wonderful but they cannot mislesd
persons familiar with the subject.
Ar. BLAINE came very near kicking over
the bucket and splitting all h,s protection
arguments. See how entirely he forge,s
himself, and sings the glories Of free trade.
BE ssys, In speaking Of our internal com.
merce, that we have
"Absolute free trade over larger area
aUo with , greater population than auy
other nation ~ large mileage OF
railway ~ exists to-day In all the other
nations Of the world combined
II FREE trade be 20 good thing for our
- .I.x - a