Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-09-10
The Protest of Manufacturers.

1 AhO AONNSN VI
The Democrats want National pros
perity. The Administration cannot es-
cape keen desire for the restoration of
business health. 1t has promised the
people prosperity, and has assured them
that the depression of industry which
has prevailed for some years has been
due to Republican misconduct or un-
wisdom. 1t knows that the hopes of
deluded people helped to turn the scale
in the last Presidential campaign, and
gave the Democratic party its success.
1t must answer those hopes or it will be
held responsible. 1t must somehow Sc
cure the public prosperity, the revival
of industry and trade, or it will be beat+
en-. And it will be beaten because it
will deserve beating, if it continues to
increase industrial depression, as it has
done thus far, by ignorant or partisan
meddling with the business interests of
the country. The Administration could
not be blamed if it merely failed to per-
form impossibilities. But it will be
blamed, and not by ignorant people only,
if instead of merely failing to do what
no Administration could do, it NEEDLES
and disturbs and causes increased de-
preston.
The promised prosperity does not
come. True, there is talk of it on paper,
and all the Democratic journals have
tried to persuade US, week after week
for some months past, that everything
was aboDt to "boom" again. Yet the
actual business does not increase more
than the population of the country, and
does not compare faverably even with
that of last year. The exchanges last
week at all the clearing houses in the
country were smaller by eight per cent
than those of the corresponding week
last year. Outside of New York. there
has of late been small increase, scarce
ly greater than the growth of population
would require, which has been partly
due to the more active speculation in
products. Meanwhile, the prices of
many leading committees remain extra
ordinarily low, and producers are dis
hearted, and great number of manu-
featuring establishments remain closed.
Does the Administration wish to know
the cause? Some of the causes may be
found in its eWn acts, and in the COM
duct of the party it represents. The
fears and the threats of a change of the
tariff have been one important cause.
The disturbance of foreign trade by new
and bungling postal arrangements, and
by changes of diplomatic agents, has
been an important cause. The disturb
ance of domestic trade by new Treasury
regulations, which are rarely friendly to
home industries, has been considerable.
Far more potent than anything that has
yet been done is the fear that more will
be done in the same direction.
The Administration may judge of the
effect of tariff agitation by the action of
the convention of manufacturers of
Rhode Island. Being asked by the Sec
retary of the Treasury to report in Te>
gard to desired changes of the tariff,
they declare in speeches and resolutions
that the current threats of a change of
The tariff are serious cause of CONNER
cial depression. They point to the fact
that the circulars sent out imply that the
seeks some change, and
recommending to Con-
yress general Overhauling of the tariff.
The tone and the expressions of these
circulars imply that the Administration
Is disposed to recommend changes in the
direction of old-fashioned Democratic
theories. The manufacturers resolve
hat this sort of thing does harm. They
ire unquestiouably right, for all such
agitation does harm; it deters buyers.be
,ause it gives the hope that change of
iuties may presently bring lower prices,
Ind it disheartens and diseourages pro-
lucers for the same reason. Yet the
itself is agitating now,
will agitste still more next
winter. The Democratic majority will
lnquestionably be controlled in caucus
,y the same body of free-traders, which
favored Mr.. Morrison's blundering and
bill last year. Whether the
recommends anything
IT nothing, It is certain that the
oarty majority will agitate. The
ear of action by Congress. the fear of
haDges which cannot be anticipated,
nd for which therefore neither manu-
nor traders can make cslculs-
ions, will inevitably disturb business
ntil those fears have been completely
Y. Tribune.