New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
SENATOR MDRRiLUS sPFECH.

II
TT Senator Morrill, had 10 other title to fame,
it would he more than many men can boast 10
have been the author of the Morrill, tariff.
Under the operation of this measure, with its
admiration TO the needs of a growing country,
the animal produ ctiOn of wealth by 6o,OOO,OOo
neorle in the United States has come to be
mere than 1895, 200, 600, against 1922, 100000
produced annually by all the accumulated
wealth and experience of centuries and all the
industry of IS 100000 people in Great Britain
After quarter of a cen ury, Mr.. Morrill,
himself rises in the Senate to resist the over
throw of the protective system by the same
party which left the Government bankrupt
when he and others took charge of it in 1861.
He finds that party incapable of progress or OF
learning, and still mouthng over the ancient
theories, rs obsolete as cooked hats and velvet
breeches," which brought the country to ruin
so long ago. With patience which could not be
unmixed with contempt he once more refutes
these theories by confronting them with the
world experience.
The notion that imports must balance ex-
ports, for instance Senator Morrill, contronts
with facts beyond number in the history OF other
nations, of Great Britain, and of this country.
If American manufacturers have been remiss in
seeking foreign markets, he finds an excuse In
the refusal of their Government to provide
ADEQUATE foreign mail facilities. But their
better reason he suggests, in showing that they
have hard work TO keep pace with the demands
of the more profitable and more rapidly increas-
ing home market To 1" sell where you can sell
best" he shows, is not, as Free Traders sup
pose, to undertake to sell at lower prices than
all the rest of the world. To "buy where you
can buy cheapest" is not, as Free Traders pre-
tend, to pay all the cost of production to
foreign labor instead of American, and all the
profits TO foreign capital instead of American.
The fact that foreigners actually pay most OF
the duties now imposed, in order to get the
privilege Of selling here, ia again strongly put
by the veteran Senator, and he finely describes
the reasonable antagOnism between the great
importing cities. where NJ uch of the business is
in the hands of foreigners, and the country dis
trcts from which those cities suck the very
life blood, and which at the same time they
try TO rule, to plum Ter, and to make perpetu-
ally tributary and impoverished
Two points in Mr. Morrl's speech are
especially well urged He shows that Great
Britain has not given us an example which
any nation should be willing TO follow; that
Britain's own colonies all refuse to follow her
example and are prospering by that refusal,
while Great Britain herself sufers more than
any other country from trade depressions. and
is intrinscally weak beyond measure because
unable to count upon colonial aid in any great
strife and at the same time unable to support
the industry or encourage the loyalty of its
own overta1ed population. The condition OF
Ireland and India are fruits of the policy we
are asked to imitate-lndia, with population
averaging only 81 so per capita income yearly,
but forced to pay $4,000, 900 as tax on salt
alone. The other point Of especial merit is the
argument addressed to the people of the
Southern States. With rare resources,
superior climate and abundant labor. the South
has not more than third of its land improved
in any of its States except TWO, and even IN
those States vast tracts are yet untouched
Shall this enormous part of the Nations capital
remain forever deadY Wealth and diversified
industry to develop these unused resources
would quickly come, if the South would cease
by its National policy to condemn capital in
vested in manufactures and mining to legslat-
i've crucifxion. Nothing can insure the full
development of Southern agriculture except the
building up of mines and mining, which has
| begun so prOsperously under Republican rule.
| But it is this development that the Democratic
party would stop, if it could, by admitting
British products free of duty, veritable
slaughter Of the infants" which has been
prevented only by Republican votes. The
Senator confidently anticipates change in
Southern opinion on this question, and wien
that comes Southern development and enrich
ment will go hand in hand with National pros
perity and growth.