Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-27
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
The Tariff INSTRUMENTATION VS.. Free
Trade-1824, '42 and '88.
To the Editor of the EaC lie.

To the Editor Of the EaGl
The tariff and free trade is the great
question of the day as it has been in
former times through the history of our
country. General Washington was a
protective American in pecuniary, de-
fensive and political separation as a ma
tion-which should be able to maintain
itself from all entangling alliances. The
| history of his successors show the same
protective ideas, sustained by the south
ern states-Calhoun making one of his
great speeches for the tariff, and Daniel
Webster his first great effort against a
protective tariff. 1t is the same today as
in the past.
In the early days of our country the
northern states were commercial, own
ing nine-tenths of all our ships. The re-
suit was wealth for the north, keeping
the south as consumers and in debt to
the north. After protective tariff be-
came part of the American policy the
Yankee enterprise came into manufac-
turing which still held the south tribu-
/
to break our nation in two unless the
north was again crippled. General Jack
son made terrible threats to hang multi
fiers as high as Hannah, taking great
glory to himself and party for putting
down notification and preserving the
union. Many persons believed then and
more do now that he settled the difficulty
more by promises to surrender the tariff
than by his threats. See his earlier mes
sages and compare with his later Mr..
NanBurens cunning hand was in the
deal and by his management became
JackSonS fayOrlte and successor,
taking upon his administration the mis-
takes of the preceding Democratic adj
mlnistration as controlled and directed
by southern intiuences-all of which cul-
minated in the great break down of 1887,
when ruin spread over our country.
States We're unable to pay their debts for
the people could not pay taxes. The
great state OF Pennsylvania could not pay
the interest on her debt only by issuing
relief notes, one, two and three dollars,
which were her promises only. Manu-
factories. saw mills. business of all kinds
were idle; wages correspondent: eight
dollars per month was eagerly sought by
farm hands: farm produce had but lit
tie money value-trade was the rule, and
those who were in debt could not pay.
about every city, town, village, store
keeper and individual issued shinplasterS
from one cent UP to five, ten, twenty-five
and fifty cents. Some were no doubt re-
deemed, but great quantities never were.
This was called Democratic money as
grand result to the Benton mint drops
which every man, rich and poor, was
promised to shine through the meshes OF
their silk purses-no more rag money
results-the filthiest rags.
From 1916 to 1924 we had revenue
tariff, shinplasters. Broken banks fur
nished the currency; hard times We're
plenty. In 1924 protective tariff was
passed. Henry Clay said the next six
years We're the most prosperous the
country ever had; the old public debt
was paid off, surplus was in the gov
eminent treasury, portion was divided
among the states. Then came Calhoun
and notification. Tariff had to be reve-
nue.. Henry Clay with his compromise. |
reduc ton as against immediate low
tariff succeeded in gradually putting off |
the crash until ii eliminated in 1887, to !
avoid which the government loaned the |
surplus or made the banks repositories /
of large amounts to help over the panic. !
As result many Of the banks broke or
had to reduce the capital stock when |
called on to pay up, leaving. the banks !
unable to help the public and adding to
the suffering by trying to collect from /
their debtors
Only those who have gone through /
such times can have an idea of the stag /
nation of business; idle and discouraged /
men. Miners, mechanics and trades /
men of all kinds out of employment; |
farming their only chance to get en- |
ployment and ali rushing TO farmers TO /
hire; farmers unable 10 pay money |
wages. hired men with families who |
would take trade TO feed their families.
Under these circumstance opened the /
campaign of 1S40-we have never seen
such campaign since, think not before.
Harrison and Tyler too, were synonymous
with a protective tariff. Mass meetings |
over the whole country and such meet
ings. The people had their whole time
TO give-no money to pay hotel bulls
We went IN wagons. canal boats, on foot
and every way TO get there. People
took their provisions along and ate what
they had on the grounds. Something
had TO be done. some change must take
place and none could make their condi-
ton worse Log cabins with tee latch
string always out, and hard cider were
the signs of the times. Though many
say hard cider flowed freely / never saw
any cider myself But log cabins and
fancy barrels Of all sizes and makes were
common part of every parade. and
every day and place bad its n,eefing.
There were many men who had tesn !