The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-02

poverished and disheartened people,
was outof the question, 20 by common
consent Congress addressed itself to
the preparation Of bill levying duties
upon imports tariff bill. And this
act, with the exception of one directing
the firm Of oath to be taken by the
Federal officers, was the first passed by
the new government. The object Of 1t
was set forth In the clearest language,
the preamble declaring that sit is
necessary for the support of the gov
eminent, for the discharged the debts
Of the United States, and for the
encouragement and protection 81
manufactures. that duties be laid upon
imported goods, wares and merchan.
disc" The words that we have itali.
cised make it clear that the "fathers OF
the Republic" recognized and valued
the protective ~ well as the revenue
features Of the tariff, fact which i'll.
informed free traders often dispute.
The duties levied by this act were
moderate, few above fifteen percent,
the majority not higher than ten, yet
they effectively stimulated the manu-
facture of iron, wool leather and paper.
and the growing of indigo, cotton aud
tobacco. The beneficial effects of the
act must have been apparent for from,
the time Of its passage for period OF
twenty years or more, additional tariff
laws were passed by each succeeding
Congress, generally increasing the
rate Of duties first imposed and extend
ing the list of dutiable articles. These
laws were passed without party divis-
ion, the republicans, or "strict con-
structionists. working side by side
with the Federalists.
Upon the declaration of war in 1872,
the duties upon all imports were doub-
led. This, of course, was war
measure, and the Act was to expire
within one year after the conclusion
Of peace. Under the stimulus of these
practically prohibitory duties, which
left the American market substantially
to the American manufacturer, the
progress Of the Industrial interests was
very rapid. But while stimulating the
manufacturing interests, this extreme
tariff was undoubtedly hurtful to the
shipping and commercial interests of
the country, and when the war ended
these latter, led by New England, in.
sisted upon q radical reduction of the
duties. The debate that followed was
one Of the most memorable that ever
occurred in the history of tariff legisla-
ton, Clay and Calhoun, opponents on
general political issues and both from
Southern States, favoring retention of
the high rats of duties and being OPP
posed by Daniel Webster, then a rep.
resentative from Massachusetts. 1t
SCENE little singular, to the modern
reader, to imagine Mr.. Calhoun reply
ing to Mr.. Webster's free trade speech
with an elaborate defense of the doc
trine ofprotection, and yet that was
the scene that was witnessed.
Thedebate ended with the adoption
Of the famous tariff of 1916. This was
termed a"moderately protective''IariR
but there was, Of course, an enormous
reduction from the extravagant duties
that had prevailed during the war and
it was followed by severe depression
in all departments Of trade. To quote
from Mr.. Blaine, GAIL forms of indus
try languished. Bankruptcy was
wide spread, and the distress between
1917 and 1924 was perhaps deeper and
more general than at any other period
of our history. There was no immi-
grafton Of foreigners and consequently
no wealth from that source There
was no market for agricultural prod
ucts, and the people were therefore
unable to indulge in liberal expendi.
ture. Their small savings could be
more probably invested in foreign
than in domestic goods and hence
American manufactures received little
The traditions of that
period, as given by the generation that
lived through it, are sorrowful and
depressing. The sacrifice Of great
landed estates, worth many millions
could they have been preserved for the
heirs of the next generation. was q
feature in the general distress
and desolation."
This condition of affairs could not
continue long without some change in |
the financial system, and accordingly |
ia 1924 an avowedly protective tariff |
act was passed, materially increasing |
the duties and enlarging the scope of
The Act Of 1916. Here again Mr.. CLAW
was the champion Of protection, but |
NJ. Calhoun had swung around COM
pletely and cordially co-operated with
Webster in support Of free trade.
he change 10 his views being brought
lbout by the changed condition of
Iffairs in the South consequent upon
he successful introduction of cotton.
The effect Of the tariff of 1924 was un-
salutary and 1t was 80 cordi-
lily sustained by the people that iu
8S still higher duties were levied,
md the doctrine Of protection was ex-
ended for the first time to the ray /,