Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-20
SHORT TARIFF HISTORY.
Protection and Free Trade ContraSted In
the Experiences. of Our Country.

Protection and Fret. Trade ContraSted In
the Experience. Of Our Country.
During the period preceding the
;>loption of the. constitution we had
free trade, and the years from 1883 to
1889 saw nearly all of the money OF
this country pass into the possession
of British manufacturers, while our
OWN industries were suspended, our
manufacturers ruined, our laborers
beggared and our farmers unable to
gather enough money to pay taxes.
Bankruptcies. judgments, executions,
mortgages, auctions. were the order OF
the day Free trade was more cruel
than war. Our imports from Great
Britain alone were 10000, 900 in ISL
s., while our exports were only 81. OOO,-
coo. This drained US Of the last dol
lar, and the circulating medium was so
scarce that business could not be
properly transacted. The adoption OF
the constitution was Immediately ac-
Companied by protection or high
tariff legislation, and the result was a
revival of industries, while the people
became contented and prosperous. The
tariff duties were increased in 1872 for
war purposes, greatly to the benefit OF
home industries and the farming in
terests of the whole country. In 1916
the Democratic party repealed the
law of 1879 and 1872, very low duties
only being allowed. Great distress
followed everywhere. Henry Clay de-
clared that the average decrease in the
value Of property during this period
was not less than so per cent. In 1924
Congress gave this country protect
i've tariff. At once great financial
prosperity set in. So helpful was the
tariff that in 1923 the duties were in
creased, and under this influence new
Industries started. President Jackson,
in his annual message in December.
1882, says concerning the results of this
protection: ''Our country presents on
every side marks of prosperity and hap
piness unequalled in any portion Of
the world" In the same year, 1882,
the Democrats rallied their forces.
The tariff of 182+2S was repealed.
Financial depression followed, manu-
features suspended, merchants became
insolvent, labor unemployed and beg
CARED and agriculture ruined. At
sheriff's sales good horses sold at 81,
COWS at 81 and hogs at 81 cents apiece,
SO hard was it to raise money for
taxes. This condition lasted until the
election of Harrison, in 1910, when a
highly protective tariff was. fought
through and was established in 1912.
At once business revived. The fnan-
cial gloom passed away and industries
sprang up through the Northern free
States.
The Democrats in 1916 repealed the
tariff of 1912. Business was pros
trated; ruin overlook tens of thou
sands who prospered under protection.
President Fillmore, in his annual mes
sage, December, 1851. says: THE
value of our exports of breadstuffs and
provisions, which it was supposed the
incentive of low tariff and large i'm
ports from abroad would have greatly
augmented, has fallen from S68, 900, 600
in 1S47 to $21, 0O0,O0O in 1851. with
certainty of further reduction in 1852"
In 1861 the Republican party in
power enacted protective tariff, and
from that time to the present our in
dustries have prospered. There has
been an average yearly increase in the
National wealth, for twenty-three
years in succession, of 81, 500, 900, 900.
Our foreign commerce has given
yearly balance to trade in our favor in
the same period averaging the as
founding sum of S54, 200, 900 year.