Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-27
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL TICKET.


observation-disclosures W. HURST.
Circut Clerk-H Z. CAsTEEL
States Attorney-WLLIAN McENIRr
Coroner-SAMuEL GooDE.
A TARIFF LESSON.
Under the Vine and Fig Tree Of Farmer
Blossom.
Farmer Blossom had shown me over
his half section Of well titled land We
had partaken of good country dinner
and were in the sitting room enjoying our
cigars when he said, with a sigh;
Free trade is going to ruin US poor
farmers
What free trade
Why, the Mills bill
Have you read itI
No.
Then how do you make out that it Is
free trade?
Why the papers say so.
What papers?
The Republican papers-and the Repub-
lcnn statesmen. too.
And you put credence in such slush?
see that you have some very valuable
books here in your library bearing on this
subject - census reports, treasury re
ports, reports on commerce, on the tariff
also-now, suppose we put them to lit
Tie practical use When did we ever have
free trade, as you call it, in this coun-
try?
OH frequently.
But when!
Well. | can't say but I've heard so.
But hearing is not always believing,
especially when demaCogue is trying TO
fool you out of your vote. Then you
can't tell when we had free trade in this
country
No.
Never The nearest we ever came to it
was in 1889, when all interstate tariffs
were abolished, and all tariffs on foreign
goods were reduced to nominal figure.
What do you suppose was the RESULT
Why, the country suffered-was ruined.
On the contrary, it took its first step
forward, and in twenty years had about
doubled in population and quadrupled in
wealth When did we have such tariff
laws as are contemplated by the Chicago
platform?
| do not know
In 1908 And what do you suppose was
the result2
Why the country prospered more rap.
idly than ever
Let US turn over few pages in this
book and see In 1908 tariff duties were
made prohbitory and commerce with the
world was shut off, just as the Chicago
platform contcmplates. There was 6
financial and commercial collapse; there
were ruin and disaster everywhere. II
1909 the prohibitory tariff was repealed
ny,A 80, al l. -
have at present was enacted. What fol
lowed?
You may tell me.
The nation again moved off on a career
of prosperity. In 1872 the tariff of 1870!
was doubled and the war cut off importa
tons and expectations, we had "a hom.
market as in 1905 What was the re
sultl
never read that part of history.
Hard times prevailed, banks suspended
and there was distress everywhere. Il
1916 the protection doctors took hanC
and undertook to cure the patient By
framing the first protective tariff " rails
ing the taxes somewhat higher than il
1912. What do you suppose followed?
Better times.
They grew worse; there was still
doctors gave the patient another dose o
protection, increased the tariff tax al
around, and then what?
| am sure do not know.
The year of 1919 was one of universe
disaster. The country moved slowly an
laboriously. In 1924 more tariff was pu
on, and there was no improvement. L
1928 a still higher tariff tax was put OF
and times grew little harder. In 1873
the country changed doctors, and q par
of the tariff tax was wiped out. Wins
followed?
Go on and tell me
Business Immediately revived. In 1875
the tax was lowered again, and pros
perity increased. By the year 1897 tt
United States treasury was overfowinl
and the surplus was divided aroun
among the states. An era of wild specl
lation followed the distribution; the lar
bubble was blown up so large that
burst, and panic ensued, the effects
which lasted for nearly two years. The
things started to move off smoothly unit
1912, when the protection doctors agai
got hold of the country, and the famor
tariff of that year was enacted. Can yo
tell me what happened.
| was always in favor Of the tariff
AZ. 1t built up the country.
History doesn't say so. On the co
trary, In 1913 the depression was great
than what followed the panic of 1887, al
from which the country had recovere
Prices of farm products fell off one hal
and commerce was cut in two in the mi
die. Then for the first time in the L
TONS history the protected few began
get rich at the expense of the overtax
many, especially AZ the expense of t
farming interest In 1916 the tariff
1912 was reduced about one half, a
what followed?
Ruin and disaster
Just the reverse. Then for the fiji
time the country began to go forwa
with giant strides. Commerce increas
ut marvellous rate. Manufactures We
imbued with a new life. Agriculture W
prosperous to degree hitherto unknoH
and the policy Of lowering the tariff t
10 prevent the accumulation of a surpl
was pursued. In 1851 a panic, superi
duced by wild land speculations, ensue
but before 1853 its effects had pass
away, and up to 1860 agriculture, mar
features and commerce were on the hi
tide of prosperity, and we successful
rivaled England in maritime greatne
In 1861, to meet the exigencies of t
war, tariff taxes were raised substantial
to the protective basis of 1912 In Il
these taxes were raised 50 per cent, a
in 1857 they were raised again, althou
the war was over. In 1888, under I
pretense CT a reduction, they were ag'
increased to their present standa
Since the war the millonaires have grow
while the great agricultural interest
stood still. Strikes Of workingmen agai1
oppression have convulsed the land.
1878 a financial cyclone swept the coun
and Impoverished countless numbers
people Tramps filled the land from oct
to ocean, and laws against tramps W
enacted. The panic of 1873 lasted III
1879, and the suffering among our peo
was equal to overcrowded Europe.
employed worRingmen was the rule
seven years, and the protected few
manded more tax as the remedy, WI
they imported foreign paupers in fore
ships to take the place of American wo
ingmen who refused to accept starvat
wages in a land that should be n land
plenty, if tax burdens were Justly
tributed How do you like the picture
the tariff of AZ multiplied by at least t.
had no idea that all that was in t
book.
Read it carefully. Only the outline
been given. You said that you always
neped In the tariff of 1912?
Yes.
7. Ia oil tho nrotection anvbody need,