San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-23
MONDAY, JANUARY, 70, 1888.
The TRUE REASONS.

The discussions going on in the pablo
press over tariff revision seem to have
centered round the wool Industries Of
the country. This industry is SO impor-
tsnt, so widely diversified, affects so
many persons and not combining Its bene-
fits to any one class, reaches so many
different branches OF business that 1t
seems to have become the one Industry
around which the tariff supporters rally.
All the statistics that can be crowded
into print are given the public for their
enlightment, and as week by week the
accumulated evidence grows, 1t does
seem as though there will be no excuse
for foolish action on the part OF congress
in dealing with this matter. The con-
trasts between the present condition OF
this industry and former conditions, as
related to the laws In force at
the several times indicated, are the effect
of very pla insnd pslpable causes. The
opinion is steadily growing that only
by returning to former conditions and
restoring the old time protection can
the old time prosperity be restored. The
New York Tribune in recent article
on wool growing and manufacturing"
in connection with the recent confer
ence at Washington says:
The combined interests ask several changes
which are not in form the provisions Of the
act of 1867, but which are designed 10 restore
in practical working, the measure Of protec.
ton which those industries enjoyed under that
act 1t was shown by comparison or figures
on Saturday how grandly both industries had
prospered under that tariff; how the growers
were induced to increase production from
less than pounds per capita in 1860 to "a
pounds in 1882, and the manufacturers to in
crease their production from s2.57 for each in
habItaut to $500 fol each inhabitant, imports
meanwhile declining from sl,2O to u cents per
capita. 1t would be strange indeed If growers
and manufacturers TO whom these facts are
perfectly familiar, should fail TO attribute the
great depression of the past four years to the
true cause-to the reduction of duties and
laundering misadjustments Of the tariff of
1883, folsted thereon by free trade clamor and
mainly by Democratic votes.
The protection Of the wool industry of
this country ls committed to the protec.
tionists members Of congress, and 1t is
almost time that the wool growers of
this country had their eyes opened to
see and recognize these members. The
protection Of the wool industry Of these
United States is a much more vital
thing to the wool growers Of Texas and
the wool manufacturers of the east and
north than the perpetustion OF sectIona
feeling over matters that are passed and
gone a quarter OF a century ago. The
tariff reduction proposed by Mr.. NILS
will ruin the wool Industry OF Texas
and cripple the manufactures. The
protective tariff party need to have
their hands strengthened by any vote
that can possibly be secured for the
measures Of which they are the adyo-
Gates and opponents. The democratic
wool growers OF Texas and the republi-
can wool manufactures Of New England
are equally interested In maintaining
the tariff on wool and restoring as far
as possible the conditions under
which so great prosperity was
enjoyed by the wool men of this whole
country. Questions Of party feeling
sink into insignificance when compared
with the preservation of our industries
and the success OF our manufacturing
enterprises. The time has come for the
wool growers and the sugar growers,
and the iron producers Of this country
to read the lessons of tariff tinkering in
the light Of the disastrous consequences
that follow free trade legislation, and
cast their votes in favor of a protective
tariff as administered by Its friends and
not by Its enemies.