The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-06
A TARIFF LESSON.
Cnder the Vine and Fig Tree Of Farmer
blossom.

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 It'll
No.
Then how do you make out that it Is
free trader
Why the papers say so.
What papers!
The Republican papers-and the Repub.
lican 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 a lit
tie practical use. When did we ever have
free trade" US you call it, in this coun-
tryY
OH frequently.
But wheny
Well can't say, but Tveheard so.
But hearing is not always believing,
especially when demagogue is trying to
fool you out Of your vote. Then you
can't tell when we had free trade in this
country
No.
Never. Tho nearest we ever came to 1t
was in 1850, when all interstate tariffs
were abolished and all tariffs on foreign
goods were reduced to a nominal figure.
What do you suppose was the resulty
Why, the country suffered-was ruined.
On the contrary, it took it's first step
forward, and in twenty years had about
doubled in population and quadrupled in
wealth. When did we have such tariff
laws Us are contemplated by the Chicago
PLATFORM
do not know.
In 1903. And what do you suppose was
the result?
Why the country prospered more rap
idly than ever.
Let us turn over few pages in this
book and see. In 1903 tariff duties were
made prohibitory and commerce with the
world was shut off, just as the Chicago
platform contemplates. There was a
financial and commercial collapse; there
were ruin and disaster everywhere. In
1909 the prohibitory tariff was repealed
and tariff about one-fifth as high as we
have at present was enacted. What fol-
lowed?
You may tell me.
The nation again moved off on q career
of prosperity. In 1912 the tariff of 1909
was doubled and the war cut off importa-
tions and expectations; we had "a home
market, as in 1908. What was the re-
suit?
Inever read that part of history.
Hard times prevailed, banks suspended
and there was distress everywhere. In
1916 the protection doctors took a hand
and undertook to cure the patient by
framing the first protective tariff" rails
ing the taxes somewhat higher than in
1912. What do you suppose followed
Better times.
They grew worse; there was still q
greater depression of trade. In 1918 the
doctors gave the patient another dose of
protection" increased the tariff tax all
around, and then what?
lam sure do not know.
The year of 1919 was one Of universal
disaster The country moved slowly and
laboriously. In 1924 more tariff was put
on, and there was no improvement. In
1923 still higher tariff tax was put on.
and times grew little harder. In 1882
the country changed doctors, and q part
Of the tariff tax was wiped out. What
followed?
Go on and tell me.
Business Immediately revived. In 1888
the tax was lowered again, and pros
perity increased. BY the year 1887 the
United States treasury was overlooking,
and the surplus was divided around
among the states. An era of wild specu-
lation followed the distribution; the land
bubble was blown up so large that it
burst, and panic ensued, the effects Of
which lasted for nearly two years. Then
things started to move off smoothly until
1S42, when the protection doctors again
got hold Of the country, and the famous
tariff of that year was enacted. Can you
tell me what happened?
was always in favor Of the tariff Of
AZ. 1t built up the country.
History doesn't say SO. On the con.
trary, in 1S43 the depression was greater
than what followed the panic Of 1887, and
from which the country had recovered.
Prices of farm products fell off one half,
and commerce was cut in two in the mid
die. Then for the first time in the ma
tons history the protected few began to
get rich at the expense of the overtaxed
many, especially at the expense of the
farming interest. In 1916 the tariff Of
1912 was reduced about one half, and
what followed?
Ruin and disaster
Just the reverse Then for the first
time the country began to 60 forward
with giant strides. Commerce increased
at a marvellous rate. Manufactures were
imbued with new life. Agriculture was
prosperous to degree hitherto unknown,
and the policy of lowering the tariff tax
to prevent the accumulation Of a surplus
was pursued. In 1857 panic, superin-
duced by wild land speculations, ensued,
but before 1858 it's effects had passed
away, and up to 1860 agriculture, manu-
lectures and commerce were on the high
tide Of prosperity and we successfully
rivaled England in maritime greatness.
In 1861, to meet the exigencies of the
var, tariff taxes were raised substantially
to the protective basis of 1912. In 1864
these taxes were raised 80 per cent, and
IA