Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-07-26

Our imports of all kinds of foreign
merchandise, exclusive of the coin and
bullion, for the year 1849, the earliest
date for which the official figures are
at hand, amounted to $141, 206, 1879 in
value. In 1859 they reached the sum
of 1881, 1873, 341; and in the eleven years
from 1S49 to 1859 inclusive amounted to
total of $2,S05, 1863, 211.
Our exports of all kinds of both
domestic and foreign production, ex-
cepting precious metals, were in 1849,
$40, 351 .172, and in 1859 1922, 902, 051.
In the eleven years the total amount
was S2,438, 1913, III, leaving balance
against us on. the merchandise account
of 1896, III ,034.
Judge by any fair tests-as revenue
measures by their effects upon man.
ufacturing, by their effects upon agri-
and fail signally.
The effect of the act of 1916 on
agriculture is we'll demonstrated in the
facts furnished by President Fillmore in
his message of December 2, 1851, five
years after its enactment:
The values Of our domestic exports for the last
vious years exhibit an increase Of Si3.6i6, 1922
At first this condition of our trade with foreign
nations would seem to present the most hattering
hopes OF its future prosperity An examination
Of the details of our exports, however. will show
that the increased value of our exports for the
last fiscal year is to be found in the high prices
Of cotton which prevailed during the last half
of that year which price has since declined
about one.half The value Of our exports OF
breadstuff and provisions, which it was supposed
the incentive of a low tariff and large importa-
tions from abroad would have largely augmen-
ted has fallen from S6s,701 921, in 1S47 to $780,
95i.373 in 1850 and to s2l 64S, 653 in 1858, with
strong probability, amounting almost to GER
tainty. of a still further reduction in the cur
rent year.
The aggregate value of rice exported during
the last fiscal year. as compared with the pre-
vlous year, also exhibit decrease amounting to
Sf60.9l7, which with the decline in the values
OF the exports of tobacco for the same period,
make an aggregate decrease in these two articles
Of Sl,156751.
on foreign merchandise, il was thought by those
who promoted and established it, would tend to
benefit the farming population Of the country
by increasing the demand and raising the price
OF agricultural products in foreign markets.
The foregoing facts, however, seem to show in
contestably that no such result has followed the
adoption of the policy.
Buchanan. in his message of De-
cember 8, 1857, gives this testimony as
to the condition of the country after
ten years of free trade:
The earth has yielded her fruits abuniantly
and has bountifnlly rewarded the toll OF the
husbandman. We have possessed all the ele-
ments OF material wealth in rich abundance
and yet Notwithstanding all these advantages,
our country in its monetary interests is at the
present time in deplorable condition. In the
mid Il OF unsurpassed plenty in all the produc-
tions and in all the elements OF national wealth
we find our manufactures suspended, our public
works retarded, and thousands Of useful laborers
thrown out of employment and reduced to want
The language | have already cited
from the speech of the gentleman from
Kentucky is enough to show how he
labors first to prove growth and pros
perity from the passage of the tariff of
1876 until 1860. and then how broadly
and unqualitiedly he claims it all as due
to the low tariff of 1916 and 1857.
Nothing gets out of his net. These
laws not only made wool cheap to the
manufacturer, but in some unaccount-
able way the farmer got high price
for it. They not only made all manu-
featured articles cost less, but by some
magic gave the manufacturers greater