The Press., 1888-08-30
PROTECTION AND FREE TRADE UNDER
 TRIAL.
No. 6.

l NOs 6.
 The tariff of 1888, of which we were speaking at the close of the last article, was compromise measure, and was Tn the interest of peace between the north and the south. We are now to state it. effect upon the country. As soon as the Dlil passed, manufacturers began to curtail l their operations as a matter of prudence, l and the workinoman's wages began to de- cline. It was found that many articles of our make could be produced so much cheaper in Europe, on account of the low CT wages there, that 1t was not profitable to attempt to continue their manufacture, and so the mills began to shut down. Where there was competition the foreign CTS held the market. Our people bought in Europe. went iu debt for the class of goods they used to make, and had holi- iday but it proved to be sad one.
 The purchase of our goods abroad in. creased the revenue so that the national debt was paid of in 1885; and within two years there was surplus of about $40, ,OOO,- 900 in the treasury; but this result was brought about by the ruin of the industrial interests of the country, the raising of cot ton alone being the exception. "Ihe gov
 
 rupt." The financial crash of 1857 was the continuation of the disastrous effect of this tariff. q.
 In 1842 the whigs cams again into pow CT, and there followed change in the tariff legislation. Protection ruled the hour. The new tariff law was for revenue and protection both. MT. R. w. Thomp- son, in his recent work on the "History of the Protective Tariff, says: "The bene- .6cial effects of the tariff of 1842 were all most immediately manifested. The busi- ness of the country-which had been pre- viously paralyzed-was wonderfully re- vived. Confidence was restored, and all the industries of the country were corre- spondingly improved. But in nothing was this improvement more marked than in the relief it gave to the public treasury. " At the close of the first fiscal year the diff ference in favor of this tariff over that of 1883, the last year it was in force, was 75 per cent.
 Although the tariff of 1842 was very beneficial to the whole country, the south was hostile to it. The slave power of the south was in the ascendency, and it was determined to stay there, but could not unless it secured the election of 1844. To show itself openly, north as well as south,
  danger, if not defeat it, in the election. Quet tionable methods were used, and by trick and fraud the power triumphed. In 1846 tariff for revenue only was enacted. It was essentially free trade tariff; and again there followed the inevitable results which we have found to accompany every free trade measure. President Fillmore, in his annual message for 1851, said, speak ing of the results of his tariff ''The value of our exports of bread-stuffs and provis- ions, which 1t was supposed the incentive of low tariff, and large importations from abroad would have greatly augmented, has fallen from $69, ,000, 900 in 1S47 to $21 ,0O0, O0U in 1851, with almost certainly of a still further reduction in 1852. The policy which dictated 8 low rate. of. duties on for eign merchandise, it was thought by those who established it, would tend to benefit the farming population of this country, by increasing the demand and raising the price of our agricultural products in for eign markets. The foregoing facts, how ever, seem to show incontestibly that no such result has followed the adoption of this policy"
 Patton, in his American Questions" " says: "The- lowered democratic tariff of 1846 did not immediately have it's full ef- feet in causing the industries of the coun- try to languish, as, in spite of that inhu- once, they were at first kept mp by the necessities induced by the Mexican war, and acquisition of California the latter leading to the finding of gold in 1845.
 ''The period immediately succeeding the tariff of 1846 was one of intense activity and commercial success so long as the needs of war and the California excitement continued. But the low customs finally had their natural effect the country was flooded with cheaper made foreign goods, our manufacturers, stimulated by the ex- citement of the times, produced more than they could sell under that competition, and within ten years the inevitable financial crash did come in 1857. Such has been invariably the result, when we have at tempted to compete with the low wages paid those who work in factories in Flu rope" ex.-.,......
 The tariff of 1846 continued until 1857, when it was changed by the free trade ele- ment in the country, and the duties were reduced lover than ever before. Revenue fell off more than ever. The public debt, which was $15, ,55O, ,202 in 1846 was increas- ed in 1861 to $90, ESQ., ,873. For this state of things the country was especially in- debted to the south.
 Since 1861 our home industries have been protected, and we have experienced a marvellous prosperity. If this epitome of our tariff history teaches us any lesson it IS that free.trade is an evil thing for this country. O. P. CHAMPLIN.