The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-17
The People and the Tariff.

The People and the Tariff.
1t cannot be too often repea e., line
upon line, precept upon precept. Until it
comes into the currency of proverb, to
innovate is not to reform Edmund Burke
In 1910 the total manufacturers in the
United States of every description amount
ed to $40. 900, coo. OF this sum $40, O00,-
900 was in wool, 100000 in iron, and
IS 900 900 in wood. The manufacturers
of this country were compelled to meet
such ,uinous competition with Great
Britain, that it seemed as if our infant
struggles to pay decent prices for labor,
and vet compete in prices with English
goods in he English market, would prove
a disastrous failure. AT the close of the
war i'm 1915 the Brit ish manufacturers de-
termined to crush their American rivals.
English cheap labor, long experience and
unlimited CAPT al made it utterly impossi
BILE for the people of the Uniteu States to
conf etc with British manufacturers UNI
less they were protected ty high tariff
against the foreign articles. These facts
were well known abroad. and the result
was that our markets were glutted with
foreign goods. In 1915, from January to
September the total value of our imports
was SS3. csc, O73. From October, 1875, to
October, 1916, they were nearly doubled,
amounting to- $l55. 1902, 900. Our home
manufacturers were almost helpless and
ruin stared them in the face. The pOlH y
Of Great Britain after the war was tie
same she pursued so rigidly when she for
babe the colonies to manufacture single |
article of necessity In the House of Com
mons Lord Brougham stated in explicit
language the proposed policy of that
country:
1T is we'll worth while to incur loss
upon the first expectations in order by the
glut to stifle in the cradle those rising
manufacturers in the United States which
the war has forced into existence contrary
to the natural course of things"
Yet, Notwithstanding. this was the
golden era for the free trader, and goods
could De bought here at a price AS low as
in any market in the world. our people
could not buy because they were earning
nothing, and from North to South they
petitioned Congress to protect them from
threatened ruin "by encouraging and sup
porting the growing manufactures OF the
nation"
The high tariff of 1924 brought unusual
prosperity to the nation. Foreign goods
were driven from the country. Manufac-
lures sprang up all oyer the land. The
farmer found a market for his produce.
Labor found profitable employment. Mr..
Clay stated that during the existence of
this tariff property in the United States
had doubled in value. Every reader of
history knows that South CaI DINA rebelled
against the Government. The result was
compromise thrift in 1888 What was
the const quence? The most widespread
devastation and ruin. Property was sold
at triflng prices The bankruptcy and
distress OF 1887 will long be remember ed.
find upon reference to statistics that in
the state of Ohio. as late as 1912, it was
almost impossible to obtain money enough
to pay taxes. In Muskingum county a
| good fOur-hOrse wagon was sold by the
| sheriff for S. so: ten hogs at &c each two
horses, wo: h $50 each for 81; two cows
at 81 each, and sugar at 81 SO d barrel. 1t
was estimated that the losses in the
| United States from 1887 to 1872 on five
articles of capital alone reached $751;
900, 900.
In 1910 the Wing party elected its presi
dent, and in 1912 Congress passed the pro
tectlye tariff bill. 1t was followed by a
new era of prosperity. Furnaces were
| lighted the music of the mill wheels was
again heard, labor everywhere found ready
employment, and the farmers rejOiced in
IA profitable market. Commerce, external
and internal. was rapidly extending its
usefunt SIS, and the entire country re-
joiced in new and enlarged development
anu wealth In 1876 the Democrats re-
pealed this tai iff.
Almost the same res alt followed as in
| 1888. Then Carey, in 1850, declared in
Congress that l24 blast furnaces in Penn
s. lvania were closed by the sheriff as the
result of this tariff repeal. Then Hem
~ &. Carey, in commenting upon the ruin
caused by the repeal of the tariff in 1916,
spt axis of that year as 1.-The close of brief |
period OF real prosperity
The first Congress under Lincoln passed |
a protective tariff law. Its splendid re-
suits none but a fanatic can question.
From 1860 to 1870 capital increased in
manufacturing | 10 per cent. In 1860 the
total manufacturers of the United States
amounted to $1,019,OO0,O 600; IN 1880. or
only twenty years thereafter, to the sum
L
only 1910 establishments working iron and
%, $40 workmen. In 1880. there were 1882
establishments. and 29S,062 workmen.
During the same period the wages OF
labor more than doubled.
Nor was the farmer forgotten in this
wonderful development. In 1860 the corn
produced was $3.50 100000 bushels; in 1880,
/ 500 900, 600 bushels. In 1860 the prOduc
tion of wheat was ia. 100000 bushels; in |
1880 440, 900 900 bushels Or wool exported |
in 1860 there was 60, O00, 900 pounds; in 1880, |
23l 900, 900 pounds. In 1860, the surplus
agricultural products of the United States
sold for $24 ,42O. 800; in 1870 for ss72 000,-
900: in 1880 for $2SS 600, 600.
Such. in brief, has been the tariff history |
of the United States. Whenever the coun I
try has been blessed with stringent pro-
tective laws our industries have thriyen,
our land has fourished, our people have
grown rich and happy. To the benign in
fluences OF a protective tariff we are large |
ly indebted for our growth, wealth and
power as nation, Whenever free trade |
has spread its des0lating influences over !
the land, distress, ruin and bankruptcy |
have followed. The whitening shade OF |
The upas tree is not more nOxiOus TO hu |
man life than is the poisonous heresy Of |
free trade to the business life of any ma |
ton. The quilting shadow of its cloud |
dims the sunshine of our prosperity. and
should it once more obtain in our coun
try We would again bewall our misfOr
tunes, as we have bewailed them before.
in rayIess gloom. and the financial and
business interests of every class would |
droop away as withers The green hert |
amid the scorching sands of the African |
defeat. When the free trade theorist |
breaches his doctrines to the laboring |
man. to the capitalist. and to the farmer,
though he speak with the gravity of Ban |
quo's ghost, and with the solemnlty of the |
cosmogonist in the Vicar of Wake field, "
he should spurn the Infamous doctrine as
he would lOathsome thing, and say to him |
in the words of Byron
.'rhy love Is false, thy friendship all cheat; |
Thy smiles hypocrisy. thy words deceit.
Bucklen's Ar lea Salve.
The Best Salve in the world for Cuts,
Bruises Sores. Ulcers. Salt Rheum. Fever
Sores, letter, Chapped Hands. Chilblains
Corns. and all Shin Eruptiens and posi-