Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-12
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.
WASHINGTON, April. il.

SENATE.-The Senate took up the motion to refer the Presidents annual message, and was addressed by MT. Morrill,. He began by contrasting the last annual messages of Pres idents Washington and Cleveland-the form CT giving encouragement to manufactures and the later being unfriendly to, and de- nunciatory of, manufactures. A tariff for revenue only (the banner imposed by Ken lucky on the Democratic party) was, he said, a synonym for free trade; and Henry George, 8 free trade propagandist, had characterized the message and the new Democratic tariff bill as deadly blow at the ugly fetish of protection. The Democratic party out of power selidly proclaimed it's policy, but hay. ing thereby got into power 1t prevaricated and unblushingly, and from end to end. It would now perpetuate war taxes and make custom house revenues insufficient. Had not Virginia, North Caro-
 lima, Georgia, Tennessee as well as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and many other States valid cause of complaint against the Democratic party for false pretences? That 8 Republican rather than a Democratic administration would be more likely to re- wise the revenue laws and reduce revenues was demonstrated by the chronic failure of the House of Representatives during the con- trol of Democratic majority of ten long years to pass any bill reducing the revenue. Judging by the past also 8 Republican ad- ministration could be more surely trusted to practice greater economy in expenditures for the support of the government than the party now in power. The net ordinary Republican expenditures for the four years ending 1885 were $791, $40, ,sS3, which conUrasted with the Democratic net ordinary expenditures $S73,- 730, ,224 for the years 1886 and 1887, includ- ing their own estimate of the requirements for what remains of 1888 and for the year 1889, show an excess of $S5, 189, ,546 against Democratic reform administration. During the war of the rebellion extraordinary internal revenue taxes had been imposed to meet it's cost. The war was over and now no more of these taxes should be perpetuated than were absolutely required to meet the in- creased burden imposed upon the country by the rebellion. It would seem sound policy and in accordance with the past traditions of the people that Congress should first inquire what part and how much of this un- usual war revenue could be prop erly relinquished. He declared him. self earnestly in favor of any reason- able reduction of the public revenues and of retaining only such an amount that expendi lures for the general welfare should not nave to be abandoned nor be restricted wholly to the payment of salaries. The attempt to ex cite panic in financial affairs because of an expected annual surplus of $55, ,O00, ,000, even if some natural distrust of the present cus- todians were to be admitted, was by no
 means so serious would be an expected deficiency of similar amount. If it be 8 calamity there was no other nation that would not gladly accept of the infiction and like poor Oliver Twist cry for f'some more." When it was remembered that the nation still owed a public debt of $1 200, ,000,- 900, any part of which the Secre- tary of the Treasury was authorized artificial sD 1e alarm about idly holding money I from the channels of trade or about fnan- cial convulsions was parade of the drapery of mourning where there are nofears visible. If the opportunity of reduction came it would be gladly hailed and there would be no opposition on this side of the Senate to any reduction of revenue. that would not prostrate or ruin great industrial interests and would not compel Iaboring men to sub nit to @ curtailmenu of wages. A diminu- ton of surplus was the professed object sought by all parties, but that simple re- duction of the duties along the whole or any line of imported merchandise closely com peting with American products would reduce the revenue was preposterous.
 The tariff reductions made in 1883 had been estimated at $45, ,000, ,O0O, but the reduc- ton brought in such an excess of foreign im- portations that the revenue from customs in 1885 was only less by $33, 100000.
 There was another interest liable to be af- fected of vital importance to the country as a great commercial nation and that was the maintenance of the bi-nnetallic system of coin age and the preservation of a currency of both gold and silver. Were the rates of du- ties to be placed by any mistake merely trife in favor of foreign imports, an excess of imports over exports would soon appear and turn the balance of trade against this coun- try. This could not continue long before gold would command premium and find it's best market as commodity to be sent abroad. It was remarkable that general disaster to all the business interests of the country had in- n T All ahorT duction of the duties upon imported foreign merchandise, and not less remarkable how notable seasons of industrial and commercial prosperity had responded to even moderate protective advancement of such duties. The changed condition had been too swift and too frequent to deny the potential causes of tho effects. The financial revulsions of 1887, 1947 and 1857, and the general wreck of business affairs fairly attributable to unwise reductions and butelsery of the tariff blythe party at the time in power, were recorded in history as the political revolutions which fol- lowed into the overthrow and route of the Democratic party, but their leaders seemed never to heed the admonition that "he that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed"
 The marvellous increase of the wealth of this country within a score of years was unfailing source of public felicitation. Even free trade authorities conceded that the de-
 posits in savings banks of no other country approached the aggregate deposits of the sav- ings banks of the United States where they were chiefly made in monthly driblets by la
 boring men and women, and under protec- tive tariff the amount in 1872 ($669, ,000, ,000
 had in 1886 increased to .S1 ,235, ,000, 900.
 While this was being accumulated $947, ,000,- 900 of the principal of the public debt had
 been paid besides a large sum of interest. It
 has been said that the low cost of living in
 Great Britain in a measure compensated for the low rate of wages paid in that country.
 For the thirty five years ending 1857 ,222,
 900 immigrants from the British kingdom
 come into the United States and their action
 branded the assertion as colossal inveraclty.
 The meaning of this was further accentuated
 by the fact that the total number of foreign
 born residents in the United Kingdom at the
 last census was less than the half of one per cent. of the population. The British low
 grade wages and living bred discontent at
 home and attracted no Americans, but ex-
 pelled last year 281 ,4S7 of their own subjects.
 of whom 72 per cent. came to the United
 States, and all were swift witnesses against
 free trade fabrications. The wages of labor
 ing men beyond all dispute were far greater
 in the United States than in any other coun-
 try in the world and the cost of subsistence
 here was only increased by it's higher grade
 and more generous amount. Undoubtedly it was more difficult for 72, ,000, 900 people to find profitable employment in 1888 than it was 35, 900, 900 or 1000, 900 in 1861, and the difficulty would be greatly augmented should
 free trade or the policy of non-protection ever become dominant in tariff legislation. MT. Morrill, said the tariff bill, which " as supposed to have been prepared by Demo- cratic syndicate in secret, would if passed cripple many manufactures and destroy others, while the wages of employees would be cut down much nearer to foreign stand ards. The rates proposed on the manufac~ lures of iron, wool and silk would by largely increasing importations of foreign merchan- disc increase rather than reduce the revenue. The bill was really hostile to the protection of manufactures and not to surplus revenue. The bill would force sacrifices by the farm- CTS on the altar of free trade, which would go far toward reconciling our Canadian neighbors to the loss of the reciprocity treaty. It was free surrender of all the border markets to those who would not per- ] init Americans to fish within three miles of 1 their shores Mir. Morrill, hoped if this so- called reform tariff bill should ever reach l the Senate as it was very desirable that seme revenue bill should reach it, the Senate