The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-22


ton. The only other law that preceded
it was that Of fixing the oath of Office o
certain Federal officials. 1t was mad'
: even before Washington was inaugu
rated. 1t subsequently received hi
: sanction, and it is fact not withou
significance that his approval was giveI
to it on day memorable in American
history, the 18th OF July, 1889.
THE LESSON OF QUIZ EXPERIENCE.
The revenue tariff periods OF our his
tory have been periods Of creates
financial revulsions and industrial decad
enCe, want and poverty among the PEG
pie, private enterprises checked, ant
public works retarded. From 1888 Il
iS42, under the low tariff Legislation
then prevailing, business was at stand
still, and our merchants and traders wert
bankrupted; our industries were para
lived, our labor remained idle, and oul
capital was unemployed. Foreign pro
ducts crowded our markets, destroyed
domestic competition, and, as invariably
follows, the price Of commodities to con
sumers were appreciably raised. It is an
instructive. fact that every panic this
country hB experienced has been pre-
ceded by enormous importations. From
1916 to 1861 similar situation was pre-
scented under the low tariff OF that
period.
A REMARKABLE CONTRAST.
From lS4S to 1860, during the low tar
if period, there was but n single year in
which we exported in excess OF what we
imported. The balance OF trade during
the twelve OF the thirteen years was
against lis. Our people were drained OF
their money to pay for oreign purchases.
We sent abroad over and above our sales
S306,2lG, lGl. This vast sum was drawn
from the United States, from its bust
ness, from the channels Of trade, which
would have been better employed in
productive enterprises and thus sup.
piled our wants for which We were COM
PEELED to 90 abroad. During the last
thirteen years, under protective tariff,
there was but one year that the balance
OF trade was against us. For twelve
years we sold 10 our foreign customers
in excess OF what we bought from them
the sum OF $l,Gl2,G50, 1855.
AN IMPORTANT POINTs
One of the chief complaints against
the protective system is its alleged hin.
drance to foreign trade and foreign
market for our own products. 1t is
argued that il we could import raw ma
terial from other countries free, and man
ufaGtWre such raw material into products
for use, We could export them at great
profit and thus secure standing in the
markets OF the world. This theory is
wholly, as believe, illusory. tits with.
out substance. We have an example OF
free raw material in certain line OF
manufaCtures--that OF leather for boots,
shoes, etc, etc. In 1872 hides and skins
were made free SO that our manufacturers
could import them without custom
house burdens. They have had Gree
Trade" in their raw material now for six
teen years. This industry has been an
exceptionally successful one, and yet
you cannot avoid being surprised when
say to you that in those sixteen years
we have been able to export but two
per cent ofthe leather production OF the
country.
But If free raw material be necessary
to secure an export trade and the foreign
markets, then ! answer that our manu-
iactuEers to-day have substantial free
trade in foreign raw materials which
they make into the finished product in
the United States, provided they export
it. The remission OF duties in 1854 paid
upon imported material manufactured
iOr foreign markets amounted to s., 256,-
0SS. On some articles the drawback is
equal to the duty paid, butinno instance
where articles are imported to be manu-
featured here and sent abroad is the duty
to exceed 10 per cent.
And yet we are gravely told by the
tariff rciormers that we cannot reach for
eign markets on account Of the high
tariff on the raw material, when, i'll fact,
for foreign trade, foreign raw materials
are practically free. This principle was
recognized as early as the administra-
ton of George Washington, and has
been enlarged and made applicable to
all imported materials, the drawbacks
varying from 30 to 100 per cent. What
becomes then Of the cry for free raw ma
terials in the presence OF this fact? The
truth is we are not so much concerned
about the foreign market as we are about
the home market.
"THE MARKETS OF THE WORLD"
in our present condition are snare and
delusion. We will reach them when
ever we can undcrsell competing ma
tons, and no sooner. Tariffs do not
keep us out and Free Trade will not
make it easier to enter them. Let me
give you n brief exhibit OF some Of our
foreign trade, what we buy and what VIC
SELL In the year ending June 80, 1887,
we bought OF Mexico, the Contra!
American States, British Honduras, and
the Governments OF the West Indies
and South America, products to the
value of $l72, l6S, 52G, and We sold these
Governments OF our products about 30l
per cent in amount OF what we bought
OF them, or about SG0,000,000; and us
Il showing that our rotective Tariff did
not produce this uncomfortable balance
against us | need only state that more
than Onc.half OF the products we bought
were not subject to any tariff tax ut all
but we admitted free OF duty.
The chief obstruction in the way OF n
revenue tariff arc the wages paid the
American workingmen, and any return
TO that policy involves reduction OF
the cost OF labor. We cannot afford Mr..
President, to have cheap labor in the
United States,
CHEAP LABOR MEANS CHEAP MEN.
and dear money. Iwould rather elevate
and improve the condition Of my fellow.
citizens than increase the value OF money
and the power Of "money-bags." This
lis n Republic OF free and equal citizen.
ship. The Government is in the bands
Of the masses, and not of the law. This
is our boast, and it is proud one. The
condition OF the masses, their well-being,
their intelligence, their preparation fol
the civil duties which rest upon them
depend largely upon the scale OF indus.
trial wages. II is essential, therefore,
TINT the best possible wages attainablt
shall be secured and maintained. Thi.
is final and fundamental. We can moi
without grave danger and serious dis
turbanceSwe ought not under any cir
cumstances- adopt policy which would
scale down the wages and diminish the