New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-20
FACTS AGdTNST Mr.. CLEVELAND.

FACTS AGAINST -hR. CLhPELAND.
After three months or more Of education,
prosecuted in all parts of the country by doc
uments and newspapers, by speeches and daily
conversation, to an extent never before known
in this or probably in any other country, there
are still some dull scholars who accept and be-
lieve the Presidents statement that the prices
of domestic products are always enhanced by
duties to the full extent of those duties facts
enough to sink ship have been placed before
them. and yet they cling 20 their error.
II is not so strange as it seems. The error Is
vital. and these men know it. II compelled to
give it ND. they would have to admit that the
party and the President have been telling I'M
truths; that their whole national policy, In
deed. has been based upon an nntrutb. Tx
actly the same spirit which leads citizens Oh
decent reputation to shield criminals in the
crimes committed for the sake Of Democracy,
and to rejoice in fraud or bloody slaughter
which increases Democratic chances OF sue
cess, prompts these men to refuse SUBMISSION
TO their own reason, when Their reason tells
them that the party is wrong. Some OF them
were rebels against free government twenty
seven years ago, but all of lAAese men are rebels
against the sovereignty Of reason and rght III
their own lives and conduct to-day
Every merchant who observes the state OF
foreign prices is aware that this Democratic
theory is false. Every immigrant who retains
any knowledge Of the cost of things abroad, and
who learns what duties are here on imported
goods. knows that the duty is almost invariably
greater than the difference in price, and that
of vast number of products the cost is much
lower here than abroad, Notwithstanding the
duty levied. Statesmen and students have
thoroughly investigated the cost Of living In
this and other countries, and in every case
have found that the American cost, if higher
at all. was not higher in proportion to the
duties levied, while the Superintendent OF The
Bureau of Labor under the present Admnistra-
ton. Mr. Carroll d. Wright, has demonstrated
in his Massachusetts reports that the difference
in cost of living between this country and Eng
land, exclusive of rents and the better qnallues
of things consumed here, was only about per
cent while the average of duties on imported
products was over 80 per cent.
The Democrat who refuses to credit all this
body of evidence usually assumes that each
tional case: that white products generally are
enhanced by duties on imports, there may be
a good many exceptions. As to the cost OF
living he answers that the greater cheapness
of food here is the explanation forgetting that
breadstuffs. meats, and other articles of food
are duiable, and if they are not enhanced IN
price by duties On imports, it follows not only
that the Presidents statement was untrue. but
also that there is n greater reason for believ-
ing that other articles which are largely pro-
duced in this country are thus affected in price
by duties
Men capable Of reasoning will lind in the
official record of exports most convincing
proof This country sells to other countries
every wear manufactured articles valued at
100000, 900 to 50 90, 100000. The holders
do not give away their goods, nor sell without
profit. as a rule They sell because they make
money by selling to foreigners rather than TO
home purchasers. The price received is there
fore, as a rule, as high or higher than the price
paid by purchasers who supply home consump-
ton But the exported goods represent all the
branches Of manufacture whose products are
supposed to be lifted by duties above the level
Of prices in foreign countries Cotton man
ufactures valued at nearly 81 1000, 600, iron
and steel manufactures in value 81 600, O00
were sold to foreigners last year. How was
that possible if the products Of these man
ufactres are enhanced by duties which aver
aged 4 8 per cent on cottons and 10 per cent
on all products Of iron and steel? Manufact-
ures of leather valued at S10,000,0OO go
abroad, though duties on imported products Of
leather average 80 per cent; manufactures OF
chemicals, "copper" fax, hemp, paper, wool,
glass, rubber, and almost every other material,
are exported in considerable quantities. While
il is true that numerous products Of these and
other manufactures, being not largely produced
in this country, are controlled in prices by the
foreign supply and the duty, it is equally true
that far greater number, bearing precisely
the same rates Of duty, are so extensively pro-
duced here that their prices are controlled by
the home market, and are so cheap that they
are exported to other countries.
The very cornerstone Of President Cleve-
lands argument and of the Democratic theory
which he advocates, is gross and glazing mis-
take If Democratic voters could resume COM
mand Of their reason long enough to give due
weight to facts they would see that they have
been deceived and mised.
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REVISION IN TRANCE.