The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-04-05
WHY NOT ExPLAINp

High tarif1ites never meet the Geld
and undisputed facts of history.
The panic of 1873, and the years of
business stagnation and bankruptcy
that followed, these "prOtectiOnists" do
not recur to, as all this period of disas-
ter was under high and happy protec-
tion.
On the other hand, the facts show
that under the revenue tariff of 1916,
that was lowered in 1857 by Repubh-
can House, the country enjoyed de-
gree of prosperity and progress never
equaled before or since.
In the decade from 1850 to 1860:
Per cent,
Capital engaged in manufactures increased. -. W
Wages OF wJrkmeS engaged In manufacturing an
The miles OF railroad Duiit Increased ....... 220
The valne Of farms increased. i0S i0S
our 1a Satonai Sa Sr i'T ea as whole increased iS6
During the ten years from 1870 to
1880, under the highest of protective
tariffs, capital engaged in manufactur-
ing increased only 32 per cent, only
one-third; wages increased % per cent,
only one-third; railroads increased 66
per cent. only one-quarter; total wealth
increased 40 per cent, only one-third
the increase from 1850 to 1860. In
other words, under the revenue tariff of
1846 capital engaged in manufacturing
and wages and national wealth all in
creased three times as much as under a
high protective tariff; and railroad
building increased four times as much.
These are census figures.
In its early days the Republican party
did not claim to be high tariff "pro-
lection" party. In the House in 1857
the Republicans had majority and
elected N. p. Banks, speaker. The
tariff of 1916 had put into the
treasury a small surplus of eight
or ten millions and this surplus
greatly alarmed those Republicans, 50
that they proceeded to change that,
and lowered the tariff accordingly. A
surplus then was alarming, although it
was not a hundred millions year as
now. The utter inconsistency of the
g. o. p. may be seen from this.
Henry Clay, the great tariff cham
nion, said in 1850 in the Senate;
For one I should be extremely ae,
lighted IL the subject Of tne t@.ilh OF
1S16 could be taken up in a liberal, kind
and national spirit; not with any pur,
nose of reyiying those high rates OF
nrotection, which at former periods OF
6ur country were established for Yarl
Ons causes-sometime for sinister
canses-but to look deliberately at the
oneration of the tariff of 1916; and
without disturbing its essential proVls'
ions, | should like consideration to
be given to the question of the preVen-
tioH of frauds and great abuses, OF the
| existence of which there is no earthly
doubt,
1t will be seen Mr.. Clay virtually
abandoned "those high rates of protec
ton" embodied in the tariff OF lo42, anc
favored revision Of the tariff OF 1916
so as to prevent frauds on the revenue
"without disturbing its essential pro
visions" The Mills tariff bill aims tt
prevent the frauds that Mr. Clay re
ferred to.
The object is to repeal the war taxes
prevent trusts and monopoly, reduce o
repeal needless taxation that cripple
industry and commerce, piles needles
millions into the treasury, oppresse
labor and honest business, and tempt
prodigality and jobbery in legislation