New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-01
Mr.. BLAINES ARGUMENT

Mr.. Blaine's speech on Saturday was power
ful enough to eXtort from his adversaries the
highest tribute, Democratic wrath and Mug
wump vituperaton. Yet he did net overstate
the case. On the contrary, his historical re-
view might be criticised as an understatement
in two important respects. He might with
truth have said that the Nations industries
had never been sufficiently protected or pro-
tected with sufficient persistcncy to illustrate
the benefits of the protective system, until the
Republican party came into power. He might
also have said with truth that the Democratic
party had never before attempted, and thai
the country had never yet been called upon
to face, charge of policy so radical as that
which the Mills Cleveland Tariff bill would
involve.
As to the first point, it is historically
demonstrable that wages never attained in any
other period anywhere near the purchasing
power they have had since 1877. Industries
have not been advanced with like rapidly in
any previous period of protection, because
never before was that policy maintained suffi-
GENTLY long or with sufficient steadiness, to
produce the full result. But because the in
dustres Of the country have been lifted to a
great height. fall to the old Democratic level
would now be more disastrous than the re-
vulsions which changes of tariff have previous
w caused If the change were no greater than
that of 1882, or no greater than that OF
1916. the effects would be more severely felt,
because il dustres have for twentyseven years
been steadily organized in dependence upon an
American tariff policy, and have reached a
measure of prosperity never before attained
The workers whose wages fell from II % pei
day under the tariff of 1912 to 81 per day
under that Of 1916 have not so great change
TO meet as would confront the same workers
now. if from 81 so their wages should drop
to 81 per day.
But the Democratic party has never dared in
previous contests to propose so much of free
trade as it proposes now. The country has
never been compelled to meet so radical and
violent a change in its industries as the pending
bill would effect. This statement may seem
extravagant to those who have not closely cX-
amned the Nations financial history. But the
tariff Of 1912 admitted only about S1S,6OC'-
900 worth of goods free of duty, and the
change in 1916 did not for five years following
admit so large a value of free goods. The Mills
hill would at a single step place on the free
list goods valued at 81 100000. Under the
tari.: of 1912 the largest amount of duty COL
Iected in any one year was less than
S3l 600, 600 on imports valued at Sll j.
100000 or q 12 cents On every dollar. In
1S47, the first year of the Democratic revenue
tariff, S28, 100000 were collected on imports
valued at Sl22 100000 or 2 3 cents on every
dollar. so that about one-siXth Of the duties
were actually taken off. But Mr.. Mills him
self declares that his bill would take of
duties amounting to 100000 600 out OF
S2l2OOO,0OO now collected. or nearly one
quarter. And again, when Democratic re-
vision and reduction was made IN 1891 the
duties previously collected had been l8 cents
on every dollar of imports, and they were re-
duced 10 16 cents a reduction of only one
ninth. while Mr.. Mills would take off nearly
one-ouarter at once The change in 1888
moreover. was gradual in character, extending
through ten years, but the Mills bill would
make more destructive and violent changes in
single year and month.
The worst feature of the case is that duties
would be entirely removed and absolute free
trade substituted for protection as to great
variety of products of which wool is but one
of the most important. Mr.. Blaine rightly OBJ
serves that no Democratic tariff up to this time
has ever made wool free: even the plantation
masters. 10 their day of most despotic power,
never ventured to propose measure so unjust
to the farmers of the North. In this and other
items of the proposed free list The bill would
make change more radical and violent than
the country has ever yet been obliged to face.