The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-02-18

How They arc Created by the Tariff
System.
Figures showing How Enormous
IL the Burden Imposed on tho
enter Creators OF
Wealth.
GYPSUM CITY, KAN. Jan. 30.-There
should be no vengeiul manifestations
and no wrangling Over the quarrels of
n preceding generation in the politics
of a sensible and patriotic people. Dis
passionate men thoughttully study
the political lessons contained in his
tory, and, by wise legislative enact
ments, endeavor 10 avoid the disastrous
political mistakes made by their pre-
decessurs. Political action should re-
late 10 the present and the future, and
never TO the past, which no Legislative
action can affect. There is more i'll
politics than the occupancy OF remuner-
alive offices. The mass of the Ameri-
can people are absolutely indifferent
AS TO which political party supplies
men to enjoy the public offices or TO
collect the taxes, but they do earnestly
desire to quit paying poverty-creating
taxe6.
At present there are but two vitality
important questions before the Ameri-
Il people. One is the tariff question,
the wise solution of which will dispose
of the manufacturing monopoly; the
other question Is: How to control the
monopoly engaged III transportation!
The tariff law of 1864 Is the most fate
ful legislative act that has ever been
enacted by the representatives OF a
civilized people. Under its insldious
workings the farmers of the United
States arc being deprived of their
lands. A continuance of the system
menaces them with transformation
rom lreehOlders to tenants, and from
tenants to peasants.
TO u consideration of the tariff as II
las affected agriculture: When the
war tariff OF 1864 was enacted the
agricultural west was practically I'M
morlgaged. TO supply the waste Of
war aud the demands OF a million
fighting men created the best market
oar agriculture has ever had. The
high prices paid Tor agricultural pro.
duce continued till 1870. From that
date they have gradually declined. II
is impossible to gather the statistics
which relate 10 real estate mortgages
laid on western farming land prior TO
that date; indeed it is not possible to
accurately compile the statistics which
relate TO the farm mortgages OF to-day,
but they cal be closely estimated. II
is reasonable 10 assume that the bulk
at the corr and wheat producing land
was unincumbered in 1870, because
previous 10 that year agricultural
products fetched such high prices that
only the most wasteful management of
productive land could squander the
money received for the crop. AT any
rate, the business of negotiating
western farm mortgages was then in
it's infancy.
A protected manufacturing industry
that produces goods TO supply the home
market only, that avoids home cOmpe-
tition by the formation of trusts, that
earns IA large profit annually, und that
persistently refuses to add to the wealth
ut the country by selling its finished
products to foreign people at Il profit,
cannot truthtully be classcd as all aid
ful adjunct TO an agriculture that il
engaged in a fierce competitive war.
II u uation seeks to grow wealthy by
manufacturing ii is imperative that Il
large portion of its finished products
be sold at a profit TO foreign peoples.
The same statement is true OF agricul-
ture. If a people consumed all the
goods they manufactured and all the
agricultural produce they raised, that
people would have nothing to sell, and
thew could not accumulate wealth. A
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. people that
protects one class of workInen from
competition-without which no pro-
gress Is aver made in any industry
and pays them such high wages that,
when the home market is supplied,
they can live In idleness for weeks
and months, has laid a heavy burden
on the class that is engaged in an in
dustry the products OF which are sold
in competitive markets.
Ia this country the chief creators OF
wealth are farmers. On these fall the
burden OF carrying on the state. They
annually produce far in excess of the
consumptive capacity of our people.
The surplus agricultural product is
for sale. When it arrives at the con
Stunning markets il is sold in open
competition with products grown by
all peoples who ill the soil, it matters
not how i'll paid or impoverished they
ARE. Our farmers are forced to sell
their surplus in the cheapest market,
and the price they receive there sets the
price for all their produce which is sold
In the home market, and by the opera
lions of the tariff laws they are forced TO
buy the goods which they consume in
the home market, which is the dearest
market on earth. The money received
tor our surplus agricultural products
IL almost wholly the total amount Of
wealth this country draws from foreign
ueoples. The value of our exports has
averaged about S760, 900 900 annually
tor the 10 years last past. About
$500, 900, 900 OF this great sum has been
annually received in payment for direc,
produce OF American soil. The valne
Of mineral, oil and specie exported is
about 500, 900, 900 annually. The
ya.ue of the other exports, including
finished manufactured articles, is ebOuI
900, 900, 900 annually. The profits
derived from selling the finished pro,
1ucts of our manufacturing industry
to foreign peoples is SO small us to be
unUorthy of consideration IN m article
in which values will be expressed in
thousands of millions.
IN the last census report We find tht
following
IN 1870 the capital Invested III
manufacturing u 49,. ~ lie oOJ.OO
AMOUNT paid 10 wages and value
OF materials. .'.'.'..'. $1,000 w 30 nV'
Value OF product .....t.'.'.''' s'a,a'00O!V ~,
Profit OF manipulation ....,..'. soo'Voo.VO'
interest earned by capital invest
ed, per cent. 10.
.,anitHl invested In 1880 ........ y i9O ,U6O ,OOI
Amount paid IN wages and value
of materials ........-.... 1 oil'VUV ,OO'
Value Of product,.............. 0,0tS. OOO,0O
Profit OF manipulation ......... l,V2),oJO,O O'
Interest earned By capital IN
yested, per cent, SO.
average capital invested in man
ufacturiug for the decade
which ended III 1880 -. -. 241I, OOO, Oo
Average sum paid Is wages and
for materials. ... ............. 3,SO}. Ouo W
average value Of finished pro-
5rrts 1890, 900. 90
AyeraQe profit OF manipulation. $50, 900, 90
kyerage interest earned on in
yestmsnt, per CENT ~.
A large portion of the capital invest
"a in manufacturing is represented b,
buildings end machinery. hnothe
large portion is represented by water
ed stock. The value of the material
ased and the amount paid for labor il
sny rear must not be COMPOUNDED wit
the capital actually invested, becaus
tbe active capital appears again an
again during tie year. The profit
aSouId properly be calculated on tn
real capital employed and on the wear