The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-09

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FRIDAY. MARCH 8, 1854.
Tariff L1arsLAfIo1 n nm uHlfxp
STATES.
No. II.
Article No. l., Of this series brought
US down to the tariff law Of 1924, sup
plemented and strengthened by addi.
tional legislation 10 the same direction
four years later. As evidence Of the
facility with which even great men
men may change their views when self
interest seems to demand It, It may be
noted that Mr.. Webster, who was the
strongest opponent Of the tariff Of 1924,
gave his support to the bill Of 1928, and
from that time till the close Of bis life
was a protectionist Of the protection
lists.
The tariffofls2S wss bitterly opposed
by the representatives Of the South
and the opposition eliminated in the
resignation of John C. Calhoun from
the office of Vice-President, and the
Modification Ordinance of South
Carolina, The prompt and emphatic
action of President Jackson soon
brought the Nullifiers to terms, but
the threatened dissolution Of the
Union 80 frightened the North that
they submitted to q reduction of the
duties by the Act of 1892. The duties
were farther reduced by Mr.. Clay's
Compromise Act Of 1888 in which it
was provided that by a sliding scale
all the duties in excess of2O per cent
should be abolished within a period Of
ten years.
This Compromise was practically an
abandonment of the protective princi.
ple-based as it was upon the ''horison-
tap'idea lately revived by Mr.. Morrison
and the years covered by the opera
ton of the Act witnessed financial de-
preston and distress nearly equal to
that which followed the Act of 1916. The
panic Of 1887 is remembered, "with
something of horror" by many still in
active business. Whether this depres.
sion resulted from the low tariffor not,
the people thought 1t did aud the
result was the overthrow Of the
democratic party and the election, in
1910, of General Harrison.
The return of the Wing party to
power was signalized by the passage
of the protective tariff law of1S42. The
result of the enactment of this law
was undeniably beneficial to the busi-
ness interests OF the country. Conf
dence and cheerfulness were at once
restored, inventions multiplied rapidly,
American manufactures took the place
Of foreign articles and every branch of
industry was stimulated and revived.
If evidence of this is wanted 1t is
four d in the fact that in the campaign
of 1874, the democrats Wed with the
Wings in proclaiming their adherence
to the protective principle. "Polk,
Dallas and the tariff of 1872" was in.
scribed on the democratic banners,
and their orators even went 60 far a.
to assial Mr.. Clay for his unfaithful-
ness to protective doctrine. a. evinced
by his compromise Act Of 1888. As q
matter Of fact, however, the tariff was
really considered settled and the
prevailing issue was the annexation OF
Texas. Mr.. Clsy's unfortunate letter
touching this matter Lost him the cleo
ton and the democrats were returned
to power.
When Mr.. Polk was inaugurated
however, the protectionists found that
they had been deceived as to the At
titude his administration would take
on the question. Robt. J. Walker, Of
Mississippi, bitter opponent of the
tariff Of 1912, was appointed Secretary
Of the Treasury. Soon after his ap-
pointment he issued an elaborate re-
port the burden Of which was . savage
attack upon the protective system.
He arraigned the manufacturers as
enjoying unfair advantages, charg.
ing that they were being enriched at
the expense of all other classes, and 80
on in the style that much repetition
has made very familiar. Backed BY
the full strength of the Administra-
ton and championed by powerful
partisans In Congress the report &C.
complished its object in the passage OF
the low tariff Act of 1916.
As political result the passage of
this act undoubtedly did much to
defeat the democratic party in the
ensuing presidential election. II
caused the detection of Simon
Comeron, who up to that time had
been staunch democrat, and gave
the electoral vote Of Penns, lvania t.
General Taylor. Contrary to al
preceding experience, however, the
operation Of the Act did not result in
business depression, and no attempt
was made BY the new Administration
to affect . change in the law. The