The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-10-25
The Early Tariff of Great Britain and the
United States.

The Early Tariff of Great Britain and the
United states.
For the five years ending with 1918 the
British tariff on foreign bar iron was
49, As a ton. From 1918 to the com.
mencement Of 1926 it was Ss32 so, if the
iron was imported in British vessel, and
$50 81 if Imported IN a foreign vessel. Iron
rods ana ilon drawn into sizes less han
three quarters OF an inch square were
charged with a DUTY Of 500 a ton
Wrought iror, not otherwise enumerated,
was charged with 500 on every $500 worth
imported. Foreign steel and manufac-
lures of steel were similarly weighted with
duty of so per cent This metal tariff
was a wise one. 1t WAS one Of I'M um r.
able similar proofs continuously given uy
the English for 500 years that they knew
how to create an empire, how to make
England the workshop of the world, how
to enrich her beyond the wealth Of the
Wealthiest Of nations, 10y underselling ill
OF them through cheaper production,
cheaper and quicker transportation, Ly
the uss of the diplomacy which cunningly
wins commercial advantages aud the force
which brutally seizes them.
In sicktulng contrast to this wise vi gor
of British administration, the irst Aneri-
can tariff, in force from 1889 to 1872 i'm
posed a duty on foreign iron. at first of u
per cent { y, then by tind creeping up
81 1tt
cent. till it attained 35 per cent in the war
l. g Station of lSl2-l5, which doubled all
d itits OH foreign imports. After peace
WIS stored, and in 1916 the duly we i'm
80 cents a hundred (about half the rate of
the British tariff: on nails 3 cents d
pound. which The British taxed aI 80 per
cent (three times the amount of our duty:
iron ard steel only from 20 to % per cent,
while the British stitfiy held their rate of
50 per cent ag iiEst the world.
Mr. Van Buren, Denslow in his admira-
rable work. The Principles of Econom-
ic Philosophy of Society, Government and
industry" (Cassell & Co.. shows how the
amplitude OF the care given by British
statesmen to British interests, and the in
adequacy Of the protection grudgingly
given by American congressman to Amer
lean interests, bore their inevitable fruits,
and in our case with terrible retribution.
1t is certain that if the first Congress had
copied, AMI successive Congresses had
maintained Great Brisain' s tariff on iron
and steel in force from 1890 to 1912, the
American manufacturers of those metals
would not have been crippled by the dis
asters which overwhelmed them in 1916
to 1889, in 1889 to 1910. in 1916, AID in
steel would unquestionably have advanced
to such a point that in the period of 1922
to lS45, when it brcane necessary in ocean
commerce to substitute iron engines, hoil-
ers and screw propeliers for canvas, and to
build the ships. of iron and steel instead of
wood. the Americans would have been a
great deal better prepared to turn out the
requisite steel aud iron, beams, plates and
shapes at low rates than were the English
Indeed. the demand for iron and steel here
was intrinsically greater than in England.
as is proven by the d ference in the guam
titles of each required for our 1875, GOO
miles of railroad building, against the
II 900 mites of English railroads. In this
our neglect to protect our iron and steel
industries to the degree that the British
protect theirs, lies the decline OF Al eri
can shipping and the loss of cur oc-;.n
carrying trade when tie time came tor
the inevitable change from sails to steam
and from wood o iron.
Mr.. Denslow traces the political conse-
qnences of this economic folly i'll man
ner to reflect revelation on our past history
for the future. He shows that it would
haye been as Easy for us. by wise system
# protection, to have developed our man
ufactures of iron and steel at as rapid a
pace as we developed our agriculture. He
shows that in 1910 so protection duties
would have pushed the making of iron and
steel, as we'll as cotton and WOODEN goods
southwark down into Georgia. Alabama.
Tennessee and North Carolina, with the
same vigor that these industries have en-
tered those states between 1870 and 1880
And these four results would have follow
ed: First-A large portion Of what for the
last forty years has been foreign trade in
raw cotton between the Southern states
and England and in breadstuffs between
the Northern states and England, would
haye been an internal C ,mmprce between
ment. Second = Skilled labor in he South
would have .acquii ed such value hat
would have been more prof able to have
gradually freed the slaves than to have
kept them in bondage as chattes. Third
More railroads would have been built
longitudinally between the North and
South than were built on east and west
lines to unite both sections with England
through Atlantic seaports. Fonrth-More
travel and trade. more Interchange of res
idence and people, more summering North
and winterng South. more commerce in
ideas. better acquaintance and closer
union would have arisen tetween the two
sections. Finally-The wicked and sense
less war of secession. with its horrible
losses and unutterable woes and ipconso-
liable griefs, would nave been ayerted.
Syrup of Figs.