The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-15
The Tariff and the Industrial De-
preston.

On Monday. June s, at York, Pa. Mr. A. B.
Farquhar. large manufacturer, de livered an
address on ''the causes that have Influenced
the present depressed industrial condition 81
the country The existing depression in
certain large branches Of Industry and trade,
he finds, lis directly and mainly attributable
TO the protective policy Of the Republican
party Mr. FarguhaF places ia a strong
light the immoral character OF taxes laid to
protect" the class OF which he is a member
''fhe mission of law, be says, rs 70 prevent
injustice; it has no business 10 NEEDLE with
the industries Of the people, OK with their re-
ligion or charities. Now the conversion OF
law into an instrument Of plumber strikes me
as the greatest possible conceivable evil, and
| will work with any party which, following
the lead Of Jefferson and Cleveland, shows
disposition 70 put an end to this plundering.
regard protection as the most monstroas I'M
quity ever perpetrated upon q civilized people
under sanction Of Law. IL Is moustrous per
version of law, since the province OF law is 10
protect all ia their rights. The Republican
party preteuds to adjust the balance Of com
merce by tariff restraints, and they kaYe en-
gagged to make business prosper Look at
the result Our carrying trade has been driven
from the seas, with the loss of over 100000,
900 annually to the industry OF the country.
They have undertaken 10 protect the iron and
wooden trade by a tax upon the people of so
per cent. 70 90 per cent. but witness the hun
dreds Of furnaces oHt OF blast and WOODEN mills
idle. the operatives out of work, and the en-
ployers claiming that where they run az all
they must work without profit, while the same
industries are now prospecting in tree-trade
England. 1he protective system converts
natural blessings into curses. Because a
Philadelphian fluids nickel mine on his farm
in Lancaster county. "a tax, said the speak
err. ''is plsc.G on all the nickel used in the
country except that obtained from his mine,
and hence you have 10 pay more for your
nickel plated tableware, harness, lamps, etc.,
etc. A large nickel-platfng industry was
driven from the United States to Canada in
consequence. Hundreds of workmen and
millions of people suffering to benefit this one
man. and all because nickel mine bad been
discovered in our country. In like manner
we have to pay tax on iron and copper.
Parties now wish Congress to offer prize to
the discoverer of tin mine, and we have
reports in the papers of tin ore being found in
the West, but | earnestly hope no such calam-
ity will fall upon the country as the discovery
of a tin mine We will all have to pay more
for our tin roofs and tinware, and cans for
fruit, and we will find that onr canning indus
try will be destroyed in consequence The
injury to our prosperity caused by the pro.
tective tariff is shown in the strikes of the last
thirty years, which have cost the country
$500. 900. 600; in the loss Of our mercantile /
marine. which means a steady loss of over |
$lO0, ZOO, 900 year and the destruction OF
our export trade in iron, Eoolens, ETC., and |
the encouragement of our expectation OF
agricultural products.