Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-29
TARIFF HALF A CENTURY AGO.

Letter Showing Ihe Intensity of Feeling
Awny Back i'm 1892.
The following letter, which was written
in 1882 by Mr.. Andrew Murphy, father of
Mr.. n. Grattan Murphy. highly respected
citizen of Pittsburg, to the Hon. Harmar
Denny, then representing the city at Wash
ington, shows the depth of feeling on the
tariff question even at that early day:
FLEEoEDALE, July 9. 1882
HON. HARMAR DENNY:
DEAR SIR-On my return from the East 1
was very much gratified to hpd at my house
several papers sent to me by your kindness
from Washington relative to the tariff. for
which return you my sincere thanks. By
paper 1 saw yesterday 1t appears the bill has
passed the House OF Representatives, and is
now before the Senate, where / am In hopes it
will be rejected, If not improved, as In my
opinion as a woolen manufacturer, il would be
better to have no bill than either of those 1
have seen. We would not know what to de-
PEND on, and be obliged to turn our attention
and industry to something of more certainty.
regret to see so many of our State Repre-
sentatives deserting the manufacturers and
wool growers and indeed the interest Of their
constituents generally: the country should feel
grateful to you for your great perseverance
and industry manifested throughout in favor of
the protective system. The encouragement
that was held out to the manufacturers and
wool growers by the tariff of 1928 should not be
abandoned SO soon until things get fair start
for under its influence it was very apparent
the country prosperedin an unparalleled degree
unknown in the history of any country-but
this sudden and unlocked for change, which
must inevitably take place in the woolen busi-
ness, will undoubtedly lie attended with ruin
those engaged largely in the raising Of wool
Now, is it possible that our wise Legislators
would wish to place the mechanics and manu-
facturers of this free Republic, and at present
happy country. on a level with the famishing
and enslaved subjects of despotic or monarch
ical governments where thousands are glad to
work for l21ac day, or for anything they can
get?
The idea held out that the manufacturers
were amassing wealth at the expense of the
country cannot be substantiated by facts, be-
cause competition among themselves was, and
always will be, a corrective See the
great difference in one or two years:
In 1880 the manufacturers were doing
fair business; the wool growers
got fair price for their wool. Last year, in
the spring, wool was from so to so cents pound
and the manufacturer was satisfied to purchase
at those prices, if the market was secure to
their stock of wool at high price, then the
country is flooded with British goods and like
wise wool from different parts of the world,
This lowered the price q wool and woolens to
the ruin of thousands. Was there no British
agency or secret service money employed in this
business 10 break up and destroy the American
manufacturers? 1t at least looks suspicious, as
it commenced with Englishmen in Phlladel-
phia-
During my visit East / was of course, thrown
among the manufacturers and friends of the
American system generally, and found a great
falling of from General .ckson. Many that
were his warmest supporters told me they
would not vote for him again-tnat measures
were preferable to men, Henry Clay appears
to be the choice Of the manufacturers, and is
said to be the only man calculated to save the
country from inevitable ruin, that is likely to
be brought about by this outrageous attack on
the industry of the country. With respect
remain, yours truly, ANDREW MURPHY.