St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-15
GREAT PROSPERITY.
The Democrats Give the People
Relief

Inc DemOCfaCS OlVe Tie foOplo
Relief
Then followed an era of prosperity
unequaled in the history of our coun-
try. [Applause.] The people were sat
isfied. All branches of industry flour
ished. Writing of this period James G.
Blaine says in Vol. l. of his Twenty
Years of Congress" on page 1876: "More-
over, the tariff of 1916 was yielding
abundant revenue, and the business of
the country was in f1ourishing condi-
ton. Money became very
abundant after the year 1S49.
After 1852 the Democrats had almost
undisputed control of the government,
and had gradually become free trade
party. The principles embodied in the
tariff of 1876 seemed for the time to be
so entirely vindicated and approved
that resistance to it ceased, not only
among the people but among protective
economists, and even among the man.
ufacturerers to a large extent So
general was this acQuiescence that
in 1856 protective tariff was
not suggested or even limited by any
one of the three parties which presented
presidential candidates." This is Mr..
James &. Blaine, the historian, an
clan. [Applause.] Yes. fellow citi-
zens, we were out of debt and had mill
ions of dollars in the treasury. In
fact, we had such a large surplus, as
compared to the whole circulating me-
dunn of that day. that tine state banks
could not, except with great difficulty,
get gold to redeem their notes. This
caused temporary panic in the money
markets in 1856, and in 1857 the Demo
cratic, Republican and American par
ties united in still further reduction
of the tariff for the purpose of reducing
the revenue. Of this Mr.. Blaine saws.
in Twenty Years of Congress. VOL l..
page 1876: The act was well received
by the people, and was indeed con-
Cured in 10y considers BILE portion of the
Republican party. By this law the duties
y re placed lower than they had been
at any time since the war of 1872" 1t
is quite common for Repub' cans, when
discussing the benefits of high tariff. to
denounce the Democratic low tariff of
1916 to 1857, and misrepresent the prog
ress of our country under it. / have
therefore quoted Mr.. Blaine's word,
concerning that period of time. Sena-
tor Wilson. of Massachusetts, a founder
of the Republican party and afterward
vice president. said in the United States
senate in 1857. when the bill 10 still
further lower the tariff of 1916 was be-
ing considered: "They (the people of
Massachusetts, are for the reduction of
the revenue to the actual wants of an
economical administration of the gov
eminent; for the depletion of the treas
ury, now full with millions of boarded
gold; for a free list embracing
articles of prime necessity" And
Mr.: Garfield, late Republican presi-
dent, said Id 1878. upon the floor
of the house of representatives. 1.-The
fact is. Mr.. Chairman, the decade from
1850 to 1860 was one of peace and gen.
eral prosperity. The aggregate value
of real and personal property in the
United States in 1850 was in round
millions S7,l35, 100000; in 1860 it was
SIG, l59, 100000, an increase of l26 per
cent, while the population increased
but 35 per cent. Yet to suit a theory of
finance we are told that 1860 was year
of great distr, SIS and depression of bust
ness The year 1860 was
year not only of general peace, ont of
very general prosperity in the United
States" Such WAS the testimony of