The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-05-16

tne uimlnlsBeu pI1ce lHt ldfulloS az
sault of the Democratic free trader and
revenue tariff reformer was to parade
this high per centage and ad valorem
equivalent to show the enormous burden
of taxation imposed upon the people.
When steel rails were 500 a ton there
was an equivalent ad valorem duty upon
them of IS per cent, but the very in
slant the price of steel rails had been re-
duced to $50 ton, because of this
duty of % per cent, which had
induced manufacturers to engage
in that business, the sd valorem
equivalent went up to So per cent The
Democrats looked at the per cent, the
Republicans looked at the prices The
Republicans would rather have steel
rails at $50 per ton and an sd valorem of
Sc per cent than steel rails at 500 ton
and an ad valoren OF % per cent The
Democrats pursued the shadow; the Re-
publicans enjoyed the substance. APP
plause. The Democrats would rather
have low ad valorem equivalents and high
prices than high ad valorem equivalents
and low prices. What was the complaint
against the bill? Was it that it would
stop expectation and interfere with for
eign markets? The foreign markets were
as accessible under the bill as under exist
ing law. They were as accessible under
the bill as they would be under abso-
lutte free trade. The committee would
encourage foreign trade and sustain
il. but what pecu liar sanctity hung
about the foreign market that did not
attach to the domestic market? Was
the foreign consumer better consumer
than the American consumer? Was not
the American consumer a better con-
sumner, and therefore better customer
for the American consumer?
Under the system of revenue tariff,
Mr.. Mckinley declared. this Nation
bought more abroad than it sold and
paid the balance in gold-an unearthly
state of affairs. The organized opposi-
ton to the bill came from the consignees
here and the consignors and merchants
abroad. Why? Because it would check
their business. The press of other
countries had condemned the bill Why?
Because it worked against them. This
bill was an American bill, made for
American interests Much had been
said about foreign trade and COM
merce and vast domestic commerce
has been ignored. What would it boot it
that the productof the great West found
their markets in New York and Chi
cago rather than in Europe2 Why pass
over the best market of the world-the
home market? Notwithstanding all of
these croakings, however, the Ameri-
cans were now exporting more products
than at any time in their history.
Americas exports had increased IS per
cent. more than the exports from free
trade Great Britain. While Great
Britain had between 1870 and 1880 lost
ID per cent. of her commerce, the United
States had gained % per cent. and with
the same aid to shipping that Great
Britain gave, the ships of the United
States would pillow every sea, under
the American flag, in successful
competition with the ships of the
world. Applause. On the Atlantic
coast this year would be produced
100, 600 tons of shipping, built by Amer
lean workmen of American material.
This Nation had enjoyed Twenty-Five
years of continuous protection-the
longest period since the foundation of
the Government-and found itself in
greater prosperity than at any other
time. In the arts and sciences, in
wealth, in National honor, the country
was at the front. In 1860, after fourteen
years of revenue tariff, the country was
in state of depression with neither
money nor credit 1t had both now and
had surplus revenue. Under the Nor
rill tariff confidence was restored
and courage terminated. With a
great war on hand, with money flowing
into the treasury to save the Govern
ment industries were springing up on
every hand under the beneficent infu-
ence of protection. The accumulations
of the working classes had increased
and their deposits in savings banks ex-
ceeded those of the working class of any
other country. The public debt of the
United States per capita was less than
that of any Nation OF the world. Yet
men were found to talk about the re-
straints we put upon trade. The great
est good to the greatest number, the
largest opportunity for human endeavor.
were the maxims upon which the pro-
tective system rested. IApplausel