Evening journal., 1890-01-27
NEWSPAPER OPINION.


Philadelphia Record.
Quite the coolest thing Of the season is
the protectionisti attempt to appropriate
to the tariff credit for this country's ex-
port trade in leather. In commenting
upon an article in an English trade jour
nal on this subject our esteemed contem-
porary the Press draws the following re.
markable conclusions:
''These are startling figures and most
important facts. They prove three things;
/. That this great industry has been
built up in this country by the protective
tariff. @ That this tariff does not en-
hqnce the price; hence It Is not tax. 3.
That 1t Is not necessary to abolish our
tariff In order TO secure trade in other
countries. as is claimed by the free trad
ers."
Now, mark how the plain truth in re-
gard 10 the country's export trade in
leather utterly destroys this fabric of as
sertion. In 1872 before the tariff had
hardened into the superstition of the Re-
publican party, jackson 5. Schultz and
other influential tanners persuaded the
Republican majority in Congress to repeal
the duty on raw hides. The year before
this duty was totally repealed the value
OF imported hides was 81, 1916, O29. The
next year after the repeal these imports
amounted in value to $i5, 1909, 500; and
last year their total value was upward of
500, 900, 600
In 1871 the exports of American leather
and leather manufactures, under the
tariff on hides, amounted in value to
81, S07, 395. In 1878, the year after the
duty on raw materials have been repealed,
these exports rose to IS, 305, 494 in value;
to 81, 324. 796 In 1875; to $40, 9S5 In
1875, ond last year their value was nearly
$12, 900, 600.
So far from owing anything to protec
ton, this prosperous commerce has
grown up under a system of trade that is
absolutely free. In large proportion of
this trade the cattle are shipped to Eng
land and Belgium and slaughtered for
beef; the hides are sent back. tanned and
returned in leather, boots and shoes, sad
dlery and other American manufactures.
During the whole movement, from first
TO last the trade is not vexed by custom
house duty.
The tariff had blighted and well-nigh
extinguished the export trade in leather.
Free trade has restored 1t and now there
Is a lively foreign demand for all the sur
plus leather produced In this country.
But how fares il with kindred indus
try2 In 1889 the total value of the
countrys exports of wooden manufac-
lures amounted TO $347, All. The total
value of these exports was 1928, 1853 in
1870, making an increase of a little ever
5000, 600 after nearly twenty years Of
protection
Under free trade in raw materials the
importations Of leather manufacturers
are stationary, the increase consisting Of
kid gloves and fancy articles On the
other hand, foreign woolens are flowing
into the country in an enormously in
creasing tide over the high tariff wall
Do not these contrasted facts and
figures relating to two important and
closely allied branches Of American in
durtry demonstrate at once the beneh-
cent effect of free trade in raw materials
and the malign influence of the opposite
policy2 Do they not prove at the same
time the necessity of abolishing duties
ON raw material in order to enable
American manufacturers to success
fully compete with their European rivals
in both domestic and foreign marketsl
At this stage Of the educational cam
paign-we shall not be expected to refute
the protectionist assertion that 1.-THE
tariff is not tax If there be any man
who still believes that the American con-
sumers did not pay the $3S, 600, 600 OF
duties on the 500. 600, 600 of wooden goods
imported during the last twelve months
argument would probably be wasted upon
him. Such person would deny that
two and two make feur, If he had a
powerful interest in or a motive for be.
lieving the contrary.