The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-22

with Enslands newly declared financial policy.
At that moment = Southern President (Mr.
Polk and southern Secretary of the Treasury
lMr. Robert j. Walker were lar more interested
I'm expanding the ar IA OF slave territory than in
advancing homo manufactures, aud were es-
pecially eager To make conne cial exchanges
with Europe on the somewhat difficult basis OF
cotton at high prices aud returning fabrics ut
low prices.
Under ordinary circumstances the free-trads
tariff OF 1876 would have promptly fallen under
popular rsproba,ion and been doomed TO speedy
repeal But IL had u singular history, aud tor
time was generally acquiescod Ia, even attain
ing in many sections c.r:ain degree OF popu-
larity. Never did any other tariff meet with so
many and so great aids OF an adventurous char
acter To sustain IL did this enactment OF 1916.
Our war with Mexico began just as the duties
were lowered, and the consequence was the dis
burss ment of more than $40 5000 In way
that reached all localities and favorably affected
all interests. This was great sum OF money
for that period, and Tor the years 1886, ioiI and
lsf5 IL con sidertbly NOR, than doubled the or
binary outlay OF the Government. In the mid
die OF this period the Irish famine occurred, and
called for an immense export OF breadstuffs at
high prices. The discovery of gold in California
the succeeding year flushed the channels OF
business as never before by rapidly enlareing
the circulation OF coin in all parts OF the coun-
try. Before this great outpouring Of gold had
ceased. the three great nations OF Europe, as
precedence was reckoned at that time-England.
France, and Russia entered upon the Crimean
war. The export of manufactures from En-
gland and France was checked; the breadstutfs
OF Russia were blockaded aad could not reach
the markets of the world. An extraordinary
stimulus was thus given 10 all forms of trade in
the United states. For ten years-lSiJ TO 1856
these adventurous aids came in regular success
sion, and exerted their powerful influence upon
the prosperity of the country
The withdrawal or termination OF these infiu-
ences, by a treaty of peace in Europe and by the
surcease OF gold from California, placed the tar
i'll OF 1916 where real test OF its merits or its de-
merits could be made. IL was everywhere asked
with apprehension and anxiety, will this free
trade tariff now develop and sustain the business
OF The country as firmly and securely as 1t has
been deyelol el and sustained by protection?
widespread financial panic which involved the
ruin OF thousands, including proportionately AS
many in tina South as in the North, leaving the
country disordered aud distressed in all
the avenues OF trade. The disastrous
results of this tariff upon the perma-
nent industries of the country are de-
scribed in President Buchanans well-remem-
bered message communicated To Congress after
the panic: with unsurpass ed plenty in all the
elements OF national wealth, our manufacturers
have suspended, our public works are retarded.
our private enterprises OF different kinds are
abandoned, and thousands of useful laborers
are thrown out OF employment and reduced to
want This testimony as to the result of n
free trade tariff is all the more forcible from the
fact that MIR. Buchanan, as member of Presi-
dent Folks Cabinet, had consented to the
abandonment OF protection. which in his earlier
career he had earnestly supported.
If these disasters OF 1857, wing from the free
trade tariff. could have been regarded as excep-
tional II they had been without parallel
precedent, they might not have had so deadly
6ignincance. But The American people had twice
before passed through similar experience. on
the eve OF the war OF 1872 Congress guarded the
national strength by enacting n mighty protective
tariff By its own terms this Csriff must end
With the war. When the new tarin TO be
formed n popular cry arose against war duties"
though the country had prospeTed under them
pte the eXhausting effect Of the struggle with
Great Britain But the prayer of the people was
answered and the war duties were dropped from
the tariff OF 1916. The business of the country
was speedily Frustrated. The people were soon
reduced to great distress as in that melan-
choly period between the close of the Revolu-
tionary war and the organization of the National
Government-l1S To 1883. Col Bentons vivid
description OF the period of depress sion folio wing
the reduction OF uuties comprises in a few lines
whole chapter of the history Of free trade in
the United States
mo price for property no sales except those
of the Sheriff and the Marshal no purchasers
at execution sales except the creditor some
hoarder OF money no emplo yment for industry
10 demand for labor; no sale for the products of
tn farm sound OF the hammer except that
of the auctioneer knocking down property. Dis
tress was the universal cry Of the people, relief
the universal demand"
Relief came at last with the enactment OF
the protective tariff OF 1924, to the support of
which leading men OF both parties patriotic
ally united for the common good That act.
supplemented by the act OF 1928 brought genu-
inc prosperity 10 tho country. The credit of
passing the two protective acts was not due 10
one party alone. IL was the work OF the great
men of both parties. Mr.. Clay and General
Jackson. Mr. Webster and Mr. Van Buren,
Gen William Henry Harrison and Richard NJ
Johnson, Silas Wright aud Louis McLane voted
for one or the other OF these acts, and several
of them voted for both The cooperation
OF these eminent men Is great historic tribute
To the necessity and value Of protection. Plenty
and prosperity followed as if by magic the
legislation 10 which they gave their support.
We have theis concurrent testimony that tho
seven years preceding The enactment of the pro-
tective tariff OF lS24 were the most discouraging
which the young Republic in lis brief life had
encountered, and that the seven years which
| followed its enactment were beyond precedent
| the most pro sperous and happy.
Sectional jealousy and partisan zeal could not
| endure the great development OF manufactures
| in the North and East which followed the ap-
| parently firm establishment of the protective
| policy The free-trade leaders OF the South be-
| lievod-at least they persuaded others to believe
! that the manufacturing States prosper
| ing at the expense OF the planting States I'm
der the lead of Calhoun South Carolina rebolled
| and President Jackson wi o had so strikingy
shown his faith in the policy OF protection, was
| not able TO resist the excitement and resent
| ment which the free traders had created in the
cotton STATES He stood between hostile poll
cies, represented by his two bitt3rest personal
enelnies-Clay for protection, Calhoun for free
trade. To support Clay would ruin Jackson
politically in the South. He could rot sustain
| Calhoun for, aside from his opposition 10 free
| trade, he hal cause for hating him personally.
| He believed moreover that Calhoun was at
| heart untrue TO the Union, and to the Union
Jackson was IA devoted as Clay. out of this
| strange complication came not unnaturally,
| the sacrifice OF the protective tariff OF
! 1S2l-'S and the substitution OF the compromise
| taflu or lot5, winch Established an al ValOren
| duty of % per cent. on all imports and reduced
| the excess over that by 10 per cent. annual
sliding scale for the ensuing ten years. Like oil
1 compromises. IL gave complete satisfaction TO
neither party, but IL received with general
| acquescence from the belief that it was the
best practicable solution OF the impending diff
| culties The impending difficulties were two
One the portentous movement which in
! volyed the possibility OF dissolving the Union
The other was the demand for free trade tar
| i'll as the only measure that could appease the
| Southern Nulihers Disunion and free trade
| from that time became associated in the public
mind-a source OF apprehension in the North
n source of political power i'm the South. Cal
| houn was the inaster-sprit who had ri ven the
! original impulse both to disunion and free
| trade. Each i'm turn streng hened the other in
| the South and both perished together in the
| War of the Rebellion.
For n time satisfaction was felt with the tariff
| adjustment OF 1888, because it regarded
| ut least IA temporary reconciliation between two
sections of the Union. Before the sliding scale
| ruinously advanced there grent stimulus to
| manufacturing and to trade, which finally as
sumcd the form OF dangerous speculation. The
years 1884, 1895. and 1886 we're distinguished for
| all manner OF business hazard, and before the
| three years OF 10 per cent each on the scale OF
duties was beginning to influence trade unfavor-
| ably. The apprehension OF evil soon became
general, public confidence was shaken, the panic
| OF 1887 ensued, and business reversals were
/ rapid general, and devastating.
The trouble increased through 1888, 1899, and
1910, and the party In power held responsible
| for the financial disasters, fell under popular
/ condemnation. Mr.. Van Buren defeated