Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-07-31
A Lesson From Experience.
philadelphia Manufactured

Just seven years ago this month the nation
was emerging, as it now is, from long discuss
ion of the question of Tariff revision, and was
considering the probable influence upon the
business OF the country of a new tariff law. Re
vision of the Tariff was undertaken at that time
In response to what was believed to be the wish
es of the people. The Free-Traders and their
organs were as fierce and vehement then as they
are now in denOuncing Protection as robbery
and in demanding that the alleged heavy burden
OF taxes should be lifted from the shoulders of
the poor workingman. A Republican admins
tratOn was in power, but it was not sincerely
friendly to the Protective principle, and Il was
therefore quite ready to regard with approval
scheme for making concessions to the Free-Trade
sentiment. Everybody was weary of agitation
OF the Tariff question, and nobody was more
urea OF lt THAN the men who were engaged in
productive industry and therefore subjected to
the annoyance, harassment and uncertainty pro-
duced by continual menace Of changes in the
political complexion and fiscal policy of the Gov
eminent. 1t was thought that if the Republi-
can protectionists would make some large con-
cessions In the matter of Tariff revision, there
might be some hope Of satisfying all but the rad
lcal Free TRADERS and of providing settlement
OF the involved questions which would for many
years endure. In fact the general understand
Ing was that all hands would accept the outcome
OF the efforts of the Tariff Commission as concu.
sive for couple Of decades; and the concession,
then made by the Protectionists were granted
solely because OF the assurance that is in con-
slderatlon therefore something like stability I'm
the Tariff would be secured
The Tariff Of 1888 ought to serve as warning
to every ProtectiOnist, who believes that Protec
ton to home industry is right. never again to
surrender any portion of the system, or to sacri.
nce any particle of principle, upon grounds of
political expedency or with the hope Of securing
Immunity from assault. In that act the duties
upon many commodities OF home production
were severely reduced. The cotton schedule
was cut down with ruthless hand; the duties
upon wool or WOODEN fabrics, upon many forms
Of iron, upon agricultural products, upon divers
and sundry other products, were lowered beyond
what many iudlcious persons regarded as the
salty point. We need not give the matter I'm de-
tall. It'll enough to say that the immediate re-
suit of the passage Of this act reducing the duties
was large Increase of Importations; and this
Increase has steadily continued until our imports
OF s5I3 900 coo in 1885 had swollen to imports in
1889 valued at s745,0oJ,O0Q. In the meantime.
though the population of this country has grown
with greaI rapidty, industry has languished, so
that there are today probably more persons out
OF employment than we're ever before In such n
condition, excepting in times of extreme indus
trial prostration. All the conditions of great
prosperity are here, but prosperity has come on
! ly In scant measure. We have lost nearly TO-
| 10000 Saecp since 1888; our wool product has
| declined; maiiy Of Our WOODEN mills have been
| closed by foreign competition; the Iron industry
Is suffering from the same cause, the farmers
are subjected to unprecedented foreign rivalry.
ana millions Of money which might have been
| expended AZ home have been sent abroad to pay
| imports Of goods which We could have made and
| should have made for ourselves, This nation has
paid dearly for the foolish atteIapt to settle the
Tariff question and TO quiet the elamor OF the
Free-Traders by partial sacrifice OF the indus
tries of the country
| We own the most splendid market in the void
and every other nation lusts after IL with ire.
pressible desire. European money viii be ex.
pended here continuously and persistentiy a.,
| secure for European manufacturers free entry IN
this market for their commodities. IL ia a
rich prize and our rivals will not rest II they can
not grasp it. The struggle between us and then,
between our own Industrial workers and the
industrial forces OF Europe backed by the mass
OF the American Free-Traders. There Is but
one method by means Of which we can manage
to hold our own, and that is by keeping the Re.
publican party lin both the legislative and ex.
ecutiye branches Of the Federal government.
The Tariff of 1888 was the WORK CT Republicans
who nent well but were wanting in sagacity.
Since then the party lines have been drawn
more rgdly upon this question, so that today
the Republican party stands for thorough Pro
lection Will the Democratic party Is fully COM
United to Free-Trade. The contest OF the pres
ent year viii be made solely upon the issue thus
presented, and we do not fear that the verdict
will differ in any particular from that rendered
two years ago.