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 1t now is, from a long discuss
ion Of the question of Tariff revision, and was
considering the probable influence upon the
business of the country of 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 denOuncng Protection rs 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 a
scheme for making concessions to the Free Trade
sentiment. Everybody was weary of agitation
OF the Tariff question, and nobody was more
tired Of il than the men who were engaged I'm
productive industry and therefore subjected 10
the annoyance, harassment and uncertainty pro-
duced by continual menace Of changes I'm the
political complexion and fiscal policy of the Gov
eminent. 1t was thought that il the Republic
can protectionists would make some large con.
eessions In the matter of Tariff revision. there
might be some hope Of satisfying all but the rad
teal 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 eoncu-
siye for couple of decades; and the concessions
then made by the Protectonists were granted
solely because OF the assurance that is in con-
sideratlon therefore something like stability In
the Tariff would be secured
The Tariff Of 1891 nutrht 10 sarya m n ,..o...t
to every ProtectiOnist, who believes that Protec.
ton 10 nome industry Is right. never again to
surrender any portion Of the system, or to sacri-
nee any particle of principle, upon grounds Of
political eXpediency 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 a ruthless hand; the duties
upon wool or WOODEN fabrics, upon many form,
OF iron, upon agricultural products, upon divers
and sundry other products, were lowered beyond
what many iudicious persons regarded as the
salty point We need not give the matter In de-
tail. 1t IL enough to say that the immediate re-
suit of the passage Of this act reducing the duties
was large increase OF lmportations and this
Increase has steadily continued until our imports
Of s5I3 600 600 In 1885 had swollen to imports in
1889 valued at s745,Gvo,O09. In the meantime,
though the population of this country has grown
with great rapidity, industry has languished, 50
that there are today probably more persons out
OF employment than were ever before In such n
condition, excepting in times of extreme indus
trial prostration. All the conditions of grea,
prosperity are here, but prosperity has come on
ly In scant measure. We have lost nearly 10.
oo,OyO S5gc? since 1888; our wool product ha,
declined; many OF our nCoian mills have beer
closed by foreign competition; the Iron indlstr,
is suffering from the same cause, the farmer.
are subjected to unprecedented foreign rivalry
ana millions Of money which might have beer
expended at home haze been sent abroad to pa,
imports Of goods which we could have made am
| should have made for ourselves This nation ha
! paid dearly for the foolish attempt to settle TN
Tariff question and to quiet the clamor Of tn
Free-Traders by partial sacrifice OF the indus
tries of the country.
We own the most splendid market in the wo.l
ana every other nation luSts after 1t with ire
presslDle desire European money viii be ey
pended here continuously and persistentiy &
secure Tor European manufacturers free entry /
this market for their commodities. II Is
rich prize and our rivals will not rest II they ca
not grasp it. The struggle between us and ,her
between our own industrial workers and IN
industrial forces OF Europe backed by the mas
OF the American Free-Traders. There Is bu
one method by means OF which we can manag
to hold our own, and that is by keeping the r.,
publican party lin both the legislative and e,
ecutlye branches OF the Federal government
The Tariff of 1888 was the WORK @, Republican
who nent well but were wanting In sagacit,