Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-24
FRUITS OF PROTECTION.
FIGURES SHOWING OUR ADVANCE
IN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

Our Wealth Nearly Quadrupled-Many
New Industries Created-High Standard
of Wages Observation-Disclosures in the
Peoples Savings
The wealth of the United States j.
1850 was sixteen thousand million dol
lars, one-half of which was DESTROYED
during the civil war In June, 1887, our
wealth touched the imperial figures Of
sixty thousand millions, earning seven
millions each day. In 1850 the wealth
of the United States was $415 per capita;
in 1887, 81 900 per capita. In these years
of Protection the United States has
earned over one-half of the sum added
to the worlds wealth during that time.
We nearly equal Great Britain in pro-
duction of iron, aud excel her in the
production of steel. In 1880 manufac-
lures in the United States amounted to
81, 800, 900, 900; in 1887 to $1,000, 900 900.
Our total industries now amount to S11,-
900 ,0OO, 900.
The western states manufa ctured
nearly as much in 1887 as the whole
country in 1860 The southern states
alone now make 10 per cent. more pig
iron than was made in the United States
in 1850. The annual product Of the
United States exceeds that of England
by more than one-half, and our trade Is
double that of England. England has
increased her commerce less than six
times since 1880; the United States has
increased her commerce more than six
times. While England. has increased
her export trade four times, the exports
of the United States have increased
eight times. In these years, from the
third producing power, we have risen to
the first. Up to 1880 the entire exports
of the United States were $4,000, ,0OO,-
600; since then they have amounted to
$4,000, ,000,0 900.
Protection has practically created
many great industries since 1860-crock-
cry, silk, steel rails, etc.-employing
countless laborers and distributing thou
sands of millions of money among our
people. From no steel rails produced in
1867 we have risen to 2, 1O1, ,904 tons pro-
duced in 1887. cheapening the cost of
rails, enabling US to increase our rail-
roads from 10000 miles to 161 900, and
reducing cost of transportation to less
than half what it is in England. We
have now more miles of railroad than
all Europe, with rolling stock worth nine
times the merchant marine of England,
and our inland trade is twenty times
greater than her foreign commerce
Protection by creating home markets
hoS Of e.,
from $6,645, ,046,007 in 1850 to $40, ,192,-
006, ,776 in 1880. 1t has in the same time
increased our farm products from 81 ,675,-
70, ,972 to So, 726, ,S21 ,422 Of this vast
increase less than one-tenth has been
exported; more than nine-tenths has
been consumed at home. The want of
an adequate home market for our wheat
has put our wheat growers at the mercy
of half civilized India. The only remedy
is to diminish production or increase the
hcme market.
Protection has maintained the high
standard of wages in the United States,
which is double that of England. II
the American laborer would live as En-
glish laborers do he could save 81 per
cent. of his wages. They save only
per cent of their wages. American peo-
pie should not, and will not, submit to
the low standard of wages prevailing in
other countries. They decrease the pur-
chasing power and the consuming power
of the people. Free-trade in England
meant cheap bread and has ruined her
farmers. Free-trade in this country
means cheap labor, diminished power to
consume, low prices for farm products,
and in the end ruin for our farmers.
Protection has increased the savings
of our people. There is deposited in the
savings banks of the state of New York
alone 1906, 200, 600, which is $t0J, coo. 900
more than the entire accumulations in
the savings banks of England IN four
centuries.
Protection has diversified as well as
created industries It has opened new
and fruitful fields for the employment
of women. 1t has enriched and educated
our people and qualified them for the
duties of freemen. High wages has
made happy homes and good citizens.
There never was on this earth people
so free. so prosperous and with such
splendid possibilities as the 60,000,O00
that dwell in tLis republic. Shall the
protective policy which has accomplished
this be overthrown?