The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-09-23
PAW PAW. MICH, SEPT. %, 1891


Triumph of the Mckinley Tariff.
Most of the provisions of the so-called
Mckinley tariff law have now been in
force for year. The principal cxcep-
tions are the transfer of raw sugars to
the free list, in force April /, and the
increase of duty on tin plates, in force
July /, 1891. Short as has been the life
of this measure, and temporary as its in
fluence must necessarily have been, it
has already secured niche in the
country's history vouchsafed To few
Congressional enactments.
Under mortgage to IA faction of poll
teal theorists demanding as the price
of their support removal of all pro
tective duties, or failing this, the near
est possible approach thereto that could
command the necessary votes for its
passage, the representatives of what
some delight to call "the party of the
people" yielded to the lash in the hand
of King Caucus, and voted solidly
against every provision of the bill
against free sugar, us well as against
lowering the tariff on steel rails, and
every suggested provision for the effec-
tive collection of impost duties.
Passed in the face of such opposition,
the law went into effect under an avail
anche of invective and misrepresenta-
ton, calculated and designed to blind
10 kA ,cI. &c &c
provisions, and TO embarrass those
officials charged with its enforcement
Yet within the short period of its exis-
tence-in face of all impediments-the
law has wrought out vindicatiOn that
at once brings confusion to its Oppon-
ents and confirmation for the strongest
predictions of its supporters.
None of the necessaries of life affected
by tariff are higher now than one year
ago. More men can now find employ
ment at wages as high as were then paid.
No industry has been impaired, unless
it be that of the importer of foreign
goods; while number of foreign
capitalists, recognizing the futilty of
further efforts ut revenue reform" in
the direction of free foreign trade, are
moving their plants to this country,
when employees will be of our own peo-
pie, supplying all their varied wants
from the stores of this country, instead
of the one-tenth now sent abroad to feed
those who make foreign goods.
Under the fostering provisions of the
tin-plate clause-though only three
months in etfect-that important in
dustry has already made such progress
that invoices of home made plates, to
which all labor and materials are Ameri-
can, are now on the market. And
better still, prices have not been so
appreciably advanced as to affect retail
buyers. The good housewife now saves
more on her sugar bill in a month than
will be added to her bill for tinware in
year, and with stated sum buys
more goods for the comfort and adorn-
ment of home than at any previous
date in the worlds history.
This is the condition of affairs that
has SO overwhelmed the theories of
those who all along have prated about
the "blighting influence of protective
policy" For the thOusandth time, and
never more forcibly, has tariff framed
with the avowed object of fostering
domestic industries, while providing
revenue for support of government,
worked its vindication by securing at
the same time home competition that
minimizes the prices of products, pro-
vides steady employment for every
man who is willing to work, and thus
insures the happiness and independence
of all deserving citizens.