Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-14


hIsrokr As kgPKArEx.
When the t2nf duty VAS FIRST Ad-
valced on stesl rails. for the purpose
Of encouraging the domestic msnafAe-
ture or an article - necessary 70 the
development OF our country, the same
hue and cry went up from free traders
that Is now making the weikin hldeoas.
The tariff was 10 be added 20 the cost
and taken from the people 10 Ill the
Golfers Of the manufacturers The
people, Il is true. did not have to use
steel rails for food and clothing. bat all
their food and clothing had 10 Dc trans
ported over the steel rails. Increased
cost OF Of steel rails would make high
er freight rates and higher freight
rates would make higher prices for
food and clothing. The reasoning Was
all very fine, but the promises were
fatally defective and so the conclusion
MAS fzlse. Unfortunately for the reas-
oning and the CONCLUSION, the tariff
WAS not added to the cost of steel rails.
The cost CT steel rails kept falling, I'M
I'll 1t Was reduced TO less than one-fifth
the English price before the tariff Was
increased. Our manufacturers were
spurred TO extraordinary exertions TO
supply the American market. They
rasked their brains To introduce new
methods of manufacture. Competition
became intense and prices were forced
down. And all this was done-the
market supplied and the prices re-
duced-during most remarkable
boom in railroad building, when steel
rails were called for in all parts Of the
country. American labor was en-
pioyed at good wages and American
money was kept at home, in
stead OF going to fill the Golfers of Eng
lsh manufacturers at the rate of $3.50
per ton for steel rails. 1t is safe to say
that the steel rail industry would never
have been developed as 1t has been, nor
would the many miles of railroad have
been built, had not that impetus been
given to the home production. History
is about to repeat itself, in the manu-
facture Of tin plates. We hear the
same hue and cry. During the CAM
paign last fall, the poor mans dinner
pail came TO the front as political
''bugaboo,. and it is sad commentary
on the intelligence OF the American
voter, that such methods can be re-
sorted to, to influence his vote. A
politician who would not dare to insult
voter with the offer of money for his
vote. will unblushingly excite his preju-
dice, with an argument of sound, not
sense. But the country Is now CON-
mitted to the manufacture of tin
plates. Arrangements are we'll on the
way, in several places, for the establish
ment OF factories and in few years the
history OF steel rail manufacture will
be paralleled in that of tin plates. Said
a gentleman, recently, who is about 10
commence the making of tin plates in
Brooklyn, N. Y: Americans would
never have attempted to make steel
rails in largo quantities had they not
been protected against foreign COMPETE
ton by an advance in the duty. Now
Americans are in position to compete
with the world in the making of steel
rails, and think that there will he the
same experience in tin plate making"
The importation of two places from
one district in Wales, during 1890. was
$500, 900 boxes, representing valua-
ton OF $50, 000, 900, the average price
being s. per box. This great country
cannot afford to be dependent upon
England for its supply OF tin plates.
Any difficulty with England would shut
off our supply at once and seriously
Inconvenience our canning interests
and effect US injuriousIy in many ways.
1t is tar better for any nation to be as
independent Of all others as her re-
sources will permit, then she can deal
with her neighbors on terms of better
advantage. The prince receives better
treatment in this world than the pau
per. and the United States. we'll dcvel.
oped, prosperous and wealthy, will
derive more benefit from CONNIE rcial
contact with other nations than if she
goes as beggar into their markets.
"God helps him who helps himself" is
Just rs true of nations as of individuals.