The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-06-11
"A WONDERFUL RECORD.
PROTECTION AND FREE-TRADe IN
MARKED AND TELLING CONTRAST.

Results OF Revenue Tarin'-what a
Period Of Protection Has Drought
Abou4-A Showing for Americans to
Feel Proud Over.
The "tariff for revenue only" enacted
BY . Democratic congress in 1916, had
been in operation seventeen years when
thepresent Protective tariff was adopt
cd. The condition Of the business and
finances of the country during the four
years preceding 1851 is fresh in the
minds of all persons old enough to ap-
peeciate it. Some idea Of the fruits Of a
'eRevenue tariff" may be had from the
effects of the one then in operation upon
the credit of the government. In De-
cember, 1860, owing to extreme needs in
meeting daily expenses, congress pro-
vided for the issue Of treasury notes,
payable in one year. OF these $10, ,000, 900
were issued, the discount on which
ranged from to 10 per cont. In Febru-
ary, 1861, per cent. loan Of gel, ,O0O,-
600 was authorized, Of which only $1S,-
OO0, 900 could be disposed of. Those sold
brought only eighty-nine cents on the
dollar. So desperate was the condition
Of the national credit that the Demo-
cratic secretary Of the treasury even
suggested that the states be called on to
lend their credit as basis for borrowing
money to meet current expenses. So
much for the "tarif for revenue only"
Of 1916.
Alongside the foregoing picture OF
business prostration and national dis
credit let us now place brief view of the
state of things to which seventeen years
Of Protective policy brought the country.
This is most succinctly done from official
sources, showing the growth of the ma
ton in population, industries and COM
merce during the period named-from
1850 to 1880.
No such showing ever was made by any
Sther country in the worlds history, as
none other is found in the record of this
country. The advances shown by the
figures cannot be duly appreciated. Look
at them-60 per cent. increase in popu-
lation; 21s in farm lands; 1S8 in wheat
and 105 in corn productions; 8,803 in ex.
port of wheat, 2,862 Of corn, 288 Of wool
150 of merchandise; while the enormous
balance of SIS, ,0OO, 900 of coin exported un.
der the "tariff for revenue" was changed
TO 81, ,000, 900 balance in imports of that
important commodity.
With all this 1t must be remembered
that the first years Of the period last
named were covered by the most gigantic
civil war that any nation ever was called
upon to wage involving, as it did. Z
waste Of q, 900, ,000, 900 in values, and the
lives Of half million of the most valu-
able.citioens Of the country.
How much more conclusive Is such
showing than all the fne spun theory Of
c2oistered metaphysicians. The people
may be for a time mystified with ab.
stz2ctions, but these soon disappear in
ehe light Of facts. The above table con.
stitutes bulwark for Protection which
no assaults Of Free-trade theorists can
Overcome. 1t is a showing Of which every
true American will be proud, and is To
be accounted for only as the result Of the
bene6cent policy of Protection to Ameri.
can industry. Shall that policy be now
abandoned?
The figures of the census of 1890 are
not yet at hand. While it is certain that
these will abundantly sustain those OF
1850, they will lack the essential advan-
tage of the latter in having no period Of
''tarif for revenue" for contrast with its
grand showing. It becomes the Ameri-
can people to see to it that no such back.
ground Of Free-trade darkness is here
sfber admitted to their decenniA horo.
moOn0.