Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-10-15
Some Facts and Figures for Free Traders to
Consider.
Extracts From One Of McKinley's Great
Speeches.

Last week Major Mckinley delivered
an address to eight thousand people
in Van Vert county, Ohio, in which
he took occasion to show up the falla-
cies of the free trade arguments in a
manner not to be misunderstood.
The following is a brief extract:
"Now as to tariff. The Democratic
party declares for a tariff for revenue
only-nothing more. 1t proposes to
levy on the articles we import tariff
that shall yield just enough to meet
the expenses OF the government. 1t
refuses to consider any economic
question beyond that of raising such
fund as will meet these outlays for
administration.
"The Republican party declares in
favor of raising the same amount OF
money for government expenses, and
proposing that in fixing the rates to
be paid tor the admission of foreign
goods, to discriminate in favor of the
products of American labor"
Taking up a water pitcher of china
ware from the reporters table, the
major said:
''The tariff on this kind of ware is
55 per cent. This is a pitcher OF
American make, but every such article
OF foreign make must pay a duty of
55 cents on each dollars worth. A
81 900 invoice of imported chinaware
must pay a duty of $3.50. Now mark
the result. Before 1860 we did not
manufacture a single china vessel.
Now we manufacture more than 80
per cent of all that is found upon our
shelves. Now if the Democrats had
made the tariff they would have levied
a duty of about 20 per cent, because
in this way they could obtain the
most money out OF chinaware. Under
such q duty they would obtain a
greater revenue than under our tariff
of 25 per cent. Why? Simply be-
cause there would be more than s.
worth of china imported where now
but 80 worth is brought in from
abroad. But every additional ship
load brought from abroad would dis
place a ship load of American china
ware, and they would fill your treas
ury by putting out the fires in your
factories, and by discharging thous-
ands of employees who are now in
those factories. What would become
of these discharged men? In this
country nature has kindly provided
for them. They can 60 onto the farm
and raise corn and wheat to sell in
the market alongside your wheat and
corn. They will stop eating the prod
ucts of your raising, for which they
have furnished a market. They will
feed themselves from their own farms,
and compete with you for the market
that is left you. Would you be willing
to lose the factory near you, and take
in it's place the full product of its la
Dor devoted to the raising of farm
produce? Which would you rather
have for your next neighbor, a factory
or another farm? General Jackson,
that staunch old Democrat, said that
if we would prosper we must put the
facto-y by the farm.
"There is a railroad and 1t passes
through your town. This road carries
more products than all the ships we
send across the ocean. OF all we raise
we send abroad but 8 per cent, and
we consume 92 per cent at home. The
Democratic party is working in the
interest of the 8 per cent. The Repub-
licans are caring for the 90 per cent.
We have eight consumers on the other
"
ty-two right here at home.
1.-THE Republican tariff made sugar
free. The Democratic party never
proposed free sugar. The Mills bill
proposed tariff of 215 to cents per
pound. When the present bill was on
its passage every Democrat in the
house and in the senate voted to
strike out free sugar. The Republi-
oil hl
years that industry had been protect,
ed we had only been able to produce
at home 8 per cent OF the sugars we
used. The other 90 per cent we i'm,
ported, and the cost of that importa,
tion to the consumers of the sugar
was $56, 100000 a year. Yes, but
our opponents say: You pay a boun
ty to American sugar raisers.' Yes,
We do; we found a large amount ol
capital invested in the manufacture ot
sugar, and the Republican party don'i
believe in crushing any industry. The
bounty costs us $4,000, 900 a year
That leaves q clear saving of S46,
100000 in the annual outlay fol
sugar.
"I have our tariff law here. WI
have now been living under it for ter
months. We may let it speak for it
self. In this time we have bough
more abroad than in any ten months
of our history from Washington tt
Harrison. And-don't forget it-w'
have sold $50, 900, 900 more than w
bought. Europe has in that tim
paid $50, ,OOO, 900 in gold into the lal
of the United States.
"Who feels the burden of this tariff
A man Is not badly burdened if b
don't feel it. He is not suffering mucl
| pain il he can't feel it. There is not
manufactured article that is no
cheaper than before. One bushel c
wheat buys more of the necessaries G
life than ever before.
"In the days of revenue tariff 90 pc
cent of the goods on our shelves wer
of foreign make, only 5 per cent hom
made. Now the figures are exactly n
yersed. Under this old law the pc
capita tariff was 1892. Under th
new it is but S2.52. Under the ol
tariff but "a per cent of our import
came in free; 66 per cent paid dut.
Now So per cent comes in free, an
only A per cent pays duty.
"The principle of this bill may
summed up in the statement that
contains not a line that Is not Amer
: can, nor a paragraph that is not p
triotic. There is not a farmer who
, not feeling the benefits of this law t.
day. There is not thing he has
, sell that does not bring more, nor
thing that he buys that is not cheape
q The benefits of the law fall on Repu
. licans and Democrats alike. 1t WI
r meant they should"
Major Mckinley then took up Il
subject of the "billlon dollar" co
gress, about which the Democrats a
Continually harping, and under /
vigorous treatment the campaign
a was clearly demonstrated to be wit
= out foundation. The major said:
"Governor Campbell and his frien
II are saying a great deal about the gre
e outlay of the last congress. The fift