The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-28
OMILD PROTECTION"

"MILD fho FL lloN.
David B. Hill, in his speech at the Tam
many Hall ratification meeting in New
York city, on Tuesday evening last, said:
1t will be observed that 1t is Republican pro-
lection which lie thus denounced, not the mild
protection OF our early history to the real infant
industries when the excuse for il was more de-
fensible Republican protection becomes worse
and more intoerable as the years roll on.
Let US look at the facts and we shall see
that David B. Hill does not knew the his
torical truth concerning pro lection in the
past or is willing to tell brazen falsehood
for political effect. Under the first pro-
tective tariff. that of 1889, q specific duty
while the purely revenue duties imposed
were but per cent. The tariff of 1916
taxed cotton and wooden goods; the tax
on cotton goods was fixed at 25 per cent;
woolens, 25 per cent. The tariff of 1924
raised the tax on woolens, and imposed a
tax on wool graded at Is per cent, 20 per
cent. and 80 per cent. In the tariff Of 1898
the tax on rolled iron was raised to s37
ton, and the tax on forged iron to So. 40.
The tax on steel was raised to $50 ton;
on hemp to $45 ton; on fax to s45 ton.
Sugar. salt, glass, tea and coffee were
taxed. The average tariff rate was 47.Sl
per cent.
The South revolted against this tariff, as
Calhoun, who was protectionlst in 1916,
had become free trader. and the tariff of
1882, introduced by McDuffie, of South
Carolina, reduced the average tariff rate to
$3.50 per cent. South Carolina was not
satisfied, and to quiet the notification
conspiracy and afford Calhoun a chance
to retreat and save his neck Henry Clay
procured the passage of the compromise
tariff of 1888, which reduced the average
rate of duties to 49, % per cent. Financial
disaster followed.
This compromise tariff Of 1888 was an
experiment. Its supporters were free
traders. and protectionists, like Clay, who
were willing to compromise with the ene-
mics of protection banded together to de-
stroy the Union. 1t was opposed by Web
ster on the ground that it would weaken
the principle of protection and also en-
barrass the government by too great re-
duction of the revenue. The predictions
of Webster were fully verified, and by the
election of $40 it was evident that the
country believed it would not recover from
its financial and mercantile paralysis with
out a change in the tariff policy. Here is
an extract from the Harrison Almanac of
1910 that is timely quotation.
WHO WILL VOTE THE VAN BUREN, TICKET?
All who wish to have property of every de-
scripton reduced to one-hali or one-third its
former value.
All who wish to see the price OF labor reduced
TO a level with that paid in Europe
WHO WILL vors FOR THE HARRISON rrcKRrf
All who wish to have property stand at its fair
value. and labor receive its just recompense
All who believe that the condition OF our
workingmen has been better than that of the
worsingmen of Europe, and who wish t. have
il remains
The tariff Of 1888 as q tariff for revenue
had proved an absolute. dismal failure.
From ISIS TO 1888. both inclusive. the an
nual average revenue from customs was
$24, 92l ,9Sl. For the six years immediately
following, from 1884 10 1910. both inclusive.
the annual average revenue was but
$50. 49S. 62l. the annual average de-
crease OF the six latter years as
compared with the former six, be-
ing 81. AS, $50. The gross expenditures un-
der Van .Buren's administration exceeded
by Sl9,619, 2l9 the aggregate revenue from
customs for the entire last six years. The
sale Of public lands and loans alone saved
would have been impossible to carry on
the government under the operation of q
tariff for revenue only. The revenue from
customs ran down IN 1910 10 Si3. 500. 900 q
decrease of $9,63S i23 in one year.
In ls40 when the reduction Of duties pre-
seTioed by the revenue tariff Of 1888 was
nearly completed, the actual expenditures
of the government exceeded the actual in
come by more thai So. 900. on. and actusi
receipts in ISL ami ls42. the two wear. of
most strictly rereHuc duties, were less than
SIS .on,0o per annum. By December.
lN4i, the deficit in the revenue was re-
ported at s4400), 900. and President TYLER
n his message said ait seemed probable
that duties on some articles OF importa.
uon would have 10 he advanced above ri
per cent"
This meant that the Southern comnro-
mise tariff for revenue only Of 1883 vas a
failure and had become obsolete. The
Wings passed the tariff law Of Is42. which
raised the tariff rate To 1892 per cent.
mus reviving the principle of protect or
and relntroducing discrimination in favo~
81 protecting domestic industry. Its ben.
~-ts we're Immediately apparent. The r..
celFts from customs up 10 June 81. ls4a
we're s2324,752 As against sl44S-2l7 for
ne previous year under the comprornise
act Of 1885. or over IS per cent. In one vesr
"a favor Of the tariff II 1872.
The people were SO strongly favorable T.
protection n the campaign O. 1874 thai
Folk who was nominated by the Southern
democrats as opposed TO the protective
rArlif Of is42 would have been beaten
aa3 lie not n June. 1874 xritte, n Iat,ar