The National tribune., 1892-12-15

satisfactory.
GENERAL PROSPERITY.
The total wealth of the country in 1850 was So
596tG 06S In 1890 il amounted 10 S626iO,OoooUo
an increase OF PSI per cent.
Tbe total rniieare of RAILWAYS i'm the United States
In 1860 80 626 in 1sge it l61 al an increase
Of 44S per cent. aud it j. estimated that there VIII
be about 1900 mics OF track added by the close OF
The year le92.
The oflicia returns of the Ilth census and those
Of ihe 10Th for IS leading cities furnish TIE
basis for the following comparisons:
In 1850 the capital invested in manufacturing was
81 49, $50 go In 1890 the capital invested In man,
ufac;ur.g WAS sa.5o0,135,sSi In 1850 The number o.
employees WAS SOL ;}sS. In 1890 the number oi
employees WAS . 25i. 1874 Ia 1850 the wages earned
were s5o 965.77s. In 1850 the wages earned were
sl22l l70 454 In 1850 the value of the product was
Sail $40 1879 In 1890 the value of the product was
s., 500, 22-6. So.
am Informed by the Superintendent of the
Census that Tie omission of certain industries IN
1880 which included in 1890. accounts IN part
the remaE kable increase thus shown But alter
making fali allowance for differences OF method,
and deducting the for ali industries not in
Guided in the census of 1850, there remain IN me
reports from thcs - cities increase IN the capl-
tai employed of s. 522 as Co.. in the value of the
product OF s202i, $50 loo; la wages earned OF So''-
az, oay, and IN the number of wage-eariers en-
ployeG OF S55,029. The wage earnings not only
show an Increased aggregate but an increase per
capita from S3s6 III lsSO 10 S547 in 1880 Oh ALI per
cent
The President quotes a variety of statistics
from the american Economist, the reports OF Ira
sources. OF tinrlate he says:
At the date of Sept. so, 1892, there were 81 COM
psnies manufacturing tin and ierne plate IN the
United States. amd ii companies building new
works for such manufacture. The estimated Ia
vesincut ia buildings ard plants at the close OF
The fiscal year. June 90 1893 If existing conditions
10 be continued, WAS S50o0.00o. and the esti-
mated rate OF production 2uO.0Gl.0O0 pounds per
annum. The actual production for the quarter
ending Sept. 30. 1872, WAS 10, S52, I25 pounds.
Attention is called to the fact that the value
of our foreign trade for 1892 exceeded the
average of the preceding years 10y 27.47 per
cent, and that the value of our exports reached
the highest figure known in our history,
amounting TO $1,000, 27S,lss exceeding by
S145, 797, 33s the exports of 1891, and the value
of the imports by $500, 6S6
The coastwise trade also shows an encour-
aging improvement. The aggregate traffic on
our railroads for the year 1891 amounted to
70i, 1895, COS tons of freight. compared with
69l 3i4 49, tons in 1890 an increase Of H. 054 l72
TONS
Another indication of the general prosperity
of the country is found in the fact that the
number of depositors in savings banks in
creased from 693, SO in 1860 to 1, 25S. 500 in
1890, an increase of 513 per cent, and the
amount of deposits from SAG, 277. 504 in 1860
TO S1,52s, 344 ,506 in 1890, an increase of 92l
per cent. 1t is estimated that 80 per cent OF
these deposits represent the savings of wage
ending Sept. 30 1891, amounted to ST., 049, $780,
SOC. For the same months in 1892 they
amounted 10 $45, 1S9. Col. 9l7. an excess for the
nine months of $4,l40,21l,l39.
There has never been time in our history
when work WAS SO abundant or wages so high.
1t is true that the market prices of wheat and
cotton have been low. but the general average
Of prices has been such to give TO agricUl-
ture fair participation in the general pros
perity. The value of total farm products has
been increased from s., 1863, 646. sec in 1860 to
s. 500 COO coo in 1891. If any are disconnected
with their wages prices. they should re-
member that in every other country the con-
ditions that seem hard TO them would be
accepted as highly prosperous.
THE TARIFF SYSTEM.
believe that The protective system, which has
for eomet hing more tlfan 80 years continuously
prevailed in our legislation has been mighty
instrument for the development of our National
wealth. aud most powerful agency in protect-
ing tie homes OF our workingmen from the in
vasion OF want. have felt most solicitous inter
est To preserve to our working people rates OF
wages that would not only give daily bread but
eGppl: comfortable margin for those home at
fractions aud family comforts and enjoymenis
WitbOg; which life Is neither hopeful sweet.
They are American cillzens-a part Of the great
people for whom our Constitution and Government
framed aud insiituied-and il cannot be q
peryersCn of that Constitution to 90 lGeisate : to
preserve Ia their homes the comfort. independence,
loyalty, and sense Of interest in the Government
which are essential 10 good citizenship in peace
and which VIII bring This stalwart tlirong. in
1861, 10 the defense Of the flag when il sassailed.
II my purpose renew here the argument
in favor of protective tariff. The result of the
recent election must be accepted having intro
dgced new policy. We must assume that the
present Tariff constructed upon the lines of protec-
ton il TO lie repeated and that there is to be susti-
tuted for IL r tariff law constructed solely with
reference TO revenue; that duty il TO be higher
because the increase will keep open an American
mill or keep up the wages Of an American work
man. but that in every case such rate of duty il
tie ina posed will bring 20 the Treasury of the
United States the largest returns of revenue The
contention has not been between schedules but
between principles, and II would be offensive TO
suggest that the prevailing party will not carry
into iegisa alton the principles advocated by and
the pledges given to the people. The tariff bills
passed by the House OF Representatives al the last
session were. az suppose-even in The opinion of
their observation-disclosures and justified only by
the fact HAT tie Senate and House of Representa-
lives not in accord. aud that general evision
could not. therefore, be undertaken
recommend that the " hole subject of tariff re-
vision be lelt 10 the incoming Congress- IL IL a
matter Of regret that this work must be DELAYED
for al least three months for the threat of great
tariff changes introduces so much Uncertainty tat
an amount, not easily estimated, Of business mac
lion and OF diminished production will necessarily
result. III Is possible Also that this uncertainty
may result In decreased revenues from customs
duties. for merchants will make cautious or
ders for foreign goods in view OF the prospect oi
tariff reductions and the uncertainty as TO when
they will lake effect Those who have advocated
protective tariff can well afford to nave their dis
asirous forecasts OF change of policy dsap-
pointed. II system OF customs duties can be
framed that will set the Idle wheels and looms a
Europe la motion and crowd our warehouses with
fore !. "a made goods, and a. the same time keen
own mills busy that VIII give increased
participation IN tie markets OF the world" Of
greater value ilsan Tire home market we surrender
that viii give Increased work TO foreign work m en-
upon products TO he consumed by our people with
out diminishing lbe amount of work to be done
here, that VIII enable the American nufacturer
10 pay 10 his workmen from 80 10 100 per cent
ts xra ftos a. RansA d.,
and yet 20 compete IN our market and in foreign
markets with the foreign producer that will
further reduce the articles OF wear and food with.
cut reducing the wages OF those who produce
them; that be celebrated after It's effects have
been realized. as lis expectation has been In Euro
pesn well American cities. the authors and
promoters OF IL will be entitled To the highes
praise. We nave Ind Ia our history several expe
reDces OF The eoniFasted effects of a revenue and
protective tariff but this generation has not fell
them. aud The experience OF one generation is no
highly Instructive 10 the next. The friends of tbs
protective system, with undininished confidenc,
IA the principles they have advocated, will avail
the results OF the new experiment.
The strained and often disturbed relations
existing between the employees aud the EMPLOYER
in our great manufacturing establishments hay.
moi been favorable 10 q calm consideration by tb,
wage-earDer Of the effect upon wages OF the pro
tec.ive Ssienl. The facts that his wages tn
highest paid in like caliincs in the world, and tina
maintenance of this rate of wages in the absene
OF protective duties upon the product Of his labor
impossible obscured by the passion
evoked 10y these contests. He may now be able [.
review the question in the light of his persona
experience under the operation OF a tariff for reve
only. IL that experience shall demonstrai
that present rates OF wages are thereby maintaine