Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-09-01
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
OBJECTS AND RESULTS OF THE M'KINLEY REvIs-
ION OF 1890.

OBJECTS AND RESULTS OF THE NJ KlNLEY REVIs-
ION OF 1890.
The revision of our tariff laws In 1890 was
made with a view to reduce the revenue
from imports, and at the same time to pre-
serve the industries of our country, and its
labor from excessive competition of poorly
paid labor in other countries. That revision
was made with care and the final result
embodied the average Judgment of the rep
resentatives of the people, who favor protec-
ton to our industries and our own labor,
against like industries aud labor in foreign
countries.
The special object was not to increase
profits TO manufacturers nor to increase the
scale of wages to labor, nor To- increase the
cost of commodities, but whilst providing
adequate revenue. to provide constant en-
ployment to all classes of workers at re-
munerative wages, and to enable those en-
gagged in producing things here TO produce
them with reasonable profit, rather than
ut loss, having reference to the scale of
wages, and by increasing production reduce
the cost of production and the price to con-
sumers, relying upon the active competition
of sixty-five millions OF people TO insure
reduction of price TO consumers to scale
with our mode of living as compared with
any like number of people producing the
same things in other countries.
THE LAW Is HUMAN, NOT PERFECT.
This bill was not perfect bill IL was
the best attainable. II was the work of hui
man brains under the spur ofnecessity, as
revision was imperative. 1t encountered in
its pathway many selfish interests; many
diverse interests of states ana localities.
Some of its rates may be too high. Some Of
its classihcations may not be wholly just,
but as whole it was the average judgment
of congress, acting with a conscientious
purpose TO uplift the vnried material inter
ests of our country, for the benefit of all,
without injustice to any.
Listening to the arguments of our oppo-
nents, one not familiar with our history,
would suppose that up to this revision of
1890, we had in our tariff laws in no way
Disseminated in favor of our own producers.
The truth being that with the exception of
the laws of 1916 and 1857, such discrimina-
tion has been the uniform rule from the
foundation of our government, the policy
involved being sanctioned by all the great
men who founded our government and
started 1t upon its career of greatness.
Every statesman from George Washington
to Andrew jackson, including the patron
saint of the Democratic party, Thomas JEFF
ferson, favored this policy.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FAVORED.
The revision of 1890 was on the line of this
policy. The general fairness of this revis-
ion will be seen, when 1t Is stated that upon
a majority of the articles no change of rate
mas made; upon very many of them, nota-
bly, upon iron and steel products, except
cutlery, guns and tin plate, the rates were
reduced; upon others, where practicable to
establish new industries, and upon certain
of them, already established, where rates
were too low, the rate of duty was increased
This was true notably, upon all agricultural
products where our farmers had experienced
close and damaging competition with the
farmers of the Dominion of Canada. The
free list was enlarged with respect to great
articles of necessary consumption, not
largely produced in our country and of uni
versai consumption, notably sugar not above
No. 10 Dutch standard.
The duty was greatly reduced on binding
Irvine and other articles of necessary con-
sumption. On all Injuries the high duties
already in existence, were maintained, and
in many cases increased, notably upon GER
tain kinds of tobacco and cigars. The duty
on wool was increased, and compensating
increase was made upon higher priced wool
en- fabrics. This law was, at first dissap-
pointing in some respects, many having
been led to believe that there would be a
reduction of duty upon most articles in the
tariff schedules. A careful examination of
the condition of our industries, however,
disclosed that in many cases rates could not
be reduced, and in many cases slight in
crease was necessary, unless our producers
were to be crippled or destroyed. The basis
of this revision and the intention of it's
trainers were TO equalize labor and other
conditions, so as to enable our producers to
compete in production with other countries.
That this competition is still sharp may be
seen by examination of the tables Of i'm
portation.
HOW MANY VOTERS WERE DECEIVED.
The enemies of protection, and those
favoring free trade, at once upon the pass
age of the law, seized upon the few in
stances where duties had been advanced,
notably upon high priced wooden goods, up
| on linen goods, upon tin plate and kindred
exceptional instances, to raise the cry that
| all prices had been advanced to the con-
sumner. met carpenter, a friend of mine,
| at home on my return, in the fall of 1890,
who told me he had to pay ten cents more
| for n saw because of the Mckinley bill He
was surprised when told him that neither
! the Mills bill nor the Mckinley bill had
| changed the duty. SO n friend of mine, had
| just purchased pair of shoes ut an ad-
| vance of fifteen cents from the year before,
| and he charged the increase to the law of
1890. He was, also, surprised when l told
| him that we had reduced the duty on all
| boots and shoes FIVE per centum. These
| illustrations show how these false charges
| were made the basis of the campaign of
| 1890, and many voters were doubtless de-
ceived by it and voted the Democratic tick
ct that year.
But ALL Is CHANGED now.
But all this is changed this year. Two
| years of experience disclose that articles of
| necessary consumption, with the exception
| of agricultural products, were never so low
| as now, nor has there ever been a period
| when the general rate of wages was as high
as now; NOR a period when the workmen in
the strict sense of the word, has so fully Sc
| cured to his own use and enjoyment such a
steadily and progressively increasing pro-
| portion of constantly increasing products"
These are not my words, but are the words
! of distinguished economist and statistic
| ian, Edward Atkinson, more of a Democrat
than a Republican. Senator Carlisle in his
speech recently delivered in the senate,
confirms this view, saying:
| 81 think il is the unanimous opiniou of
\ economists and statisticians who have in
vcstigated the subject that for many years
/ IN all the great industrial and com m arcial