The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-03

ports to Cuba, largely Of agricultural prod
ucts, were increased during the ten months
ending June 3d. 1892, as compared with the
corresponding ten months Of the previous fis-
cal year, S67 ,OOO, 600 or an increase of "a SO
per cent. 1t was natural for all classes OF peo-
pie to believe that their condition ought to
be and might be improved, but the assur-
ance displayed In this chamber in the at
tempts to convince the farmer, in the face
Of facts which he had recited, that he was
suffering untold evils as the result of the
tariff legislation had no parallel.
AS to the foreign commerce, Mr.. Aldrich
submitted tables which, he said, furnished
the convincing evidence to disprove state
ments so freely made as to the restrictive
effects OF tariff legislation on foreign COM
merce. An analysis of details Of both i'm
ports and exports would develop the fact
that desirable changes had taken place in
the character of each. The exports OF
manufactured and other articles, exclusive
OF all farm agricultural products and petro-
leum, amounted in value in 1892 70 $780,
$40. The amount of duty per capita
collected during the fiscal year, 1892, was
$3.50; that is less than half the relative
amount collected in 1872, the amount for
the latter year having been 1928 per capita.
These statements and comparisons must be
greatly gratifying to every patriotic Amer
lean, said Mr.. Aldrich.
In conclusion he said: Il have attempted
to answer all the objections to the act of
1890 that have been brought to my attention;
but have no idea that the work of the
friends of protection in this direction is
ended, as the crop of such misrepresenta-
tions is perennial. There is no limit to the
ingenuity or resources of the persons en-
ployed in manufacturing statistics for the
purpose of breaking down the protective
system, There has been heretofore how
ever, no hating or turning aside in the
triumphant march OF the American people
to industrial success and independence by
reason of the fabrications, prophecies or
hysterical cries OF professional reformers
and as | have unbounded faith in the brave
and vigorous men, the best fruits Of Amer
lean civilization, who are now leading the
way to greater achievements, do not be-
lieve that their progress in the future will
be retarded by those who stand by the way
side and make faces at the moving column.
There is no permanent place in American
politics for party that bases its claims for
popular support on the failures and disap-
pointments of the people. The purpose Of
the act of 1890, as repeatedly stated by its
advocates on this floor, was to provide for
the better security and the greater develop
ment of American industries and to main
tain the high level Of wages then existing in
the United States. The claims and expecta-
tons of the trainers of the measure have
been more than realized. The plain people
OF the United States have too much good
sense and discernment to mistake preten-
tious platitudes for philosophy They
are not likely to exchange the certainty of
satisfactory earnings and savings, of con-
slant employment and comfortable homes
for democratic promises of a millennium that
but the shadows of the unknown for which
an intelligent people will not surrender the
substance of present and abundant pros
perity."