The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-18
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u-.,,,,,,n s,.cidl IN PatsourcA Dlpatth,
Tho commerce Of the United States
nth other nations under the Mckinley
t,rif law is not likely to DO an object Of
attack by Democratic FREQ trade orators
during the coming campaign. Figures
ran be made to lie, but the figures pro-
jared by the bureau Of statistics of the
treasury department have always been
accepted by tho disputants Of both
nartios as unquesttonably accurate.
Tho data for comparative statements
of tho foreign trade Of the United States
during the fiscal year ending June so,
1892, have just been finished as to totals
by the treasury department. lam able
N rive these totals at least a week in
ADVANCE Of their official publication.
I can emphasize, however, the state
nent that these figures are not esti-
mated. but are absolutely verified, and
are given us by tho full authority Of the
cIicf Of the bureau OF statistics OF the
trnSsury department. Unlike most
dgurcs, these are eloquent They afford
yindication OF the Mckinley tariff
which will undoubtedly cause some
strong protection speeches in Congress
next weok, which the anti-protectionist
Talers against what they call high taxes
and the imbecility OF the American
citizen 10 buy the products Of other
nations will DO unable to answer.
FIGURES TO KNOCK OUT FREE TRADERS.
Hero are,the figures in which the free
traders viii certainly find their Water
loo in tho presidential campaign: For
Tho flrst time in tho history Of the Uni
ted States the value OF Its exports is ST.
0SO.SS5 GEO. This shows an enormous
increase over the exports for the same
period OF last year OF $145, S45,Sl6. The
imnorts exceeded the exports by the
magnificent sum, representing the bal
ance Of trade in our favor, OF 500, 044,-
3i2.
The total sum Of our foreign trade in
Guiding imports and exports, reaches
the amazing figure, s., 1855, 820, 0l0; OF the
importations. the value of those free OF
duty for tho fiscal year ending June so,
1897, was S45S, 001, l45, while the value
Of the dutiaDle articles was 1929, 800, l39.
These figures speak for themselves.
but figures of even more eloquence in
favor OF high protection are the follow
ing: The percentage Of value OF i'm
ports FREQ OF duty compared with those
dutiable for the last fiscal year was
55.SS. 1t is only necessary to compare
this with the same percentage for pre-
vious years to show the beneficial effect
OF the Mckinley tariff.
TIE IMPORTS FREE FROM DUTY.
The percentage of imports free from
duty was in 1891 only 1918; in 1890,
8ll0, and in 1880, S4S1. This, ofcourse,
shows that under what free traders
called the enormous taxes OF the Nc
Kin!cy tariff act, the American citizen,
whether laborer or capitalist, is now
actually availing himself of a larger for
egn market than ever before, while at
the same time the balance OF trade is so
enormously in his favor as to reach tho
Impressive figure in q single year OF
S2O2,
Blu! overwhelming as these figures
will be to the free traders, even more
unanswerable will prove the astound-
ing statement that the actual nd valorem
percentage OF duties collected on the
total imports into the United States
during the fiscal year Just closed was
2065. Just compare this with the
same percentage for 1891, which was
$3.50, for 1890. which was 1892, and for
1889, which was 20.69, and any intelli-
gent student of figures can see that the
ratio OF taxation upon tho average i'm
ported product has, instead OF being in
creased, been enormously reduced. alike
to tho poor and the rich citizen Of the
United States, under the Mckinley
tariff.
FREE TRADE ARGUMENTS USELESS.
The arguments of the free trade ora
tors who opposed the Mckinley bill in
tho last Congress, and whose misrepre-
sensations largely caused the Demo
cratic majority in tho present house,
will fall TO the ground before this
simple statement OF fact, which cannot
be questioned or assailed rs to accuracy,
and which absolutely proves that the
practical operation of the Mckinley
tariff act has resulted in IN unpro-
CCdented value of exports for this
country; an enormous balance of trade
in favor OF the United States; conse.
qnent appreciation OF tho visible wealth
OF the country; tho absolute proof that
the imports free OF duty exceed those
iUtinhln hy n 0rno tnr noPOauta0a han
has appeared since the last Democratic
administration; aud, finally, n con-
yincing rcfutation OF the claim that the
general effect Of the Mckinley tariff
would be to raise tho duties on imports
to an unconscionable degree, by the
cold fact that tho average percentage Of
the ad valorom duties on tho total i'm
ports Tor each iiscal year has decreased
from 20,60 in 1889, to 20.65 in 1892.