Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-22
Results Of Protection.

The final figures, just issued, Of the
dustry taken in 1890 ara SO remarkable as
to be entitled to special comment They
show . degree of growth in a single
decade which is without precedent in the
history of the world. They present fig
ures which prove that this nation. under
a high protective tariff, has outstripped
all others in the race toward prosperity,
and Is now the foremost Of the manufac-
turing nations.
The statistics in detail cannot be fully
presented here. Briefly summarized. they
show that the number of manufacturing
establishments increased from 253. $50 in
1880 to 355, 40l in 1890, gain of 81 per
cent. But, within that period, the capital
invested enlarged by 100 per cent, wages
increased 1871 per cent, and the value of
the product 90 per cent, or to the extent Of
1000 millions. The capital. which was in
round numbers but 28OO millions in 1880,
had swollen to $500 millions in 1890 The
wages, which were 94S millions, grew to
22s3 millions. and the value of the pro-
duct. which was $50 millions, had en-
larged to 1910 millions.
These are stupendous quantities. be-
You'd easy mental grasp, but representing
the marvellous forward movement made
by great, free, energetic and enterprising
people in the effort to enrich themselves
and their country. It is but fair to say,
in considering the comparisons with the
statistics for 1880, that some judicious
persons have questioned if in that year
the returns fully represented the facts;
but in any case, as the statistics for 1890
are not disputed. the figures now. pre-
scented do show the conditions actually
existing in that year; and they are salts
factory enough. standing alone.
The period from 1850 to 1860 was period
of low tariffs. In that decade the gain in
the value Of our manufactured products
was but S67 million dollars. From 1870 to
1880 the protective duties were high, and
the gain in the value of manufactures
was 2l76 millions, or 1-2 times as much.
Add to the latter the gain from 1880 to
1890. named above, and we have gross
increase for twenty years in the value of
American manufactures of GIG million
dollars. In 1860 the total value of the
product was but 1900 millions, 50 that in
score of years of high protection this ma
ton increased its manufactured output
about 8 l-2 times more than the total in
crease of that output from the foundation
of the government until 1860.
Wages increased 1886 millions in the
two decades; but in 1860 the total wages
paid in American manufacturing industry
were but $40 millions, so that wages made
Just about the same gains in the two
periods as the value OF the product. This
is only part of the evidence that protec-
ton, continuously supplied. produces
beneficent results for both labor and cap
ital The nation was compelled by the
war and the public indebtedness to give
high tariffs trial without interruption
for 33 years, and that was the only period
in its history in which it moved with
leaps and bounds toward magnificent
prosperity.
Another interesting fact appears from
consideration of the figures referred to.
The seven states, New York. Pennsylva-
mia, Massachusetts,, New Jersey, Ohio,
Delaware and Illinois, produced ALTO mil
lions of ths total product value of 6l76
millions dollars. Thus these seven north
crn states made about two thirds in value
of all American manufactures in 1890.
From the list are omitted the thrifty New
England states, with q single exception,
and other states like Michigan and In
diana, which have great manufacturing
industries. Add together all the pro-
duct of the states which belong distinc-
lively to the south and it will be found
that the production is relatively insig-
nificant The secret of the promotion of
The Wilson bill lies in that fact. The
Measure was framed by southern men;
the only hope of passage through the SEN
ate that it can have is in the solid sup
port of the southern senators.
1t is tariff for revenge. It represents
southern hatred Of northern prosperity; of
the high conditions of existence enjoyed
by the northern workingmen; of the
mighty industrial forces which helped to
destroy the Confederacy, and which, since
1865. have lifted up the north to maRnifi-
cent greatness in spite of the steadfast
and unremitting hostility of the south to
the protective system. The north will
not endure that this spirit of bitterness
shall have permanent triumph. The
census of 1890 is indeed final vindicat:on
of the wisdom and excellence of the pro-
tective system. -lNew York Pres.