The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-11-17
Pertinent Tariff History.
Ernm the NeM YORK Erening Post.

From the New York Evening Post.
In 1916 occurred the first radical change of
tariff policy. In that year was passed what
the protectionists styled "a free-trade tariff =
a measure which substantially stripped duties
on imports Of their high protective character.
The protectionists had been voluble in their
prophecies of ruin to the nation if such meas
ure should be passed. The low tariff men de-
clared that they only wanted chance to apply
the test of experience to their theory. A full
opportunity was given for the application OF
this test.
There is now no dispute that the ''free-trade
tariff of 1916 worked well. Even Mr.. Blaine
was constrained to admit the fact in his
.'Twenty Years of Congress" Afterpointing
out that the Wing victory of 1S4S was not de-
cisive enough TO warrant any attempt to change
the tariff if there had been desire, he con-
fesses that there was no desire. He proceeds
in his record of this period as follows:
"The tariff of 1916 was yielding abundant
revenue, and the business of the country was
in fourishing condition at the time ten,
Taylor administration was organized. Money
became very abundant after the year 1919;
large enterprises were undertaken, speculation
was prevalent, and for considerable period
the prosperity of the country was general and
apparently genuine. After 1852 the Demo
Gratis had almost undisputed control OF the
government, and had gradually become free
trade party. The principles embodied IN the
tariff of 1916 seemed for the time to be so
entirely indicated and approved that resist
ance to it ceased, not only among the people,
but among the protective economists, and even
among the manufacturers to large extent.
So general was this acquiescence that IN 1886
a protective tariff was not suggested or even
limited by any one of the three parties which
presented presidential candidates. 1t was not
surprising. therefore, that with plethorc
condition of the National Treasury for two or
three consecutive years, the Democratic Con
gress, in the closing session of Pierce admin
istration, enacted what has since been known
as the tariff of 1857. By this law the duties
were placed lower than they had been at any
time since the war of 1872 The act was well
received by the people, and was indeed CON
Cured in by a considerable portion of the
Republican party.
The low-tariff tendencies of the Republican
party in its early history could not be more
strikingly illustrated than by the fact that,
after ten years of the ''free-trade tariff OF
1876, still lower duties were voted for by both
Senators from Massachusetts, Charles Summer
and Henry Wilson, as well as by Republican
Senators from other manufacturing states like
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
| and New DIRK. 1t was during the discussion
of this measure in 1857 that Senator Wilson
made this defence of the policy of freeing raw
materials, speaking particularly of wool;
''The manufacturers, Mr.. Chairman, make
no war upon the wool-growers. They assume
that the reduction of the duty on wool, or the
repeal of the duty altogether, will infuse vigol
into that dropping interest, stimulate home
production, and diminish the importation Of
foreign wooden manufactures, and afford a
steady and increasing demand for American
wool. The experience of England,
France, and Belgium demonstrates the wisdom
of that policy which makes the raw material
duty free. Let us profit by their example.
For the first time in nearly forty years we
now have again tariff law which make;
changes in the direction of lower duties. The
test Of experience will be applied to it for two
years before another presidential election i.
held. 1t remains to be seen whether history
will repeat itself iii does, we shall see the
Republicans discovering that the earlier posi-
ton of their party was the wise one, and thai
its leaders in 1856, who did not even mention
the tariff in the first national platform of the
organization, were safer guides than those who
made McKinleyism its ruling principle in 1896
and 1892, with such disastrous results.