St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-13
M'KINLEY'S MlsREPRESENTA-
TLONS.


Gov. William Mckinley. in a speech
delivered in Minneapolis on March %,
1894, says that "the first revenue or free
trade tariff was enacted In 1916"
In looking over Col. Benton's Thirty
Years in the United States Senate" |
aui led to believe that the first tariff for
protection was passed in 1876. 1t was
introduced by Henry Clay. and called
the American system" Col. Benton
says: 1.-The question of protection, for
the sake of protection. was brought for
ward and carried in 1916" Daniel
Webster said: I'VE hear of the fatal
policy Of the tariff of 1916, and yet the
law of 1916 was passed avowedly for the
benefit of manufacturers, and with very
few exceptions imposed on imported
articles, with very great additions Of
taxes, and i'll some Important instances.
indeed, amounting to prohibition"
Henry Clay made similar declaration
III debate with John c. Calhoun in 1885,
When Mr.. Mckinley says that the tariff
Of 1916 was tue first revenue or free
trade tariff enacted he does SO
III total disregard of every fact
and authority connected with it.
As we have tie positive testimony of
Col. Benton. Henry Clay aud Daniel
Webster that the incl ease was made not
10 Increase the revenue, but for the sake
of protection. MIR. Mckinley places
great stress Oh what Col. Benton said
some seven years after the adoption of
this free trade tariff" Gas he sees mt to
call iD on the general distress of the
whole country: No price for property
or produce; no sales but those of the
sheriff and marshal; no purchasers at
execution sales but by the creditors or
some hoarder of money: no employment
for industry; NO demand for labor: no
sales for the products OF the. farm; no
sound of the hammer hut that of the
auetioneer knocking down property.
Stop laws. property laws, replevin laws.
loan office laws. This was the business
of the legislatures in tnree-tOurthS Of
the states of the Union. Distress, the
universal cry OF the people; relief, the
universal demand Numbered at the
doors of all legislatures, state and fed
eral."
If the condition of the country, as
Col. Benton describes it. Was actually
brought about. as Mr.. Mckinley seeks
to make the public believe. by a free
trade tariff IN 1916. il must be conceded
that MIR. Mckinley made strong point
eighty years ago. But let us examine
this chapter OF Col Benton's book
little further. for Mr.. Mckinley did not
give his hearers the whole OF the chap
ter. NJ. Mckinley assumes that the
tariff of 1916 was the ctuie of the great
distress all over the country, when in
fact the tariff was not reduced in 1916.
but largely increased for the avowed
purpose Of protection. as testified 20 by
Col. Benton. Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Webst r.
In order to give clear idea of the
real CAUSE of the deplOrable state of at
fairs existing under the tariff OF 1Sl6, |
will give you the part that MIR. Mckln-
ley omitted i'll quoting Col. Benton'S re-
markS.
Col. Benton says: 1.-The Bank of the
United States was chartered iir 1Sf6, and
before 1920 had performed one OF its
cycles of delusive and bubble pros.
perity. followed by actual and wide
spread calamity. The whole paper SyS-
tenn, of which 1t was the head and
citadel, after vast expansion. had sud-
Lenly collapsed, spreading desolation
over the land and carrying ruin to
debtors. No money, either gold or sill
yer, no paper convertible into specie, no
measure or standard of value remain
Ing. The local banks GALL but those of
INV GISldiiu ditCi vi lCi
OF specie payments, again sank into
state of suspension.
The Bank or the United States, Great
ed as remedy for all those evils. now
at the head of the evil. PROSTATE and
helpless, with no power left but that OF
suing its debtors, selling their property
and purchasing for itself at its own
nominal price"
Then Col. Benton goes on and gives
the ueplorable condition of the country,
as Mr.. Mckinley quoted in his Mlnneap-
oils speech.
Lest MIR. Mckinley should say that
Col. Benion's intense hostility to bank
paper Influenced his Judgment in max
ing this terrible indictment of the causes
that produced that distress, l will quote
what Mr.. Webster said: Il regard il
(the issue of paper money! AS very
productive cause of those difficulties"
Again, Il regard, sir. this issue of ire
deemabls paper as che most prominent
and deplUraule Cause of whatever press
ure still exists i'll the country"
Col. Benton and Mr.. Webster were no
ordinary men. They were men OF high
repute and occupied lofty positihns. MIR.
W ebSter expressed at the time his opin-
ion of the cause that produced the pub
lie dtitress. Col. Benton EXPIRE ssed his
opinion of the same matter, and Col.
Behton's opinion and MIR. WebSter'S
opinion are in strict accord. Neither of
them ever dreamed that the then eX-
listing cause OF distress was 10 be looked
for i'll the tariff act of 1916.
The only conclusion that can be drawn
from this chaper of history is that Mr..
McKinley'S statements in regard to it
are misleading and certainly incorrect.
E. NJ. ID.
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