The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-17

prices and wages went up, and the circula-
tion continued to increase year by year
until 1851. when the volume Of circulation
was precisely 100 per cent. over 1880. We
had then $500, 900 900 OF circulation-ac-
tual circulation>-and prices went up 81
per cent. above 1850. Each year prices
rose above the year before, and there is no
period of equal length IN the history OF
this country when there was such an un-
bounded prosperity in all departments Of
our industry. Tho national wealth in
creased mt the rate OF 12IS per cent. per
Annum. In 1858 the circulation fell 90 $685.
OO0, 900 below 1851 and price foil At once
20 per cent. Tney continued rising again
when tine war began and tho greenbacks
were poured ont all over tho country, and
touched tho highest point ever reached in
the United States in 1865, when they were
per coat. higher IN gold than In 1857 and
the circulation rose to 81, l75, 100000.
About this timH number of gentlemen
who had amas9ed large amount Of paper
money that had only become depressed
through tho antl-patriotic workings OF
Of people Of their own class-started on II
wild hunt after honest monoy-started to
impress the government with tho neces-
sity OF coming with rapid strides back to
gold-started to bring this country by
commenced to contract tho currency for
that purpose, ana prices came down until
the country was brought to the terrible
crash OF 1873.
We certainly all remember that. We
certainly all remember that from 1873 To
1879 after We had commenced the coinage
OF silver, tins country passed. through n
period OF darkness and gloom that has
been witnessed at any other time OF our
history. And God grant 1t may never bo
witnessed again.
Let the laoorer remember 1t and write
1t on his wristlets. carve it ON hls front
let's and woar as an amulet over his heart,
that scarce money is his sleepless and un-
torgivlng Zoe, Il foe whose bosom never
swells with u sigh Of of sorrow, whose eye
mover moistens with tear of pity
No one can deny that It makes tho life
struggle darker and harder.
But the whole past history Of our coun-
try plainly atteSts that Free Trade does
make scarce money. How then, ask,
can it be in favor Of tho working classes?
Indeed for the people of this United
States 1t has but one meaning which Is
the absolute neglect OF ourselves and the
sale of our vast opportunities energies
and resources not to the highest bidder
rs at ever other auction--but in fact to the
lo,UeSt bidder seeing us foolishly throw
away our mag gnifcent home market for an
undesirable worthless market abroad.
will here remark that we have had par
tial depressious, 1t is true, under protection
during the last thirty years, due not to
business stRgnation, Us result of d.
| rectly depressing influences, but rather to
over production which u protective policy
| is liable to produce iu the long run seeing
I'm 20 ha
| degree
We must remember. however, that when
over production takes place under Protec-
| tion that the working classes have already
reaped the advantages of corresponding
| increase OF hours OF labor at high wages,
! which certainly has been TO their advant-
age. Ou the other hand they reap also
another advantage when prices fall during
| an over production crises, which is far
more to the detriment Of the manufacturer
and capitalist than to the workingmau
| Consequently in over production uudel
| Protection | can see many mitigating cir,
cumstauces in favor Of the working popu
latiou, though, Of coure, like all hard timss
1t has its disadvantages.
Bat when Free Trade offers us as
remedy to over production to give. MS they
plainly affirm more hours Of labor but less
wages their whole policy tends for more
rapidly and directly to over production
than Protection ever can-which repre-
seuts less hours of toll aud consequent ll
less Ioduction-while it has not given,
as has Protection, the previous advantage
to the worKngman OF the higher wages
due TO a protective policy. As to the sur
plus Of production being reported NOR,
easily under Free Trade to foreign coun
tries than under Protection this is all al
llusion-because our manufacturers 0
exports already enjoy under Protection
every advantage IN raw materials Fret
Trade can in any way give them.
THE THEORY AN ILLUSION.
The whole theory is an illusion from be
gining to end on the part of the people
and gigantic and inscriptions falsehoor
on the part OF its promoters, whose prlvat
interests IL favors, either as politicians T.
obtain Office and eat at the public crib, o
as stipended agents Of foreign traders an
manufacturing combines from abroad, o
as nOn.producers who wish to live on tn
least money possible at the expense of tn
whole working population Of the nation
Indeed, to my mind, there is not a siugl
American and patriotic element in tn
whole question
lrealily admit and indeed, am happ
to say that are many already here in tn
United States all the advantages the Ere
Trade principle is capable Of giving u,
Under certain conditions the principle Q
free trade is perfectly correct and benefi
cial, provided 1t is exercised in their Ger
tain bounds. Even of the best things on
can abuse and it is in extending the priu
clple Of Free Trade unfortunately I
foreign countries that its application be
comes injurious,
1t is evident that the United States fOrr
one vast aud united commercial system
an undivided and and indivisable CONNER
cial organization. They constitute on
body Consequently, the same as TO pro
duce health in the human body the flow q
blood must be free and unrsstraine
throughout the whole system, 80 likewis
must the flow OF commercial life be fire.
and uurestrained throughout the Who'll
Union. Money is, indeed, the very iii
! blood OF commerce, industry, nations
prosperity, which, with free commercial
exchanges, make up the vital force Of com
, msrcial life.
Therefore, Free Trade here at hon
among ourselves is the normal and indis
! pensible condition Of trade between all th
states of the Union. The same rs one men
Der in the human body does not need
tho same multiplication from another
the same also. no one state In the in OF
y Union needs commercial Protection frOI
y another state. But VIZ must remember
> on tho other hand, that nations like ind
. viduals, are separate and distinct organ
J., izatlOns The same then, as the Law
= must always protect one man from anothe
y man, In like manner must one nation
>. protected from another nation, especial
y az the present age is one Of continual tart
v war, In which each country is striving
', get the advantage Of another country in /
commercial relations.
70 Consequently our home Free Ira dc is
the free circulation of blood in a maj
y , own vslns. But suppose man were col
!, tinually TO bleed himself and put his blot
u freely into another mans veins Wou
II not eventually kill himY Now foreii
: Free Trade-or the sending OF our mon
" y, abroad to buy goods-is precisely like II
70 above case of giving ones blood freely
- another, taking it from one body to put
u In another-because the home COmmerci
:. system and the foreign commercial syste
10 are as separate and distinct as two pc
w sons,
W Home Free Trade--as / win call it
II i. a.