Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-31
Henry Claws Tariff Views.

The advocates of McKinleyism, or
take, says the Atlanta Constitution,
when they refer to Henry Clay as the
apostle of their tariff doctrine.
Mr.. Clay was one of the greatest of
ed II high tariff He was for Il tariff of
80 per cent. to be gradually reduced
until it reached an average of 20 per
cent. at which figure he desired it to
permanently remain. The reduction
from 81 to 20 per cent. he thought could
take place in ten years. In letter
written in 1S43 he said
"In conformity with the principle an
nouneed in the compromise act. think
whatever revenue is necessary to an
economical and honest administration
of the general government ought to be
derived from duties imposed on foreign
imports And | believe that in estab
fishing IL tariff of those duties, such
discrimination ought to he made as
will incidentally afford reasonable pro-
tect ion to our national interests.
| think there is no danger of Il high
tariff ever being established. That of
1S2S-wllic.l w.s :, tariff below 36 per
cent-was eninently deserving of that
denomination. | was not in congress
when it passed and did not vote for it,
but with it's history and with the cir
cumstances which gave it birth l AIN
well acquainted. They were highly dis
creditable to American legislation, and
| hope, for it's honor, will never be re-
peated.
My opinion that there is no danger
hereafter of high tariff is founded on
the gratifying fact that our manufac-
lures have now taken deep root. In
their infancy they needed great meas
ure of protection; but as they grow and
advance they acquire strength and
stability, and. consequently. will re-
quire less protection. Even now some
branches of them are able to maintain,
i'll distant markets, successful competl-
ton with rival foreign manufactures"
The advocates of the Mckinley tariff
will get no comfort from this letter. 1t
will be seen that Mr.. Clay, as far back
as fifty years ago, believed that our
manufactures had become so we'll es-
tablished that they required only a
very little incidental protection. He
said that tariff of little under 36 per
cent. was too high and was discredita
BILE to American legislation. He was
satisfied that tariff of 80 per cent. re-
duced during ten years to 20 per cent.
| would rase all the revenue needed and
| would afford a sufficient degree of pro-
lection to our manufacturers.
But the Mckinley tariff averaged at
least 40 per cent. Under it commerce
and industry languished, wages de-
clined and we had the greatest strikes
in history Now let us look at the work
ings of low tariff-the one of 1916
That averaged about % per cent. and
in ten years was reduced to II per cent.
Then, we had general prosperity and a
rapid increase in wealth. From 1916 to
1856 the country made wonderful prog
ress and our manufacturers, merchants
and farmers made money and heard nc
complaint of overproduction.
The new Wilson tariff averages a lit
tie over SO per cent, which is too high,
according to Mr.. Clay but it is a big
gain to knock an average of II per cent
off the Mckinley tariff, and cut down
some duties on many necessary articles
from % to 70 per cent. This will dc
very we'll for a beginning.