Huntsville gazette., 1894-01-13


requirement for the public service. venture
70 suggest however in this connection. that
this decline in the public revenue during the
present fiscal year is not attributable to any
defect in the law Of 1890, but rather to the
general arrangement and prostration of busi-
ness throughout the country. The ascend
ency of political party pledged to the de-
struction of our protective policy has not
only crippled and suspended the operation OF
our domestic manufactures, but the importer
of foreign fabrics naturally curtails his i'm
portations in the hope of securing their admlS-
sion into our markets upon the favorable con-
ditions I confidently assert that If the cleo
tion of 1892 had resulted in the retention of the
republican party in power, accompanied, as it
would have been. with the assurance of contin.
uance of the American policy of protection the
effect upon the public revenue, as well as gen
eral prosperity of the country. would have been
entirely reversed.
President Harrison only affirmed the truth
Of this story when in his last annual message
20 congress, he said: so high degree Of pros
perity and so great diffusion OF life were never
before enjoyed by our people.
REFUTED STATEMENTS
This exultant declaration made but a little
over one year ago as it seems in the midst of
present appalling conditions, nevertheless
grounded indisputable facts. You tthe
democrats said the act of 1890 would de-
velop new industries. 1t created them by
the hundreds. You said it would bring
resultant benefits to our workmen. 1t secured
for them enlarged employment and increased
wages. You said it would enhance the cost of
the protected article 1t cheapened it to the
consumer. You said it would diminish our for
etgn trade. 1t augmented II in 1892 to 81 ST.
6AD.610 an increase over the previous year of
Si2s2 283, ,60i You said it would shut out our
products from foreign markets. Our export
& tic
to 81 O3o 278 lis, the largest ever known in the
history of the country and exceeding the value
OF our imports by S202 S75, 6S6 You said it
would paralyze our domestic trade 1t was
never more vigorous than in the years imme-
dtately following its enactment, and so every
prophecy of i'll found swift and complete
refutation in increased industrial activity on
every hand and enhanced individual and ma
tionaI prosperity We are. therefore justified
in asserting that the act OF 1890 could its per-
rsanency have been assured, would have ac
cnnplished the double purpose for which it
vas enacted-revenue and protection The
Mckinley tariff never closed a mill in the
United States, shut up mine, stopped
wheel. blew out furnace fire or drove single
workman into the streets. This general pa
ralysis of business throughout the country
GENES solely from the ascendency of political
rarty pledged to the repeal Of the act of 1890
and the substitution thereafter OF tariff di-
NCSIeu OF all protective features. win Sucn a
party in full control of the government is it
any wonder that domestic manufactures sus-
pend operations until advised of the conditions
under which they must make their output?
This industrial depression came therefore, not
az the result of existing tariff rates but from
au apprehension-it seems now TO have been
we'll founded-that these rates were to be
modified as TO overthrow and destroy pro
tective policy. exposing our domestic manu-
features to the rulnous foreign competition
and inaugurate in the country area of free
trade. With all its attendant evils. how
easily you might demonstrate the benefcent
effects of restored confidence You have but
to abandon the policy upon which you have
tered, recommit this will and permit existing
tariff regulations to remain undiSturbed and all
our indu stries will quickly revive"
UPON NULLIFIERs' GROUND.
Eir, Burrows then took up the tariff plank Of
the last democratic national platform and com
pared it with the South Carolina ordinance of
nuiification. He continued
1T will be seen, therefore, that the ground
op which the democratic nulifiers stood in
1872, and from which they were driven by the
stern patriotism of Gen. Jackson, is at last re-
occupied in 1892, sixty years later, in force by
the whole democratic party. And it is not
difficult now 10 understand the alacrity with
which the northern democrats obey the
command TO take position in support OF the
~
the confidence with which it seems TO be en-
forced as it is by the southern wing of the dem
ocratic party now unhappily dominating the
repubic). 1t is not surprising. therefore to
find the democratic party in 189, with its own
wings united. the south in the lead moving un-
der the confederate banner OF free trade to the
complete overthrow of our protective system.
1t may be safely asserted that both parties be
lieve in raising some portion Of the needed
revenue for the support of the government by
imposing duties on foreign products coming
| into our markets, and the only points at issue
are:
First the class OF articles upon which these
duties shall be levied. and, second, the rate OF
duties they shall bear
Tariff reform, he continued, lis finally in
terpreted to 'mean free raw material and re-
duction of duties on competing foreign prod
ucts entering our markets below the protect
i've point regardless of the conse-
quenceS to American industries and Amer
can labor. This is tariff reform. Before pro-
ceediug to q specific explanation. | desire to
say that this measure whole stands with
out parallel in the history Of the proposed
tariff legislation in the country. 1t was framed
with intentions of carrying out that portien of
the democratic platform and policy which de-
clared for tariff for revenue only and ii is
the boldcst step yet taken by any party II the
United States in the direction OF free trade-a
sep which. if it shall find popular following
IN this country. will certainly lead to indi-
vtdual disaster and national bankruptcy.
ERROR OR CowARDICE
And. in this connection. desire to say that
whatever may have been the purpose OF the
majority in making this bill. in so far as it
conforms to the democratic platform OF 152,, il
will il enacted into law, prove disastrous 10
the interests involved, and in 50 far as it
attempts to redeem the pledges, it is either
a confession of error or an exhibition
of cowardice. If in error, YOU ought to be
patriotic enough to promptly avow it, abandon
the policy upon which you have entered. and
permit the country to resume its industrial
prosperity. II, on the other hand, you still ad-
here to the principles of the Chicago platform
and have failed to embody them in this meas
ure you have opsnly betrayed the confidence
OF the people who intrusted you with power.
The first proposition arrestiug attention in