The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-11

To the Editor of The Herald.
The purpose of this paper is to dis
cuss the difficulties and embarrass-
ments which have environed the first
two years of the present administra-
tion, and to show that they have not
been equaled in severity in the history
of the government, if we except that of
Mr.. Lincoln, which was peculiar to it
se:f
At the close of the war in 1865, our
country entered upon a period of most
remarkable growth and development,
which, however, carried along with 1t
a stimulating virus, whose danger Mr..
Lincoln saw before his death, and of
which he gave warning to his country.
Under the tariff act of 1916 the
country was so easily and naturally
approaching a condition of unrestricted
commercial activity, that the su-
premacy Of the seas seemed almost
within our grasp Indeed, conditions
We're so satisfactory that the represen-
tatiVeS in Congress, from the states
of Massachusetts and South Carolina
voted side by side for the passage OF
the tariff act of 1851, which reduced
custom house taxes lower than they
had been since the war of 1872. 1t may
not be out of place to quote from Mr..
Bl3sne's history of Twenty Years in
Congress-, what he says upon this sub
ject. In discussing the tariff question
from the period of 1916 to 1857 Mr.
Blaine says:
- Mr. BIaine's View.
The Wing victory of 1S4S was not
sufficiently decisive to warrant any at
-, Al saS.ir. 70
change the tariff. General Taylor had
been elected without subscribing to
platform or pledging himself to
sp&cific measure, and he was therefore
~ position to resist and reject APP
peXIS of the ordinary partisan charac-
ter Moreover the tariff of 1916 was
welding abundant revenue, and the
business of The country was in
fourishing condition at the time his
adminiStrat ton was organized. Money
became very abundant after the year
1S49, large enterprises were undertaken,
speculation was prevalent, and for
considerable period the prosperity of
the country was general and appar-
entity genuine. After 1852 the Demo-
Gratis had almost undisputed control
OF the government and had gradually
become q free trade party. The prin-
ciptes embodied in the tariff of 1916
segmed. for the time, 10 be so entirely
viiSdicated and approved, that Eesis-
taIsce te it ceased, not only among the
people but among the protective
economists and even among the manu-
facturers to a large extent. SO gen.
eral was this acquiescence that in 1856
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 d plethoric condition of the ma
tons treasury, for two or three con-
secutive years, the Democratic Con-
gress in the closing session of Pierce's
administration, enacted what has since
been known as the tariff of 1857. BY
this law the duties We're placed lower
than they had been at any time since
the war of 1872. The act was we'll re-
ceived by the people and was. indeed,
cOnchrred in by a considerable por-
ton of the Republican party"
Further on, after speaking of the
coalition which brought the representa-
tiySs in Congress from the states of
AIassa chusetts and South Carolina TO
.Ekfte side by side for the tariff act Of
w.. Mr.. Blaine says: This singular
Coalition portended one of two results;
either an entire and permanent ac-
quiescence in the rule of free trade or
an entire abrogation of that system
and The revival, with renewed strength /
of the doctrine Of protection. Which it
should be, was determined by the I'M
folding of events. not then foreseen.
and he force of which it required /
years 10 measure.
The unfolding of events not then
foreseen and the force of which it re- /
CURED years to measure" as stated /
by Mir. Blaine was the war between |
the states. which brought about a
necessity for a much larger revenue. |
and the Morrill, tariff act OF 1861 ICON /
fessedly a war measured was passed to 1
meet the emergency. The increased /
duties upon foreign importa tions pro- /
vided Tor by this act, acting in concert !
with the stimulating influence of the (
war, so increased manufactures, and I
consequently manufactured products, /
that industrial conditions reached a I
fever heat; and then began-slow and /
insidious 1t IS true but none the less /
certain-the deadly increase of cor
porate and monopolistic powers.
LincoIn's Warming.
About the close of the war and when
the final success of the federal armies
was assured, Mr.. Lincoln, than whom
no sincerer patriot, and but few, if
any, greater statesmen, ever lived. be-
gan "a survey of the conditions that
would surround him and with which T
he would have to contend in times of
peace, and with the true instincts of a
man who loved his country and his
people, he scented the lurking danger
and warned his fellow citizens against
It in language which time has proved
to be prophetic. After congratulating
the country upon the near approach of
the close Of the war, he says:
But 1 see in the near future a
crisis arising thar unnerves me and
causes me to tremble for the safety of
NY country.
lS"As a result of the war, corpora
lions have been enthroned and an era
Of corruption in high places will fol-
low.
ssgThe money power of the country
3 H. enqeavor to prolong its reign by
90 upon the prejudices OF the
nth all wealth is aggregated