The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-06-19
AN OsJECT LESSON.
fhc Sotsbie Increase In Exports Of Ameri-
can Manufactures.

| soo
4 Despite all the disconrag.ments and
y setbacks which our foreign trade has
Z recently suffered from jingoism and
tariif-tinkering in congress and from
the disorders Of our national currency.
the returns Of the bureau OF statistics
show that our exports OF domestic
manufactured products are now great
~ than in any period of American
history.
This is an object lesson for the whole
nation, but especially for its millions
OF wage-earners
The returns for February last give
ms the value OF our manufactured ex-
ports SIT, PCS, 1874, and for the first two
months of this year total OF nearly
$50, OOO,0 900. Ii this rate is continued
till next December the year 1895 will
be memorable rs by far the most pros
porous year on record for the sale OF
the products Of American labor in for
cign markets These exports in no
year under the Mckinley tariff quite
touched Sls4 100000. In the first year
OF the Wilson tariffs full operation
they exceeded $500. OOo 900. And now
they promise in 1896 to 20 above S2l5,-
600. OOJ.
II cannot be said that this increased
sale of American manufactured prod
nets 10 the outside world Ia spasmodic
The growth in this important branch
Of our export trade has been decided
and steady ever since the Wilson tariff
went fully into effect The official
figures show that while for the eight
months ended with February 1895. the
percentage of exports of manufactured
articles to the whole body of our ex-
ports was ol.2G. for the eight months
ended with February last it rose to the
gratifying and unrivaled figures of
"a A. The increase now reported by
the government indicates total cx-
port for the present year 20 per cent.
larger than was ever attained under
the Mckinley law and reciprocity, and
from 30 10 80 per cent larger than un-
der previous high republican tariffs
1t is exceedingly important that ex-
traordinary efforts should now be
made TO develop the export trade in
our domestic factory products. Recent
events have demonstrated that in not
few classes of goods our manufacture
ers are able to compete with the for
eigner in the neutral markets OF the
world. Whatever is done 10 extend
this trade creates new demand for
American la Dor and directly enhances
its value and its earnings Nothing in
the past has done more TO deprive
wage-earners OF remuncrative and
steady employment than the strangu-
lation OF our export trade BY high
tariff restrictions and prohibitorv du-
ties laid upon imports. Even half Il
century ago our infant industries" /
(as they were then called) were i'm
mensely stimulated and develor "a bv I
the lowering of tariff rates and by free 4
raw materials accorded by the famous
Walker free trade tariff Of 1916"
Under that low tariff. our home man
-facturers. as all authorities agree,
Were not ''swamped;" but. as the his
torian Schouler says, ION the contrary
they grew and prospcred. for that best
OF all bounties was afforded them. raw
materials un burdened by taxation, and
the widest possible market with the
universe And it gave long quietus
TO tariff agitation, while il furnished
the treasury large surplus of revenue
for many years. Even so high pro-
tectionist authority as Mr. Blaine, in
his Twenty Years Of Congress" re-
ferring to the tariff question in ls52, !
says:
"The principles EN- bodied in the
tariff Of 1876 seemed for the time to be
so entirely vindicatei and approved
that resistance to it ceased, not only
among the people, but among the pro-
tective economists. and even among
the manufacturers to large extent.
SO general was this acquicscence tina.
in 1850 a protective tariff was not sur-
gesied or even limited by any one of
the three political parties which pre-
scented presidential candidates"
The marked and unparalleled in
crease in our exports of manufactures
which the monthly returns OF the gov
,nents statistics now show to be in
progress under the Wilson law is an in
proof that our industries will
not be swamped by that tariff. but will
eventually Other things being equal
DO very much better than they ever did
under any rcpu blican tariff. The coun-
try will very soon sec-if IL does not al
ready sec-that republican tariff.tinls-
ering is not needed TO advance the well
fare OF the manufacturers. but Is really ,
a menace to their Industries. :
The Scared but starry flag CT tariff
reform, surviving the storm OF its !
many long battles, will float proudly 7
in the coming campaign. 1t will an I
nonnce that by the victory il achieved !
in 1892 the intolerabe burdens OF tax a
alton for the benefit Of protected" mo- /
nopolies have been greatly reduced, I
our ports have been opened wider
than ever before to admit foreign prod G
ncts indispensable for the develop e
nent OF our domestic industries and q
the comfort of the people, AMI free h
wool and better clothing secured to .
he shivering millions Of America.
But no device that can be inscribed ON Il
Is shining folds will elicit more APP Q
,lause from the nation than that ]
which signifies that il has carved I
way beyond the seas by which the n
PRODUCTS Of American mechanics and
vorkingmen have already gained new u
md profitable conqucsts liz the most II
Instant markets OF the world. il
The facts answer as with broad y