The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-15
A FEW COMPARISONS.

The heavy imports of foreign mer-
chandise and the large exports OF
specie since the democratic admins
tration went into Office are being used
by the opposition as convincing, "
| evidence Of the incapability of the
democratic party to govern this nation.
IL is asserted that during Cleveland's 3
| administration, and more especially
since the present tariff law has been
in effect, that importations of foreign
merchandise have been greatly in
excess of these during any time under
a republican administration, also that
there has been a greater export OF
specie during the past year than dur
ing any like period under republican
administration. If these assertions.
were true, they certainly would fur
nish bad showing for the democratic
administration, and would cause think
ing people to lose trust in the ability
of that party to guide the affairs of
state. But the assertions are not true
as is readily seen by reference to the
statistical reports compiled by the
government. In substantiation Of this
statement it will not be amiss to COM
pare the imports of merchandise and
exports of specie (gold and silver dur
ing the last fiscal year with those Of
the fiscal year 1891, the third year of
President Harrison's administration.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1895, we imported from foreign
countries merchandise valued at $751;
969, 1855: and exported specie amount
ing to sl13, 1855, 500, s66, 13l, 1888 in gold
and S47 7,227,3 ,317 in silver. During the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1891, we
imported merchandise valued at 1884,.
9l6, ,196, and exported specie amounting
to 1885,, ,S16, ss4, ,939, ,551 in gold and
S9S, ,973, ,265 in silver. That is, during
the third fiscal year of President Harri-
sons administration, when the Nc
Kinley law, the boasted perfection"
of protection, was in vogue, we i'm
ported SIP, ,231 worth more of for
eign merchandise and exported
SIC, ,556, ,316 more specie than we did
during the last fiscal year, under
President Cleveland's administration |
and while that "free trade" Wilson
law has been in force. This compare
son is by no means favorable to the re-
publican administration, but to carry it
and show the relative balance
Of trade each year. throws Mr.. Har-
rison's administration in a still more
light.
During the fiscal year 1891 we i'm
ported specie to the amount OF S54, ,490,-
)14, and exported merchandise valued !,
1t S872, ,270, ,2S3; thus our exports of
and imports of specie ag-
1926, 1852, ,297, while our ex-
oorus of specie and imports of merchan.
lise footed up the grand total of 81 ,O2s,-
'29, ,O19, leaving the balance of trade
.gainst us s1O2, 2,066,71 In 1895 the
IMPORTS of specie were s44, ,699.254 and
exports of merchandise S7S8. 1892, 500,
making an aggregate of sS43, ,591. 1853,
nd the exports of specie and imports
# merchandise were in aggregate
S45, 1926, SIS, leaving balance of trade
f only 81, 234 612 against US.
By these reports it is not shown for
hat purpose the large shipments of {
pecie were made, whether for the |
urchase of foreign merchandise, pay !
lent of interest, or Investment in |
,reign securities; but since the drain q
pom the wealth Of the country was so 8
uch greater during the fiscal year of s
'91 than during 1895, the comparison ?