The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-11
THE NEW TARIFF.


It's Operations Not Only Robbing tho
Treasury-Doctrine of Protection More
Popular Than Ever.
Washington Post, (Ind.): The or
gans that most vigorously supported
the Wilson tariff bill and the polite
ians who shrieked with rage over tho
grave OF that assault onfAmerican In
dustries are now massed In solid col
umns in defense OF the measure which
became law through the patriotic OPP
position OF protection Democratic sena-
tors to the scheme which Mr. Wilson
had put through the house. Such sup
port would be likely to bring the con-
demnatIon OF practical minds on any
measure. The mere fact that the pres
ent tariff had the approval OF the Cuck-
COS would be accepted us primafacie
evidence that It was seriously defective,
even II no other proof were at hand. But
the attestations OF It's insutficlency are
abundant and overwhelming.
The cuckoos are gleefully chipping
about the alleged Improvement in our
foreign trade under the new tarin. II
to increase imports and simultaneously
decrease exports be improvement. the
cuckoos are right. II to bring in Euro
manufacture at home, and TO nay for
them in gold, be good policy, the tariff
is entirely defenslble. Under the pres
ent law our imports have been increas-
ed sos, 100000 over those OF even 1895,
We have the mills, factories, labor. and
all other appliances for the manutac-
ture OF this vast excess OF Imports.
But this Is only one side OF the nc
count. While the operations OF the
new tariff were increasing our imports
SlO9, 900, 900, they were reducing the val
ue OF our exports $2l9,000O0O. Is II
strange, in view OF these figures, that
the administration has had trouble in
maintaining the gold reserve? Is 1t not
evident that the same trouble Will con-
tlnue with increasing seriousness until
relief comes through such tariff
changes as will lessen imports and In,
crease revenues?
The cuckoo boast OF improved foreign
trade has no busls OF fact. The sum
total OF our exports and imports during
the first year under the new tariff was
less by $l0O,OO0000 than under the last
year Of the law which this superseded.
And the difference between the two
laws during those twelve months was q
change from about S2l3000.000 excess
of exports to nearly SIl6.OO0, 900 excess OF
imports. No wonder that the new policy
Is popular in Europe. 1t has been II
munificent gift to our friends over the
sea, and 1t will continue TO enrich them
at our cost until halt is called. A
writer on economics as illustrated in
the present trade conditions between
the United States and Europe makes
these forcible and common-senslble re-
marks:
awe want TO bear in mind that for
elgn trade Is expensive and uneconomic
when L. Is more costly than domestic
production. That Is when we rely on
Europe to do for US what we can do or
should do for ourselves, we are not only
making ourselves small, but making
ourselves smAller-thnt Is, arreStlng
our own development by want Of enter
prise. When we can economically and
effectively produce In our own balliwick
what we are paying somebody 5000
miles away to do for US. and paying
transportation charges also. we are
simply making tired feeling chronic.
Had this country imposed n tariff for
revenue only during the past thirty
years. we should to-day be largely
bread-raisers instead OF bread-wln-
ners."
Il is not likely that the rates OF the
Mckinley tariff win ever be reimposed.
but the doctrine OF pTotection-of tar
IN that will afford ample revenue with
adequate protecticn-is now more firm
Iy established in the United States than
Il has been ct any previous time in our
history.