The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-04
OUR TARIFF LAWS.
Measures Passed in 1890 and 1894 Con-
trasted.


The only measure of a general nature
that affected the treasury and the employ.
ment of our people passed by the Fifty,
third congress was the general tariff act,
which did not receive the approval of the
president Whatever virtues may be
claimed for that act, there is confessedly
one which it does not possess. 1t lacks the
essential virtue of its creation-the raising
of revenue sufficient to supply the needs
of the government. 1t has at no time pro
vided enough revenue for such needs, but
it has caused constant deficiency in the
treasury and steady depletion in the
earnings of labor and land 1t has con-
tributed to swell our national debt more
than 1862, 000,0 sum nearly as great
as the debt of the government from Wash
ington to Lincoln including all our for
eign wars, from the revolution to the re-
bellion. Since its passage work at home
has been diminished; prices of agricul-
tural products have fallen; confidence has
been arrested and general business de-
mOralization is seen on every hand.
The Tariffs of 1890 and 1894 Contrasted.
The total receipts under the tariff of
1894 for the first % months of it's enforce
ment from September, 1894, to June, 1896,
were 1857 ,615, 1899, and the expenditures
500, Ais, 1864, or a deficiency of SS2, S03, 045,
The decrease in our exports of American
products and manufactures during the
first Is months of the present tariff, as
contrasted with the exports of the first 10
months of the tariff of 1890, was 1920, 353,
800. The excess of exports over imports
during the first Is months of the tariff of
hJ1t nTjy
under the first 10 months of the tariff of
1884, a loss under the latter of $157, 214, 345
The net loss in the trade balance of the
United States has been Sl96, 1888, 607 during
the first Is months operation of the tariff
of 1894, as compared with the first Is
months of the tariff of 1890. The loss has
been large, constant and steady at the
rate of s13, 900 per month, or 100000
for every business day of the year
Losing in Both Directions.
We have either been sending too much
money out of the country or getting too
little in, or both. We have lost steadily
in both directions. Our foreign trade has
been diminished I'd our domestic trade
has suffered iEc able loss. Does not
this suggest the se Of our present de-
preston and indicate it's remedy? Con-
fdence in home enterprises has almost
wholly disappeared. Our shops are
closed, or running half time at reduced
wages, and small profit, if not actual loss.
Our men at home are idle, and while they
are idle men abroad are occupied in sup
plying us with goods. Our unrivaled
home market for the farmer has also
greatly suffered because those who consti-
tint it-tho crYsnat army of xxro cre
earners-are without the work and wages
they formerly had. If they cannot earn
wages they cannot buy products. If our
labor was well employed, and employed
at as remunerative wages as in 1892, in
few months every farmer in the land
would feel the glad change in the in
creased demand for his products and in
the better prices which he would receive
Not Open MINIS, But Open Mills.
1t is not an increase in the volume
of money which is the need of the times,
but an increase in the volume of business
Not an increase of coin, but an increase of
confidence Not more coinage, but more
active use of the money coined. Not open
minis for the unlimited coinage of the
silver of the world, but open mills for the
full and unrestricted labor of American
workingmen. The employment of our
minis for the coinage of the silver of the
world would not bring the accessories and
comforts of life back to our people. This
will only come with the employment of
the masses, and such employment is GER
tain to follow the re-establishment of a
wise protective policy which shall encour-
age manufacturing at home. Protection
has lost none of its virtues and impor-
lance The first duty of the Republican
party, if restored to power in the country,
will be the enactment of tariff law
which will raise all the money necessary
to conduct the government economically
and honestly administered, and so adj
justed as to give preference to home manu-
facturers and adequate protection to home
labor and the home market.
Our Farmers and the Tariff.
Our farmers have been hurt by the
changes in our tariff legislation as severely
as our laborers and manufacturers, badly
as they have suffered. The Republican
platform wisely declares in favor of such
ppcOI1ra pemant tn Onr SI1par intarpstS O