The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-20
Reviewing the Cost.


Seldom have the fruits of Democratic
misrule been more formidably set forth
in words than has been done in the
just published annual report of the di-
rectors of the Philadelphia Manufac-
turers' club. composition evidently
the work of the clubs accomplished
secretary, Charles Heber Clarke. Nat
urally the Manufacturers club advo-
Gates protection to American indus
tries, and just as naturally it fails
to approve of the Democratic party's
recent disastrous attempt to overthrow
the doctrine and the system of protec-
tion.
THE influence of the Wilson tariff
upon American industry is indicated"
the report says, 'by comparing the
statistics for 1894 with those for 1895
The comparison supplies demonstra-
tion of the fact that our own business
has suffered in almost all directions.
The chief exception appears in the item
of exports of domestic merchandise,
which were valued at nearly the same
figures, 1887 100000, for the two years.
The exports Of agricultural products.
however, declined from $573634,3S3 to
$545, 714,375, a decrease of almost five
per cent. under the operation of tariff
act which was passed with professions
of extreme solicitude for the interests
of American farmers. The imports OF
all merchandise rose from $67G,3129il to
1901 ,663. .49Oan enlargement of 1872 per
cent. Much Of the material thus
brought in, however, is upon the free
list
ITO ascertain the effect of the hn-
ports upon home industry we must con-
slider only the dutiable imports. These
expanded from $292, ,941 ,OOS to $4l6, 6,S5S-
321 an increase Of about 40 per cent.
or all the industries smitten by the Will
son act the business of woolen manu-
facture, ever the subject of particular
hostility from free traders, suffered
most. The imports swelled from ST.
336, l64 to sec, 0,319.3Ol, or nearly $50 per
cent. Meantime, removal OF the wool
number Of American sheep from A.
27S,55S in 1893 to SS29S.7S3 in 1896, loss
of nine million sheep and while the
number decreased 10 per cent. the value
fell from $125,9O9,264 to $65, 5,167.735, a
shrinkage of nearly so per cent. The
number Of sheep in this country now
10 no larger than 1t was in 1868, % years
ago" These figures, the report takes
the precaution to explain. appear in a
report issued by the department of
agriculture in March of this year.
As to the financial results of the DEM
ocratic experiment the report is equal
ly decided. 1t considers that to estab-
lish the havoc wrought in this direc-
tion by Mr.. Clevelands pet idea of
tariff reform there is need only to state
the single fact that while, under the
preceding administration, in the years
1S91-92-93. the public Indebtedness was
decreased by SPAS, ,OOO, 900, 1t has been in
creased during the last fifteen months
to the extent Of $262. 100000. In other
words, the tariff reformers have re-
stored all of the burden that was taken
off In the period referred to and made
an increase Of $l7OOO,OO0. 1T is re-
called" the report continues
that the president, writing In 1883 to accept
nomination to the presidency, found the
existing surplus In the treasury a griev-
ance or no mean proportions. He declared
that that Il menaced aSI, the prosperity Of the peo-
extravagance:' 1t Withdrew money from
the circulating medium OF the country
ana put upon the nation a heavy load Of
afforded for profitable consideration Of
the relative value OF the policy which
produces proc sao,p surplus nl; and that which ere,
in the treasury the people had high pros. a.
perity, which has vanished with the sur
plus. The extravaganza which was de-
nounced as gross and scandalous' three
years ago involved the expenditure of pub
lie money for profitable public purposes
Now, much Of that money will go, for
years to come, for payment of interest
upon the ,,s, new debt. debt. involving taxation
Meantime, It Is not unimportant to OBJ
serve that the presidents alarm lest the
circulating medium should be contracted
has not extended itself so far as to forbid
the contraction Of the currency under his
system to the extent of $lG2, ,000, 900 with
in two years
Thus, while the revenues declined,
the imports enlarged and the public
treasury suffered in company with the
wealth producers of the nation. If the
purpose Of the trainers of the Wilson
act had been to inllict hurt upon their
own nation that other nations might
havtthe advantages lost to us. It is diff
ilcult to perceive what instrumentality
differing from the Wilson bill they could
have employed" However, a. the re-