Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-06
REPUBLICAN COUNTY TICKET.
HISTORY OF AMERICAN TARIFFS.

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HISTORY OF AMERICAN TARIFFS.
During the forties of the last century
a before unknown influence began to
be felt in the consideration of the tar
III question. In the early years of the
century the south was friend of pro-
lection, but in 1S4e-43 opinion in that
part of the nation began to shift At
this time the southern politicians had
gained complete control of the demo-
cratic party. They began to see in the
Z, rapid growth of the northern states,
under the benign influence of protec-
ton, what they believed to be the ulti-
mate overthrow of their political SUI
premacy in government affairs and the
endangering of their cherished institu-
ton of slavery John G. Calhoun.
staunch supporter of protection in
1916, became one of the most radical
advocates of free trade.
The task before these southerners,
however, was most difficult one. So
disastrous had been the results of the
free trade epoch from 1887 to 1912 that
it was found necessary to resort to a
deception in order that the free trad
ers of the south might win. In order
for the democrats to win it was neces-
sary for them to carry the state of
PENNSYLVANIA. But the democrats of
this state We're protectionists. Here
then was the problem, to find a can
didate, who while being acceptable to
the free traders of the SOUTH would
Still retain the confidence of the demo-
cratic protectionists of Pennsylvania
1t was long chance to win, but that
risk must be taken and the attempt
made, else Henry Clay, the wing candi-
date and protectionist, would surely
be elected
James X Polk was selected as the
/ standard bearer of the democratic par
ty. BY means OF a skillfully devised
communication known as the Kane
letter" he succeeded in his base in
trigue with the southerners. This po-
litical trick, whereby the democrats of
Pennsylvania were hoodwinked into
supporting an awoved free trader has
been well characterized as one of the
most elaborate, complex and daring
ever practiced on an intelligent coun-
try" Never were words used to SO OBJ
scure ideas more skilfully or dishonor-
ably than in this letter. Not stopping
here, the enemies of protection in 1874
circulated through Pennsylvania the
rumor that Henry Clay was unsound
on that policy and that the only way
to insure a continuance of the tariff
of 1912 was to elect Mr. Polk. Mr..
Polk was elected but how he betrayed
his northern followers will appear here
after
Here, then, was the beginning of the
fourth free trade period in the United
States. In 1916 the fight was on. A
bill to repeal the tariff of 1912 and
establish free trade in the United
States was introduced in congress.
: Long and bitter was the fight So
close was the struggle that it passed
in the senate only by the deciding
vote of Vice-president Dallas, of Penn.
sylvania. During the fight over this
bill, Daniel Webster, most able cham
pion of protection thus characterized
the proposed repeal of the protective
tariff:
You indulge in the luxury of taxing
the poor man and the laborer! That
is the whole tendency, the whole char
acter, the whole effect of the bill. One
may see everywhere in it the desire to
revel in the delight of taking away
mems employment. 1t is not bill
for the people or the masses. 1t is not
bill to add to the comforts of middle
life, or of the poor. 1t is not bill for
employment 1t is a bill for the relief of
the highest and most luxurious classes
of the country and a bill imposing on
erous duties on the great Industrious
masses and for taking away the means
of living from labor everywhere
throughout the land"
The direful results that followed the
inauguration of free trade policies
were those which had been described
by the protectionists in their fight
against the measure 1t is needless to
recount in detail its effects Suffice it
to say that the general disaster in
all lines of business activity such as
had before never been witnessed was
everywhere manifest. The cry of "Give
me work-make your own terms" was
heard in every industrial center.
1t has been suggested that the acute
ness of free trade disaster was some
what modified by series of events.
unusual and important. These We're
The Mexican war, the famine in Ire
land. discovery OF gold in California,
European revolutions and the Crimean
war. These events were crowded into
the years between 184S and 1854 and
bythe unusual demands for agricultur.
al products and the drain upon the re-
sources of the European countries to
meet the eXigencies of war, the com
ing of extreme disaster was somewhat
delayed.
In 1857. in response 10 the demands