The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-22

of increase of production from 1890 to 1900
 was 0,43. To be sure, we have increased
 in population during that time, which in-
 crease was not affected by the years of
 panic and disaster. But the percentage of
 increase of population is 021. and the
 percentage of increase of production Is
 double the percentage of the increase of
 population. The amount of production
 per capita in 1890 was $199; in 1900 1t was
 S2S4 or $S6 per capita more In 1900 than In
 lS9O So that If 1t were necessary to dem
 onstrate palpable and obvious fact that
 has been conceded upon the other side
 that magnificent prosperity now blesSes this country we have the demonstration
 by the actual figures involved in Its devel- opment. One test Is, therefore, success fully met. and this is the supreme test.
 These are incontrovertible facts, and on this issue that divides the two parties the ldemocracy fears to meet them. In fact, that party to-day stands at the parting of the ways. In one direction lie honesty, Integrity, consistency, real conviction and lbelief-free trade But at the end of that way is certain defeat, because the voters of this country appreciate results. In the other direction lie hypocrisy and deceit, and at the end the possible goal of he Presidency and the House. Therefore. in- firm of purpose, the members of that party tremble, while republicanism marches on the straight road of the protective princi- pie, consistent and confident.
 As to Trosfs.
 The trust question Is in a way incidental lin this campaign, because the democracy makes the attempt to connect trust and tariff. It Is charged that the tariff is the creator of the trust Wherever you find the creator you find the creation. We have many articles the products of which com mand no tariff. and the Standard oil Com panys is the most conspicuous example. It lis a trust par excellence, and there has never been a tariff on its product.
 We have trusts innumerable in free trade countries, and England is honeycombed with them. Here is creation without a creator. The correction of the trust evil in America does not lie through revision of the tariff schedules. Federal control of trusts which the New York democratic platform would eliminate, is the only rem edy now in sight, and on that question the republican record is clear. while the de- mooracy under two administrations has almost no record at all.
 The killing of competition is an essential incident of the trust movement. If the small independent operator could hold h.s own and compete no harm could come to the public Now, the tariff on tin, it is quite clear, gives the same protection to the independent operator and the trust. If the foreign manufacturer Is let in by a repeal of this tariff the independent op- orator goes to the wall first, leaving the field to the trust. But you say we will drive the trust itself out of business. Then you would have no tin manufactur- Iers in this country and we should be turned over absolutely to the foreign trust. over which we have no control
 Let us see for a moment how this op- crates in actual practice. In 1891 the do |mestic price of imported tin plate was 6. 30 in New York; in March. 1904, the do- mestic price in New York was s365, a re- duction of s1.65 per hundred pounds. In 1895 the price was s3 per hundred pounds abroad. Now. if there had been a eorre-