The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-12

| Of benefit to both the contracting parties;
The Republican party stands Pledged
increasing the foreign commerce, OF the
country. That II has kept It's pledge is
proven by the fact that while the domestic
trade Of this country exceeds In volume
the nations OF the world, the United States
has In addition secured more than an eighth
OF the export trade Of the world, stand
| Ing first among the nations In this respect
| The United States has exported during
| the last seven years nearly $4,000 600 900
worth Of goods-on an average half as
much again annually as during the pre-
vious four Year,, when many Of our people
were consuming nothing but neoessaries,
and some Of them scanty supply even OF
these.
Two years ago. speaking in Logansport'
s1'he one consideration which must never
be omitted In tariff change 10 the imperative
Of living. for the American Workingman;,
The tarih rate must never fall below, that
which will protect the American working
man by allowing for the difference between
the general labor COST here and abroad, so
as at least to equalize the conditions arising
from the difference in the standard OF labor
here and abroad--a difference which u
should be our aim to foster In SO far as IT
represents the needs of better educated,
better paid, better fed and better clothed
WOThiuBineu Oh HlBneT Jype tllthh any w
be found in foreign country. AT all
hazards, and no matter what else is sought
for or accomplished by changes OF the tarih,
the American workingman must be pro-
tected in his standard Of wages, that is
in his standard Of living, and must be Sc
Our laws should In no event afford advan-
tage to foreign industries over American
industries. They should in no event do
less than equalize the difference in CON-
ditions at home and abroad
1t is a matter OF regret that the protective
tariff policy, which during the last forty
odd years has become part OF the very
fibre Of the country, Is not now accepted
as definitely established. Surely we have
the a G THEORY e and has sst
that not only It's original advocates, but
those who at one time distrusted 1t on
theoretio grounds, should now acquiesoe
in the results that have been proved over
forty odd years have been the most pros
porous years this nation has ever seen;
more prosperous years than any other
nation has ever seen. Beyond question
this prosperity could not have come II the
American people had not possessed the
gence to turn their vast material resources
to account. But it is no less true that it Is
our economic policy as regards the tariff
and finance which has enabled US as ma
ton to make such good use of the individual
capacities OF Our citizens and the natural
resources OF our country.
whom Protection Has Benefited.
Every class Of our people is benefited
by the protective tariff. During the last
few years the merchant has seen the export
trade OF this country grow faster than ever
in our previous history. The manufac-
turer could not keep his factory running
If it were not for the protective tariff. The
that II protection Is robbery" and is to
be punished accordingly. he viii be the
first TO pay the penalty; for either he will be
turned adrift entirely. or his wages will
be out down to the starvation point. AS
the Bureau OF Labor. the purchasing power
Of the average wage received by the wage
living, and &s in spite Of the continual
shortesning OF working hours: The ao G;
the country, as shown by the deposits in
the savings banks, have increased by leaps
and bounds. At no time in the history
OF this or any other country has there been
alike to workingman and employer, as
during the seven years that have just
The farmer has benefited quite as much
as the Manufacture, the merchant and
impressive fact established by the last census
is the wide and even distribution OF wealth
among all classes of our oountrymen.
The chief agencies in producing this dis
tribution are shown by the census to be
the application OF new inventions to uni
versal use. The result has been an in
creasing interdependence Of agriculture
and manufactures. Agriculture is now,
ton. The six million farms Of the United
States, operated by men who, as a class,
are steadfast, single-minded and indus |
trious, form the basis Of all the other
achievements OF the American people |
and are more fruitful than all their other |
resources The men on those six million
farms receive from the protective tariff |
what they most need, and that is the best |
OF all possible markets.
The Farmers Prosperity.
All other classes depend upon the farmer,
but the farmer in turn depends upon the
market they furnish him for his produce.
The annual output Of our agricultural pro-
ducts Is nearly four billions OF dollars.
Their increase In value has been prodigious,
although agriculture has languished in most
other countries; and the main factor In
this increase is the corresponding increase
OF our manufacturing industries Ameri-
the growth Of their market las kept pace
with the growth of their farlas. The ad-
ditional market continually furnished for
agricultural products by domestic manu-
facturers has been far in excess Of the out
let to other lands. An export trade in farm
products Is necessary to dispose Of our sur
plus, and the export trade Of our farmers,
both in animal products and in plant pro-
ducts, has very largely increased. Without
the enlarged home market to keep this sur
plus down, we should have to reduce pro-
duotion or else feed theworld at less than the
cost OF production, In the Forty years end
ing In 1900, the total value Of farm property
twelve and q haf billions of dol
lars; the farmer gaining even more during
this period than the manufacturer. Long
ago overproduction would have checked
the marvellous development Of our national
agriculture but for the steadily increasing
demand OF American manufacturers for
farm products required as raw materials
for steadily expanding industries. The
farmer has become dependent upon the
to utilize that portion OF his
produce which does not 60 directly to food
supply. In 1900 80 per cent, or q little
over half, OF the total value Of the farm
products OF the nation was cons lmed in
industries as the raw mat
erials OF the factories. Evidently the |
Is the farmers best and most
direct customer.
Moreover, the American manufacturer
purchases his farm supplies almost ex-
,lusively in his own country. Nine tenths
of all the raw materia OF every kind and
description consumed in American manu- |