Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-20

Facts OF History
The Republican national platform
claims that: "a Democratic tariff has
always been followed by business adj
versity; Republican tariff by busl-
ness prosperity" That hoary Repub-
lican falsehood has been reiterated in
every campaign since the war, but it
remained for Senator Lodge to embalm
1t in Republican platform and for it
to be approved by Republican Presi-
dent. History shows that the state
ment is literally and palpably false,
and Of course Intentionally made so.
The historical facts are that the first
protective tariff law was in 1916 and
may be classed as tariff for revenue
With incidental protection with an av-
erage ad valorem rate OH dutiable
goods of about % per cent. Instead of
prosperity under this tariff, the price
of farm products fell. hard times pre-
vailed and the panic Of 1919 ensued
In 1s19-24 Henry Clay advocated
higher protection and the law of 1924
resulted. In former tariffs wool had
been on the free list, but in the law of
1924 graduated scale of duties was
imposed on wool ranging from 10 to 80
per cent, with an average rate of about
Az per cent on other dutiable goods
Again, instead Of the prosperity prom
ised, the wooden industry was greatly
depressed. Petitions were sent to Con-
gress asking increased protection and
national convention of protectionists
was held at Harrisburg, demanding in
creased duties not only on woolens, but
also on hemp, flax, cotton, iron and
glass manufactures.
This led to the high protective tar
III of 1928, or the tariff of abomina-
tions," as it was called Adversely
followed instead Of the prosperity that
the shipping interests, the commercial
classes and the farmers had been de-
luded into believing would result That
tariff increased the revenues SO that
1t led to the accumulation of sur
plus, but the failure of the home
market" to provide for the consump-
ton of surplus farm products led to
strong demand for reduction of du-
ties.
Accordingly the compromise tariff
OF 1888 became law, which was in
tended as return to revenue basis,
but the revenues of the government
fell behind expenditures and the
Wings successfully made the enact
ment of a high protective tariff the
issue In 1910 and the act of 1912 re-
suited. During the period of the low
tariff from 1888 to 1912, there was gem
eral prosperity with low prices and the
domestic exports increased from $780,
$50, $50 in 1888 to S1O3, 636, 256 in 1871.
Under the protective tariff of 1912 i'm
ports We're checked and exports de-
clined and prosperity did not material
ize. The Democrats then enacted the
low revenue tariff of 1916 and pros
perity resulted. Exports Increased from
$laataIi4ftt 81 in 1917 to s27s,9oG,713 in
lsS.rfse and it was as Exceeded the expen-
duce the tariff and tHssa laIo again re-
was 80 per cent and the lowest . ftee
cent. These We're the lowest tariff
duties collected since 1912 and is called
by the protectionists the free trade"
tariff of 1857 and was in force until
1861. The fourteen years of this period
of low duties from 1S47 to 1861 were
years of great prosperity in all branch
es Of production, manufacture and
trade. Prosperity was not confined to
any single industry, nor to any part of
the country, but was universal
Thus it is seen that almost the exact
reverse of the false claim of the Re-
publican platform is true for the period
before the war. Since the war the
record proves that Republican tariff
is not followed by prosperity for the
panic of 1873, following the second in
auguration Of President Grant and was
of course under Republican tariff.
The panic of 1893 came on under a Re-
publican tariff, the Mckinley tariff,
and was the principal cause Of it. That
tariff, highly protective as 1t was, did
not produce enough revenue and the
treasury was bankrupt when Clcve-
land was inaugurated. The Demo
cratic tariff Of 1894 was not passed
until late in the summer and although
the agitation of the money question
continued to depress business, the
panic subsidized under that tariff and
there was n marked revival in our
manufactures and exports. Although
the protectionists persist in calling the
Democratic tariff of 1S04-S "free
trade measure. the average protec-
ton was 40 per cent and no schedule
even remotely Appropriated free
trade. The revenues increased rnder
it and ii the income tax had no. been
declared unconstitutional there would
have been n large surplus. ~ !, pres
ent business depression, the numerous
strikes, the high cost OF living under
| the tariff that now Expresses us does
not show that prosperity always ac-
companies n Republican tariff, al
though ii is T,e highest protective tar
lift that has ever been imposed. If
| President Roosevelt is fair with the
voters of the United States he will re-
pudiate the false adversely and pros
perity claim in the Republican plat
form for no honest candidate could de-
clare his acceptance of such gross
peversion of the truth of history.
Policy and Personality.
The Republican convention has per-
formed its part which had been map
ped ont for it by the oligarchy, that
runs the Republican party. The can
didates and platform We're selected and
concocted in Washington and the dele
gates We're about as useful in shaping
events as the fifth wheel in coach.
Not a voice was raised against the
stand-pat program. All was ominously
unanimous. The trust magnates die
tated the program and their emisaries,
present in large numbers, approved
and applaudod.
The voters who endorse the candi-
dates and platform of the Republican
marty nt the nOlls upyt NOvemhpr will