Charlevoix county herald., 1907-05-11
WE SHALL HOLD OUR OWN.
So Long as We Cling to the Policy
That Brought Prosperity.

"The tariff does not seem to sert-
ously interfere with our foreign trade.
IN 1900 our imports were SS29,019,337.
In 1905 they amounted to $1.179,444,-
$50, and increased last year to $1,321,-
064, 694.
"The exports grew in about the
same proportion, from $1,447 ,949,666
in 1900 to 81 .626, 990,795 in 1905, and
1,79S,179.955 last year. OF the ex-
ports, AZ per cent were manufac-
tured goods.
1T will be noticed that the balance
of trade amounted to about the same
for 1906 as for 1905, but was nearly
third less than for 1900 AS it is
estimated that Americans spend over
s200,00O,0O0 each year in foreign
travel and as much more goes to for
eigners for ocean freights, 1t is not
hard to figure where the profits from
this immense international trade
goes"
The foregoing interesting bit of in
formation from the Duluth News-Tri-
bune speaks palmer than words Com
pare the figures with those of ten years
ago and note the difference between
the operation of the Wilson-Gorman
free trade Democratic tariff law and
the Republican Dingley enactment
1t is true that a number of causes
contribute directly or indirectly to
our present Astounding prosperity, but
these do not initiate against the fact
that this prosperity did not begin until
the Dingley tariff was substituted for
the Wilson tariff. The effect of the
latter, as all know, was most depress-
ing upon the business of the country;
! but Immediately after the election OF
President Mckinley in 1896 there was
quick revival of industrial and trade
activity because business men had
confidence that the policy of his ad-
ministration would be favorable to do
nestle industries and they could safe
ly risk investments in industrial en-
terprises.
The starting of the factories in
creased employment, and that let
loose a large amount of purchasing
funds. The revival of the protective
policy and the certainty that it would
continue for some years, gave conf
dence and life to all business activity.
1t may be said, therefore, that the
present prosperity is chiefly due to
the tariff policy; not that the tariff
| schedules alone have created it, but
because of its general effect upon the
business confidence and energy Of the
4 10 Nf
! 1898 was the election of Cleveland
with the promise that policy toward
our industries would be adopted that
would threaten their destruction. 1t
is an interesting fact that, after the
election of 1896, business prosperity
began with about the same uniformity
that depression had set in with the
election of Cleveland
The late David II. Mason challenged
disproof of the following postulates.
and no free trade writer has ventured
to accept the challenge:
/. All of real prosperity in the
United States has been under protec-
! ton.
2. All of hard times in the United
States Hts Dccu uliutI dilEpi OlVCliOu.
8. Prosperity never has returned
until after return to protection.
4. The farther congress, in it's tar.
if, has departed from protection, the
more disastrous have been the conse-
ouences.
5. The farther congress has gone
in the direction of full protection, the
more prosperous have the people be-
come.
s. In all of our national experience
| there is not even one exception TO
these propositions.
7. Therefore, the issue between
! protection and anti-protection is, ex-
perimentally considered, a chronic is
sue between prosperity and hard
times.
And we shall continue to hold our
own so long as we cling to the policy
| that has given us all the real pros
perity we have enjoyed.
We must continue to follow the
cardinal principle which will continue
to develop our resources and so far as
noticeable monopolize the home mar
| ket first and then seek a foreign mar
! Set for our surplus. The fact is that
our exports of manufactures last year
amounted to s7O0,O00,000 in value,
| having more than doubled in the last
| few years.-Bay City Tribune.