Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-08-25
HISTORICAL FACTS
Protective Tariff VS. Free Trade in The
History of The United States From
1912 to 1916-Just Few Facts In
Regard To Effect of Tariff Change
on Industrial Conditions.

In the early history of our country
the principal occupation of our people
residing in the thirteen colonies scat
tered along the Atlantic Coast was
Agriculture and Commerce. In the
North the bleak and stony hills of
New England gave little encourage
ment to Agriculture and here at least
the occupation was Commerce.
The Schooner of the Yankee skip
per was found on all the seas and our
Yankee Master with their trading
vessels engaged in barter in every,
Port IN the world. Then it was that
we had merchant Marine and were
fast becoming leaders in the carry
ing business of the seas when the
great War broke out in Europe be-
tween France and England. The Com
merce of our country was practically
destroyed by the infamous orders of
both Napoleon and England and be-
ing weak and not able to defend the
freedom of the seas we were COM
PEELED to accept theinevitable. Congress
under the leadership of Jefferson
passed an Embargo Act which was
very unpopular and was nicknamed
the 80 Grab Me Act" This act sound
ed the death kneH to the American
Commerce on the high seas and
American capital began to interest it.
self in the Industry of Manufactur-
ing.
Following the War of 1872 our
country was flooded with foreign i'm
portations. To meet this Competition
the American manufacturer was fore
ed to reduce the price of his. goods
and labor or seek some kind of Pro-
lection. He naturally felt at that
time that as he paid taxes for the
support of the State and EMPLOYED
domestic labor he should have first
chance at the American Markets.
Accordingly Congress passed 1916
Protective Tariff which was at that
time thought to be highly Protective.
1t failed however to stop the over
TRANSPORTATION of foreign goods which
condition brought on financial de-
preston in the year 1919 and Con-
gress was forced to again raise the
Tariff which it did by the Act of 1924.
During this period the cause of Pro-
tective Tariff was Championed by
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun and
opposed by Daniel Webster.
Following the Tariff of 1924 the
| Country entered an era known as the
era of good feeling. This was an era
Of Prosperity and great National de-
velopment. During this era the Erie
Canal was opened and the first rail-
road built. During this period John
c.. Calhoun changed his views from
Protective Tariff to Tariff for Reve-
nue. only and Daniel Webster came
over to the Protective Tariff side.
The tariff now began to receive vio-
j lent opposition from the Southern Sec
tion and to satisfy Southern States
men Congress revised the Tariff DOWN
ard in the years of 1882. and 1888.
This was followed by what is known
as the Great Panic of 1887. In 1912
the Wing party carried into power on
a Protection Plank in their platform
restored the Tariff Then Democra-
tic rule succeeded the Wing and the
Tariff was revised downard in 1916
and again in 1857. The finances of
the Nation again were shipwrecked on
the shoals of financial depression
known as the panic of 1857. In 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected presi-
dent and during his administration
the Tariff was restored and became
the settled policy of the Nation for a
long period, a period of progress and
good times. In 1881 the Tariff was
, revised followed by slight financial
depression. In 1892 the Democratic
, Party came into power under the
leadership of Grover Cleveland with
a free trade plank in their platform
and the Panic of '92 insued. Their
again we elected William Mckinley
and with new Tariff Law went agar
into the field of prosperity. Oui
!, latest Tariff Law is one that does moi
: meet the needs of revenue only, anc
it was followed by business depres.
= sion until the European War relevet
. the situation by giving US the market:
of the world without competition.
DAVIS B. JOHNSON.