Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1884 — THE TARIFF. [ARTICLE]

THE TARIFF.

SPEECH OF EZEA C. HOWELS' Delivered Before the Cleveland & Hendricks Club, Rensselaer, Im., Saturday Evening, October 4, 1884. ——— X*. Cmsmcam. Ladioh ik and Mxm BXMorWx Cleveland A Hbndkicki Club:— By Invltembß I am here to-uicht to apeak to you upon ao*uof :he quertione that at preient are aintaitMC the peop.e ot this country, and as I •Kall taSa up the •übjuct of the tariff, and the opposite ale from that taken bv the Hon. W. W. Carry eat me Bth - f September, I trust that my Repnblleah friends may, with my friends of ail other p«nks, hear me through, and I will be satisfied. Ithaateen said, and very truly, that the prosperity es the people or any country depends chiefly «• the ones they »r - enabled to make es their naUial resources, bat it sometimes so happens tlßjlnatlone possessing great natural advaatagM,SMl through defective laws to attain evonfl flljmonable degree of prosperity, and on tbs othtohand th t nations posse ring but Pmited rafljhrce* succeed unoer wise laws and by woH dtMMod energy in acquiring great wealth, aad Ihrhlß purpose of proving the truth or frlo ity e("W statements, I will give for example IrohHtMM Holland. IniMß* possesses * fertile soil, a salubrious elimalsußni: harbors, nobl* rivers, and apopulatie* tMjmily brave, qniek, and capable •C greal labor, but her people, by reason 01 unequal Jews and bad government are chained to poverty and brought up in ignorance. Whi.e HoDand, a land reclaimed from the mighty, maieoticoeMto, was original y destitute of even ordinary advantages, but wise laws, Industry and art have aeeMpiished the moat marvelous result*. Belew the level •< th” » nd the surface ot the adjaceat rivers and canals, by human skill gnd indaetrv tost are* and gardens have been made which aye teeming with flocks sue herds, nourishing the industrious and thriving population of many Cities, towns and villages. Rivers and canals sie made to run many feet shove the level of the country. Armies of never-tiring windmills are perpetually pumping and draining Amsterdam, Rotterdam, sud other populous and splendid cities rest upon piles driven into the mud andahnd. Then it is by wise laws and industry that the people ol Holland have bee a enable,to achieve such a wonderful victory over the forces eUnature and to clothe themse'ves with P Thepeople of the United States are ricu in ail the bounties of nature. We posses* a laud whose area exceeds four millions square miles, ond within he boundaries are embraced every variety of soH and climate, inexhaustible mines of iron, coal, cupper, lead, sine, gold and Silver, hnmeuse forests, grand lakes and mighty rivers which stttord the means ot cheap transportation- The agricultural resources of the country arts uot eqituled by any uthor on the globe. In every Section the soil yields bountifully, while In sonte toglons. a« iuour great Western States, Its fertHtty s unsurpasee . Tke kgrlcultnral productions of this region alone have reached almost a luhnloiis amount. Then why Miuiijd uot we, possessing all the** advantages, be a nappy uuu prusp, rotis people with no cry of destitution and want coming from the shops and inuuuiactories lit the cities us our land. And why should uot agriculture, labor and manufactures nourish side by side tn this ooasted free America, greatly to the advantage of all classes of industries, lu*<ead of class society that exists in almost every village in our land, and make its Influence felt in churches, schools, and neighborhoods. One of the prime causes of this state of affairs, and the first which I may mention, is the illy de vised tariff laws, whicl. has for the last twenty years disfigured the statute boaks of this uatio. . And in speaking on this subject we will assume that to all civilized countries belong the right to supervise and regulate the interests of itu people, by protecting them from force o frund, by controlling the free action of those who may inflict a serious injury on others. But to define the extent to which such interference is necessary is one of the grave questions of our politics to-day. and, as I have suggested, a country may be so overgoverned by a watchful adminstration as to lose to a greater o. less extent the spiritof enterprise, or, by inattention, weaken the legitimate competition of nations. But on the other hand it may be stil. more weakened by the destruction of the confldence|of labor, a result whici. is sure to follow t, hen fraud is -ueecssful, and goes unCuiiished. So may a Government control or proibit commercial intercourse between nations, and the citizens of that Government, if they have any rights at all, ,-ne of the most obvious a.d important, of these rights .should be that of choosing a market tor their labor and products. But if a country choose to establish protection it creates artificial mt rests whose cxistt nee are a loss to about eighty out of every one hundred people, and the maintenance ol these Interests seems Jo be the fulfilment of a contract entered into between the Government and the industry which the Government has called L.to existence or has stimulated, It thed would seem true that if any particular industry is of such a character us to be carried on by the people ul unv district and the producer fears no rival In tiie ho'me markets, and still more if he dreads no comp tition in a foreign market, any protection accorded to his industry is superfluous aud unjust, and antagonizes the prosperity of the' consumer. Again, il a protective du y be imposed ou the imp rtation of foreign immmoat ies Inioacouutry winch has already a marked superiority over other countries in those commodities which are effectually shielded it would have uc effect in increasing the profit to the producer, or thecostof the urtiele to the consumer, and in every country there are certain commodhies that liuveusuprriority which other products enjoy from the facllltie* which that country ..us in inauulucturing them A protective system is then concerned with such products as are liable to foreign competition, aud the foreign competitor can only be defeated at the cost of the consumer. But," us a protective regulation cun only affect prices iu thut conn try which imposes them, it is then I rue that the vnly persons who cau be made to bear the increased cost, which the protective restraint impo sen will be the home consumer. If the product could find a market at home there would be no need of assistance, but if it can ot subsist at home without the intervention of the Government to guarantee a profit to the mauulacturer or the producer, the domestic consumer is the only person who can be made to contribute to the fttnd from which tiie profit is made. I therefore sulimit tha the country which puts the least binderauce on imports always deals to the beat advantage with tiie natioiifc of the world, and that advantage is distributed equally among her laboring subjects , and these advantages decrease when any disir-iut is imposed on imports. Then the question, who is to determine at what time protection Is to be removed? Not the consumer for lie would natural'y ~’.»;<-<-t to protection Irorn the ..cgini.ing. lor tiie icueoii that it would inflict a loss upon him the very moment it went into operation; nor the manufacturer, for he drends rivalry, and any attempt to reduce the ta-iff is by him considered a thrust a. his profits. But the legislators of the country should be careful, by acts of wise legislation, to so adjust and adopt a tariff which will not have the effect to build np monied corporation* aud foster centralized power, by the destruction of labor and the Impoverishmentol the laborer. We agree that al' wealth Is the direct product of labor, and ns the efficiency of labor Is the first and last condition ot national greatness and progress, and this condition of labor Is brought about by tha divis on oi employment and knows no limit as long a* the markets of its products are extended. Then It is of the greatest importance to any nation that the field of labor should be open and as free ns possible. Then If this be trim as to labor, what great objocilon can lie urged and sustained to adin.ttlug the products of other countries with the stme freedom. Our

| Republican ftiendsand speakers ateadilv maintain with the heat aigunicntsAbev cau command that the growth and progress ol onr nation hu> never been so great us under our present high protective tariff laws. But whatever they have accomplished in the way of regulating the com! inerce and induetiy of onr country one protect ive basis they have omitted iu all their estimates oi what constitutes the growth and progess ol our Union. Uue very Important factor which has been gradually contributing to on ' wealth when we wers tn the midst of strikes and financial crashes <sl great magnitude; and they to et that as u nation wo have doue what no other nation has ever done, accepted aud instituted tree trade iu labor, and by so doing we have added to our population on an average for the last twenty years over 300.000 souls annually (not counting the Chinese immigration) A majority of these rind homes on our Western Piairies, and begin the work oi producing wealth by engaging In agricultural pursuits, and it bus been estimated by William A. Berkey, a writer on political economy, thrt each of these perrons represent in money and goods at least SBOO, which makes the euoimoils sum of over $90,000,000 annually conirlbnted to the wealth of our country by the old world. I ask, then, in al) caudor, is not this one of the prime causes .of our nations' prosperity instead of the high protective laws? That you may properly understand how the tariff affects the consumer 1 will give some sta tistlcal flgnres, which 1 defy any Republican in the land to cuntrover , and from these you cau make your own calculations as to the amount the consumer nays as a tribute to capital. The following schedule shows the rate of duty on the different articles mentioned as they exist to-day: COTTON. Cotton..bleached, P«ryard, 48 81 percent, ad valorem. Cotton—Colored “ “ “A 90 per cent., 53.48 advalorem. Cotton Jeans, Denims, ac„ per yard, and 15 per cent., 55.94 per cent, advalorem. Catton go >da not specified, 7H cents per yard aad 15 per cent., 8c per cent, advalorem. Cotton Hosiery, 5 per cent., 86 per cent, advalorem. Cotton Laces, as., 95 par cent., K per cent advaloam. Cotton Ready-Made Clothing, 85 per cent,, 15 per cent, advalorem. Cotton Thread, Yarn, Ac., «0c to (Kto pan lb.. 20s per lb., and 10peifceut., 90.19percent,advalorem. Cotton Thr. ad. Yarn, Ac., Hu to 89c per lb., 90c par lb. and 90 per cent., 91.99 per cent advale. rem. Cotton Thread, Yarn, A’ .. over 90c per lb., 400. per lb., and 20 per cent,, 58.17 per cent, advalorem. Cotton Velvet, Velveteen, Ac., 85 per cent., 85 per < ent. advalorem. Average rate of protection, advalorem. 37.81 per cent. LINEN. Brown Linen under 80c. per square yard, 85 per cent., 35 per cent, advalorem. Brown Linen above 80c. per square yard, 40 per cent., 40 per cent, advalorem. Handerkerchiefs under 80e per square yard, 35 percent., 35 per cent, adva'orein. Handkerchit fa above 80c. per square yard, 40 per cent., 40 pe cent, advalorem. Burlopa, Ac., 89 per cent ,80 per cent advalorem. Thread Lace and Insertings, 30 per cent., 39 per cent, advalorem. Thread and Twine 40 per cent., 40 per cent, advalorem. Average rate of protection, advalorem, on this class of goods, 82.85 percent. GLASS. Plate Glass 24xf» and upwards, 128 It per cent advalorem. Common Window G ass, 8o per cent, advalorem, CUTLERY. Knives. 50per cult, 50 percent, advalorem. Cutlery, all other kinds 16 per cent., 35 per cent, advatoreir.. LEATHER. Calf .'kins, tanned, 25 pur.'cent., 25 per cent* advalorem. uiuvc» and Mitts, 50 per cent.. oO per cent, ad valorem. Morocco Skius, 10 percent., 10 per cent, advalorem. Upper Leather, Ac., 20 per cent., 90 per cent, advalorem. SILKS. Braids, Silks, Ac., HO per < ent., 60 per cent, advalorem. Dress and-Piece Goods,6o per cent.,HO percent, advalorem. Hosiery, 60 per cent.. 60 percent, adva'orem. Ready maue Clothlug'HO per cent., 60 per cent, advalorem. Ribbons, 60 per cent., 60 per cent, advalorem. Mixed Silk, 25 per cent. Cotton, 60 per cent., 60 percent, advalorem Velvets, 00 per cent., 60 per cent, advalorem. SUGAR. Sugar, No. 7 and under 1& cents per lb., and 25 per cent., 54.63 per cent, advalorem. Sugar No. 7 and up to 10.2 cents per lb. and 25 percent., 52.63 per cent, adva oreni. Sugar No. 10 to 13, 2'i cents per lb. and 25 per cent., 60.40 per cent, advalorem. WOOLS. Raw Wools 10 and 11 cents per lb. Cloths Wooie , S') cents per lb. and 35 per cent. 73.63 per cent, advalorem. Clothing and wearing appural 50 ce.*.ts per lb. a- d 40 per cen..,64.32 percent, advalorem. Shawls, Woolen, 60 cents per lb., and 'JS per cent,, 58.43 per cent, advalorem Dress Goods, Woolen, 50 cents per lb. and 85 per cent., 68.82 percent, advalorem. Worsted Woolen Goods over 80 cents per lb.. 50cents per lb., and 35 per ce< t., 35 per cent, advalorem. Yarns above 80 cents per lb„ 5o cents per lb., and 35 per cent., 79.48 per ceiu. advalorem. I will mention but one otlmr article and that i Lumber undressed, which has a duty of $2 00 pe. thousand feet. These articles mentioned comprise but a few of the many on which the consumer pays a duty. Now it is urged by protectionists that our manufactories could not subsistjif it was not for tbe tariff, on' account of the high price paid for labor, .".nd that by reason of such protection our laborers re protected from competition with the pauper labor of the old world. And for the purpose of determining whether these statements are correct, I call your attention to the American Almanac, page 80, and these figures and statements are taken from the statistic 1 report of the Treasury Department, and we And that >or the year ending June 30th, .1883, there was imported to thia country fiom the old world cotton manu factored goods otalljkyieij a d grades amounting to $32,359,344, and pay Ing a duty to the Government of $12,234,371 ; molasses and sugar (91.406,718 paying *o the Government a duty of $46,172.379; wool and woolen goods ol'all kinds $57,044,444. paying a duty of $32,320,892.,—making a| total on these three necessaries of lifer f $90,727,642, that is paid ny the consumer for the privilege of using them st nil. Now If our own manufacturers could iivt supply our own market w thout this protection then their first proposition would be correct. But let us go further and see whatfour manufacturers have done in the export trade. I refer yo-t to same authority, page 95, where you will fl d that the United States exported for the year 1883, ?200.279.86« worth of cotton manufac hired goods; S3BB 328 worth of woolen manufactured goods; .73,415,538 worth of molasses and sugar. Taking these facts all together we And that the America consumer pavs protective tax on all hecoummee to enable the American manufacturer to sell his products in a foreign market, to fond inters for), sa mon. y than he sells the same, nuvut to the home toiiviimur. Th't ..■> it not mi' ... ‘ iui- mnnu achiritig Interests can subsist without protection!' if they can not, how is it poss ble for them to sell millions of dollars worth of goods manufactured here under protection, to a people enjoying free trade tn all channels oi her comm* rce. Now as to the difference between English and "American manufacturers in the price paid for labor I Invite your attention to Mulhall’s Dictionary of Statistics, page 464, (and surely no Republican will dispute this authority) and you will And that cotton opeiatives in free trade England for the year 1802, received $4 71 per weak, or a fraction over 78 cents per day.- Wool en operatives received $6 39 per week, or a fraction aver $1 06 per nay .—These figures are the general av.-rage. On the other hand by rcierence to the Tenth Census of the United States page 1124, we And cotton operatives in America received for tlu ir labor $1 65 per week, or a frac--1 tion le™ than 68 cents per day. Same autboiit>, page 1190, woolen operatives received $5 80 per

i w ’® k ’ °, r *5 cents per day. The coUrn oper.it ves i of England receiving 3 cents per week more than i our eotton .iperati*,es. The woolen operatives of England receiving 59 cents pet week mon- than onr woolen operatives, These are the phi n. unvarnished faits. «uu cur.iiot be coiureverb-d bv any one who will take th- trouble of exami - mg tlip s allstics. And right h-re 1 wai, to ' all ntteiilion to the gre; t difference be: ween the average rate per cent duty on our imports in our cotton and woolen manufactures. The average rate per cent, paid lor labor being 21.9 per cent., the average rule of tariff' being 4u.l per Wftkhig the excenn of tariff* over the co«t of labor 27,2 per cent., which u num nt goes irect into the puck is of tbe manufacturer, and this profit Is guaranteed by the Government over and above the profits accruing from his legitimate investment*. Every article on the protected Hat, Imported unit consumed, tie shown by rhe tariff jchedttle pavs a duty to the Government of from 35 to IXO per cent. On tbe home pruuuclioii this per cent of tux is p ac d iu the pockets of the capitalists Then ths question: If these goods can be told Iu a ioreign market without protection, why can ti.ey uot be manufactured and sold to the home consumer without protection! Aga n, this protective system Imposes a duty of $2 uu per thousand on every foot of lumber that goes to build a house for us to shelter our families, and 'hose who use the article must par the duty. While we are veudingannualiy to theold world.lumber, logs, staves, spars, telegraph poles, snip masts Ac . amounting to $23.21)3.688, which IssJld w ithout duty. And by this system our American u.erchaut verssla have nearly all been driven from the seas, a will be seen by the following: For the year 1888, onr imported merchandise, carried in American vessels, amounted io $186,090,910: foreign vessels carried $864,175,576. American vessels carried ut onr export traae $111,758,888: foreign vessels carried $717,104,459, ‘hue leaving us anuost without Muuiiuu, and at the mercy of °!l r Hvalt •’bould nny un pleasant ne*i» arise between this and any other nation. I aubiuit, thattrom all the evidence presented ft *• ou four points: Ist. That the difference berweeu the sums nt paid labor and that derivedLun acco nt of the taaiff is too great and should be revised. 9d. That the laborer iu our manutmturlug enterprises la uo bolter paid “L* **“• ld “ d us I**™ FrSEL i*-. T * at *»»»'ufttciurer In the United btstes cau to-dny compete with the European mauufbetnrer without protection, as shown by the amount of our export trade In protected articl ». 4t That,the.mechanic, rtrtner. and laborer should be relieved of the burden* of the artff ou all and eatery article which they ase or t° r malutaluance us their iatniiies. Oils* B. Stebbins, In his work on page 99. aaya: The farmer Is protected on what he produces, by n tariff on the following: Wheat, 2U cun taper hit* he); wheut flour, 20 per emit • corn, 10 cents per bushel; oats, IDcenta per bushel; butter, 4 Ceuta a pound; cheese, 4ce leper pound, and potatoes, 15 ueuta per bushel, and with this array of flgnrea he would have the F ar ?‘. ,r * m ,nk M * C,,M ’ ‘ lle y »hQ9ld be the last to object to Ute tariff when they uro so ex tenslvvly protected. Farmers, be not deceived by ouch rgumonu. What, it. the name of commonaeaM, does it profit you to be protected en sack articles aa are only exported, for woli do all protactloniata know that the American Ihrmer a producldg at aft times more than ehough td'un !’2 y and does so at prices that the old world cannot produce and import to our shores tomia of anjtftnC and sell for less money than onr fanner s seif at n>me. J And now, Mr. Obairmau, In conclusion I ask where tni. import duty U levied on sugar aud molasses amounting to |16,172,879, whictf is exclusively for the benefit of s few persons in Lotiiaiau'e, and paid By the toiling many. Is this not u for thu benefit of n new in thv timber lauds of the Uuiteo States I* not t hi* class kgl.tatfon 1 I m.ght conHnJe to ask these queatlou* on ill the dutiable articles iu the list sad the answer to nil would bo—Yes But my Republican lrlei,ds say times uro good, money plenty und work lor nil. if this Is trit?, thsn why *v many bank fullures? and so many labor *Vi u*' A'.d those strikes al) being composed taetad ,W!r * ,U b< * lhat MgMy proMy oonutrymen, thia is a co- fffet between the i i lghi ami wrong, and thoconflici will not eeato iiutil toe cause, which is lor the benefit of the laboiiug■ pco/ie triumph*. ThU question of tariff is the Issue between the twe great parties, ns indicated In their p i.tforiua, and br the letters of acceptance from the different candidat-a; and an this question wo are to staud or fall. There can be ue ha f way Issues In Judging right or wrong. Then ail who favor Reform will Tn. November next stand on the platform ndopetd by the DemocraticiPurty at Chicago, andon which Cleveland and Hendricks stand. And those whofavorthe continuance of the present tariff laws, class Jegla atlon and a strong centralised Government, will standby the Republican platform on which Blaine and Logan stand. I thank you for your attention and patieat hearlug.