Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1891 — TARIFF SHOT. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF SHOT.

The Results of High Protection. From 1847 to'lß6l we had revenue tariffs, or what the high protectionists of to-day choose to call “free trade” tariffs. Under the operations of these tariffs our farmers were prosperous, and the cause of it is not far to seek, for all tariff duties were low and manufacturers could not combine and form trusts to raise the prices of their products on the one hand, and on the other to cut down the wages of their workmen. The farmers therefore got in exchange for their corn and wheat the full value of these products in manufactured go ds. From 1847 to 1861 the average price of’corn in New York was 69 4-10 cents per bushel, or During the ten years ending with 1890 the average price of corn in New Y’ork was cents ] er bushel, or If the high protectionists are right their system has reduced the price of corn over 21 per cent. Window glass has been highly protected since 1816, except during the period from 1847 to 1861, when the duties were low, chiefly for revenue. In 1861 the duties were raised again, and many times since, till now under the McKinley tariff they average over 100 per cent. The result is shown in the following table: Prices per box Sixes. or BO feet, inches. Quality, iB6O. 18J0. Bxlo3d 81.95 81.90 Bxlo.th. l.eo I.SOSj 10x142d. 2.40 2 04 10x143d. 210 1.90 12x181st. 8.00 2.75 12x183d. 2.40 2.28 18x242d. 8 60 3.H 22x282d. 8.60 8.32 Total, 8 boxes *2j,85 ®13.128J Under the protection of a high tariff the window-g ass manufacturers have been able to combine to keep up ’ prices, and as a.result window glass is nearly as high as in 1860. It took only 30 bushels of corn to buy the above eight boxes of window g ass in 1860, at. the average price of corn from 1847 to 1861, dr But in 1890 it took a litt'e over 35 bushels of corn, at the average prici of corn for the past ten years, to buy the same amount of window glass, or The farmer’s tribute to the bonus of high protectionism is therefore 5 bushels of corn Wherein lies the beneticence bestowed upon the farmer by a high tariff, on the beauties of which Meli in ey and his associates de.ight to speak?