Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1898 — Wonderful Work of Protection. [ARTICLE]

Wonderful Work of Protection.

The statistics on the imports and exports of manufactures during the past ten years have not received the general attention they deserve, showing as they do, an astonishing decrease of importations and a still greater increase of exports. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888 we imported manufactured articles to the value of $328,322,905; during the fiscal year closed June 30th last, just ten years later, the imports of these articles had decreased almost one bird, as their value amounted to but $229,981,231. Now, everbody knows that the consumption of manufactures must have been greater during the last fiscal year than iu that ten years before, because our population has very much increased during that decade. Even if the imports during that period had not decreased it would still show that our manufacturing interests had kept step with the increase in population. But the fact that during the last fiscal year we imported less manufactures, to the value of SIOO,OOO, 000, than ten years before shows an industrial development that exceeds the most sanguine hopes and expectations of the friends of protcetion and the framers of the Dingley Tariff in particular, as it must be borne in mind that the greatest reduction took place since the enactment of that law, it amounting to the astonishing sum of $74,666,377. The exports of manufactures, on the other hand, teach a still more significant lesson, as they show most conclusively and incontrovertibly that our protective tariff has not only enabled us to reduce the amount and value of foreign goods consumed iu this country, but has actually enabled us to increase our exports of manufactures and conquer more foreign markets.

During the fiscal year ended June 30th, 1888, we exported manufactures to the value of $l3O, 319,286, and during the last fiscal year, the first under the Dingley Tariff, we exported goods of the same character to the value of S2BB, 871,448, an increase of $158,552, 163. It seems that thebe figures should convince everybody of the necessity for an intelligent, properly adjusted protective tariff. And finally, in the fiscal year 1887-88 the excess of imports over exports amounted to the sum of $198,003,619, a very large amount to send to foreign countries in order to balance our commerce in manufactures with them. while the last fiscal year, again calling attention to the fact that it is the . first year under the Dingley Tar- | iff, shows an excess of exports over imports of manufactures of the value of $58,890,218, the first excess in our favor during the' whole existence of this nation. These figures furnish not only great satisfaction but food for serious thought and consideration.