The Tariff and the Farmer, 15 



view appear false when the gain made in exports from 

 1846-60, under low duties, is contrasted with that made 

 from 1880-97 with high duties. The starting-point, 1880, 

 is taken as being about the time when retaliatory tariffs 

 began to affect our export trade. 



The percentage of gain in the former shorter time was 

 210%. At this time most exportations, about four-fifths, 

 consisted of agricultural products. In 1880 the value of 

 agricultural exports was $685,000,000. The average of 

 ^ye years before and after this date was $620,000,000. In 

 1897 the value was $683,000,000; the average of five 

 /ears before and after, $641,000,000. The percentage of 

 gain of one five-year period over the other was not 4%. 

 After 1897 the percentage of gain was much more, but 

 still from this date to 1906 inclusive was but 67. From 

 1880-1906 the gain in agricultural exports was but 54% ; 

 in fourteen years of low duties a gain of 210%; in 

 twenty-six of the highest duties but 54%. 



Looking at the matter from a common-sense stand- 

 point, it is impossible to believe but that high protective 

 duties have decreased the flow of agricultural products 

 abroad to a large extent. The example of the United 

 States has been followed by other nations, with the 

 exception of Great Britain. The great increase in rates 

 of duties imposed upon our exports in those countries 

 could not fail to shut them out in whole or in part, for 

 the larger part of this merchandise consisted of agricul- 

 tural products. 



After referring to the time when various nations 

 increased rates of duties, Mr. David A. Wells, in his book, 

 ''Eecent Economic Changes," says: ''There can be no 

 doubt that the objective of much of the restrictive com- 

 mercial legislation of other countries in recent years has 



