EXPORTS OF INDIAN CORN. 



been the average for the period 1849-61, then the amount real 

 ized would have been only $142,093,891.10, instead of the $155,- 

 164,324 actually received, so that the loss would have been $13,- 

 070,432.90. Does that increase of more than thirteen million dollars 

 constitute part of the proofs that the country is going from bad to 

 worse, and that the people generally, and the Western farmers 

 particularly, are being impoverished, all on account of Protective 

 duties? The exports in the second period, at the higher average 

 price, were 152.6 per cent, larger than the exports in .the first 

 period, at the lower price. Is that copious and extraordinary gain 

 in export quantity, coupled with a more remunerative value, fur- 

 ther indication of the baneful effects produced upon Western far- 

 mers by our present tariff system? Rather, may it not be that the 

 highly-wrought picture of wrongs and outrages suffered by the 

 agricultural classes, under the policy of Protection to home indus- 

 try, as paraded before the public, with a great blare of announcing 

 trumpets, by Free Traders, is merely a picture painted by the 

 imagination is only a delineation of non-existent circumstances 

 which are at sixes and sevens with the truth? Between the real 

 facts and the alleged facts there is an utter want of correspondence. 

 So soon as the children of experience are put on the witness-stand, 

 they testify against the Free Traders. It is sheer nonsense to argue 

 the tariff question, as some do, in such a way as virtually to 

 maintain that assertions are stronger supports of argument than 

 facts. 



The swift answer comes back that, while farmers may have ob- 

 tained higher prices for their produce under the policy of Protec- 

 tion than they did under the policy of partial Free Trade, yet 

 " the American producer has received in exchange for his exports 

 from one-quarter to one-third less in quantity in other commodi- 

 ties, such as iron, and cotton and woolen clothing, than he did be- 

 tween 1846 and 1 86 1." This mode of putting the case is the same 

 old dogmatic -plan assertion without proof. In reply, we quote 

 from the editorial columns of the Industrial Age, of Chicago, May 

 i, 1875, as follows : 



It is surprising to see a blanket monopoly sheet, that pretends to wield influ- 

 ence, boldly assert that the prices of goods are one-third higher now than in 1857, 

 when a comparison of prices then with the commercial columns of this same 

 paper flatly contradicts the statement. The editor must think his readers are all 



