Letters to the editor Aug. 7

The whole story

Recently an acquaintance of mine told me about the tariffs that were implemented in 1890. I was told that in 1890 William Mckinley was a member of Congress and he was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. At that time the Republicans had majorities in the House and Senate and the president was a Republican. I was told that by 1891 the tariffs had raised lots of money for the U.S. Treasury. By then the U.S. balance sheet looked healthy.

This story interested me so I researched it online. What I learned was that I was not told the whole story. In 1892 the mid-term elections were held and the Republicans lost their majorities in the House and the Senate. When voters were asked why they voted the way they did the answer was clear: They were upset about the increase in prices of everyday consumer goods that were caused by the tariffs.

Winston Churchill once said, “Those who do not learn history are destined to repeat it.”

— John Powell, Columbia Falls