Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-16

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

The principle of protection to home indus
try is one that has, at different times, much
engaged the attention of the people and the
press of the United States, and though it is
pretty well understood, yet it may not be amiss
to say few words in regard to it at present.
A nation should be like family in this, that
1t should foster and encourage its own indi-
vidual members and interests. A man would
be considered demented if he would purchase
from neighbor articles which he can, and is
prepared to produce himself, when by so do
ing he would involve his family in inextrica-
BILE ruin; and it seems to us that by buying a.
broad wares, goods, iron, &c, to the destruc-
s tion OF those branches of business at home, is
folly equally insane. Protection, like charity,
should begin at home. The first care of those
who have the control of the government,
should be to encourage and sustain our own
artizans and labor, by laying such duties upon
the articles of foreign manufacturers, who
have the advantage of cheap labor, as will
at least place them upon an equality. In this
way, home industry is not only protected, but
it brings revenue to the government. Again
prudence and common sense would indicate
that revenue tax should be as light as posi-
bic on home interests and common Justice
requires that the wages of the industrious
should be spared. Consequently the fairest
mode of raising revenue is that which taxes
foreign products, and makes those who prefer
foreign articles contribute indirectly to home
industry that aid which they refuse to give di-
rectly. By carrying such policy into practi-
cal effect, the country at large will be benefit
ted in permanent manner-skill promoted
science adydnced-and the foundation of pros
perity, wealth and advancement so firmly laid
that its chance of giving way would depend
entirely upon some extreme contingency.
For several years, in consequence of the ex-
citing topics which agitated the public mind,
and ssan extraordinary concatenation of fortu-
itOuS circumstances" which postponed for a
time the disastrous results of the Democratic
FREQ trade policy, attention was in a great
measure Withdrawn from the subject of pro-
lection. The recent financial revulsion-the
depression of business-the languishing con-
dition of our manufacturing interests-and an
alarming deficiency in our revenue, (for the
Secretary of the Treasury, who was not many
months since puzzled how to get rid of some
thirty millions surplus, is now asking for large
loans to keep the wheels of government mo-
ying,) all combine to bring the subject before
our people with renewed interest, and there is
no doubt that the question of a tariff for pro-
lection will appear prominently in the contest
this fall for members of Congress. 1t is an
important question. involving the prosperity
of the mechanical, manufacturing, coal, farm
ing and lahoring interests, and every voter
should make himself acquainted with the po-
sition which the two great parties occupy in
regard to it. That can be stated in very few
words. The Democratic party has always
opposed the protective policy. We have al
ways adrOcGfed protection.