The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-23
Pro1eetIo1 Il Home Industry.

erdaY received The GLOWING nv SS
rom Hon. Andrew Stewart OF PennsyL
rania, one of the fathers of the "Amer-
an svstem.n He was an eminent member
# Congress from 1891 to 1929, from
1881 to 1885 and from 1s43 to 1917. He
formerly a distinguished lawyer, but
late has been largely engaged in sgri-
His ideas carry their own argu-
ment, without additional comments from
DEAR SIR: 1 cannot forbear to express
NV entire concurrence with you IS TO the
Orest importance of an increased protec-
i've tariff now rendered indispensable by
h erest reduction IN gold and the heavy
dutiss imposed on all the products Of do
nestle industry.
-Tbe war over, with adequate protection
va will enter upon 8 course OF national
nrosperity never before witnessed In this OF
any other country.
The labor of a million of men, by peace
converted into producers instead OF con-
sumers; the foreign labor n espltal at.
trscted to u shore by q hlgn tarln and
its insepsrsble concomitant high wages
the immense development this capital and
labor will give to our vast treasures, agrl-
cultural, manufacturing and minerals and
above all, the addition Of two hundred
millions to our exports in the single item
OF cotton, which amounted before the war
/ to five times as much as sll our other sgri-
cultural exports put together-with such
advantages wisely protected, our heavy war
| dohH WouId caoraalu ha falE
But with free trade or 8 low tariff open.
ing our ports 10 the free introduction OF
the pauper labor productions of Europe,
paraly zing the arm of American labor,
crushing home competition, taking first
our money and next our bonds, national
bankruptcy and ruin are inevitable.
That such have been the effects OF low
tariffs is. proved by the history of oul
country from its origin up to the present
time. The contest is between Foreign snC
American labor for the American market
A high tariff gives it to the American snC
a low one to the foreigner, and Congress
must decide which shall have it. II j
therefore the duty of every working maj
tn see that NO one is elected to Congress
VINO is not in favor of protecting the IA
tiOnsl industry in all its departments, sgri
cultural, manufacturing and mechanical
Hence, l am glad to see that you hsv,
commenced the good work of organizing
societies :or the protection Of American
industry" in Onio, and 1 hope soon to set
your excellent example followed in all tbt
great agricultural regions of the South anC
West.
For it can be demonstrated that tbs
farmers of this country are mnrA-+aserest
ed in the protective Poney Than any ethel
clas0-next the mechanics and working
men, and last the capitalist and manu-
facturer.
As to the first, it can be proved by refer
ence to official reports, that our farmerI
now purchase and consume four dollar
worth of agricultural produce worked "
into goods, to every dollars worth shey
send abroad. Let farmer go int a store
and examine every article of fOrelgn goods
and he will find that more than half theIl
whole value is made up OF sgrl
cultural produce-the raw .materls
and the subsistence of labor. Take 8 piece
of CLOTHS not one half of its value
foreign wool, and most of the other hal
foreign agricultural produce consumed by
the labor employed in its manufacture
or q bar Of iron, which is still more
strictly an agricultural product, consisting
of the bread, meat and vegetables con,
sumed by the men, and the hay, grass snC
grain consumed by the horses and mule
employed in producing it, thus convert
ing this foreign agricultural produce int
iron, sent here and sold to our farmers
who are thus deprived Of a market f(
their own. Or, suppose he purchases ,
knife. q needle, or q yard OF lace, whs
dses he pay for The subsistence of thu
labor that produced it. And so Of every
thing else. How much better for thu
American farmer 10 exchange his Owl
agricultural produce with the manufac
turer at his door, than to send his money
abroad to purchase agricultural produce
disguised and made portable In the form
OF cloth, iron and other foreign goods.
Next as to our mechanics and IGbOrint
men. Is it not perfectly clear that thei
prices and wages must go up and dowI
with the duties imposed for their protec
tion2 Suppose the duties on foreign shoe
TO be 8 dollar 8 psir-if this protective
duty is reduced or repealed, will not th,
foreign manufacturer at once make NJ
equivalent reduction on his goods, snC
must not the American shoemaker make
corresponding reduction on his, or give W
the market TO his foreign rival? Hence
is it not manifest that q high tariff raises
AID 8 low tariff reduces, the aDaqes O
American labor in every department o.
industry, agricultural, manufacturing anC
mechanical 2
And, finally, let US see how it effects the
capitalist or manufacturer. The immedi
ate effect of a high or prohibitory duty
may, in the first instance, be to increase
the prices and profits of the manufsc.
turer; but will not this very increase
tempt capital on all sides to rush into this
profitable business, thus creating an in.
creased demand for labor, thereby enhanc.
ing its wages? And, Increasing, also, the
demand for agricultural produce of every
kind-rsW material, bresdstuffs and provi-
siOns; and, OF course, Increasing their
price by this increased demand, and, st
the same time, reducing the price of the
manufactured goods, by the greatly in
creased supply thus thrown upon the
market 2 Is it not, Therefore, evident, that
the farmers, mechanics and 1Oorktngmen
are much more interested in the protect
i've policy than the manufacturer? Yet
the freetrRders would have the people
believe that the capitalist and msnufsc-
turer are alone benefited, and that the
farmers, mechanics and lsboring men are
terribly taxed and oppressed by the pro-
tective policy. Such are the gross absurd
tiles into which the snti-taritf party are
driven in their efforts to favor foreign, and
destroy American, industry.
1t is however, impossible in q short and
hssty letter to advert, however briefly, to
the many interesting topics embraced in
the great question OF national protection.
With the best wishes for the success of
your patriotic association, and many
thanks for your kind invitation,
am, very respectfully, yours, etc,