The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-21
A Protective Tariff-Its Revenue and
Protective Features.


From the ~. Y. ProtectiontSt.
Few of our people are so little interested in
the subject as not to have noticed that the
antagonism which exists between two classes
of thinkers and actors in this country, known
respectively as Protectionsts and Free Traders,
is fast developing itself into a condition of
actual warfare.
Not satisfied with feeble attempts at oontro-
version and disquisition, the champions of
free trade have sailed forth from the atmo-
sphere of quills and inkstands to wage their
cause in the arena of politics. Last year, when
the manufacturing interests of this country
more than ever demanded judicious protection,
the quasi free traders OF the West and few
legislators from the East for want of some
thing to make a reputation upon, seized this
new sensation of free trade and adopted that
for the purpose. These mistaken persons, led
on by the unscTupulous men collectively
known as the "American FTee-TTade League"
managed to exert sufficient influence in Con-
gress to defeat the bill, than which, as a
measure of commercial necessity, nothing
could have been more wise, reasonable, or well
adapted to the circumstances of our manu-
featuring interests. Through the same oppo-
sition this bill when brought up again in Con-
gress during the winter, was again stifled, and
it was only as an unavoidable necessity that
this same meddlesome clique suffered to
pass the Wool bill in March previous to the
adjournment of the Thirty ninth Congress.
Since that time the Free Trade League has
commenced the publication of an organ
specially devoted to its interests. This by
itself furnishes no indication of the growth of
their perniciOus doctrines, the organ alluded
to being altogether of too weak nature to
afford any further indication of the progress of
the League than that of mere existence. But
we believe it to be unquestionable fact that
under the teachings of European economists,
who understand nothing about American
! affairs, and the shallow reasonings of their
| disciples here, who understand, if possible,
less the doctrine of free trade has obtained
such extensive support in this country that it
will not do. any longer to ignore its existence.
With few exceptions the leading papers of
this city are devoted to its cause, and the in
fluence of the metropolitan press is such, that
unless immediate and energetic steps are
taken, it is not unreasonable to expect that
before a long while the leading papers of the
country will unthinkingly be led into the
same channel. There is evidently but
one way of dealing with this evil,
and that way is to give it battle. To
enter the lists unarmed, against an oppO-
nent as well prepared as is the Free Trade
League, fed as it is with foreign gold,
and petted as it is in the clubs, would be
sheer madness. For these reasons we call
upon the manufacturing interests OF the coun-
try, and we call almost in the tone of right,
for their support of a journal which is
intended to be especially devoted to their
interests in this great cause. Unless they wish
to see the entire value of their investments
swept away by acts of legislation either of
commission or omission; unless they wish to
see the industrious poor around them sud
denly thrown out of employment and reduced
to beggary; unless they wish to see the entire
commercial interests of the country brought
to a sudden stand-still, and the whole land
agtated by financial convulsion, let them
respond at once to every reasonable effort
which may be made to avert these calamities,
and particularly to such a one as the present,
which, in this land of newspapers and news
paper readers, has always proved the most
eficacious. 1t is now to be seen which side
will enlist in its favor the potent engine OF
popular opinion, for without this neither cause
can hope to permanently triumph; and let IL
not be said, should popular opinion be won tor
cause so plainly false as that OF free trade,
that it was won through any listlessness or
apathy or want of energy on the part oil Amerl-
can manufacturers.
For the benefit of those who have never
thought it worth while to examine the argu-
ments on this subject which have been ban
, died about Of late, we shall now proceed
TO state the whole question as it stands to-
day. for it is only upon a clear knowledge OF
the situation that proper measures can be pre-
dicated.
+. Left to itself without any legislation at all
upon the subject-left to free trade tins Droau
g country would support but one class OF INDUS
= tries, and that class, agricultural. Ths, WIN
g few fishing establishments on the coast, ana
. a few manufactures for the heavy and more
g bulky class of goods, would constitute lhe
S support Of the entire country; and in TINS con
i dition the United States would be entirely de'
pendent upon the markets of Europe.
If the harvests in Europe were bad, grea'
. advantage to this country would ensue' Oul
h grain would be sold at high prices, ana IoT
l. single year everything would go as 'hapPlly
/ as marriage bell" With the proceeds OF
our exports of agriculture we would purohase
> enormous quantities of foreign manufactures
% and the country would be stocked with tnest
/ wares from the lakes to the gulf. IL mex
,, year the harvests of Europe turned out 10 p'
70 even tolerably good, all this would De chAlg91
The enormous Overplus of grain which woulu
IS remain in our warehouses without purchaser
, would rot upon our hands. In snort
It there would be no sale for the only thing W.
! had to sell; and year Of desoaton ana MISERY
/ would inevitably follow, Since IN the lIll
); run there are more good harvests IMAM pa
a ones IN Europe--as indeed there ought 10 DO
d even without the advantages Of the apphca
}, ton Of superabundant capital and improved
, culture, bad European harvest Is rarity
T, the result would be that only once in ten or
h dozen years should we be able to dispose O