White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1869-11-25
Free Trade.

they are sending lecturers and miss'ona-
ries into every part of the country, espe-
eisily the West. What it means at this
time is not yet apparent but they are
probably manufacturing public opinion
preparatory to making raid upon Con-
gress. Protection to American Industry
to-day means Just Whist il did 10 Henry
Clay's time. when the Democracy deieat-
cd him only BY assuring tbs people that
they were as good friends Of the Tariff IS
he wss-then turned round and siolatsd
their pledges by adopting Tariff As dis-
ferent from what they had promised as
they possibly conld. Free Trade is q
fsvotite measure Of the old Democratic
party, and the same men are now snsi-,
ueering it who were in the business
qnsrter of . century ago. From that
Democratic sink hole OF corruption. New
York City, fortified with funds contrib
uted BY heavy importers Of foreign gools
and sgeuts OF foreign manufacturers. they
persisten,ly keep up . bombardment de.
signed to break down American manu-
fsctures and American industries. by
bringing them into direct competition
with the starvation prices of Europe. A
num Der of prominent Republican papers
in the West are 1salously joining in this
crusade; but such pspels. it will be
found, are edited by men who were Free
Trade Democrats in the past. and who
are so Joined to their idol that they are
willing to assist the Democratic party in
gaining the ascendaucy on the question
Of Free Trade that they failed to accom-
plish on the questions of Slavery and
Rebellion. They aided in crushing the
Slave Power. but still cling to 9 policy
ingrained into the Democratic party BY
and during its su' jsc,ion to the interests
of the Slave Power.
The people Of tie West are sougst to
be worked upon by he cry that they are
mads to pay tribute to the mcnopolists
Of New England. This is the same old
plea upon lich the South endesvored
to enlist the West against tie Esst IN
the rebellion. The South, having nc
manufactures Of consequence, bot being
engaged in cotton raising. is for Free
Trade. and would not object to England
breaking down our Northern nanufac
lures. The West raises no cotton. but
is ambitious to establish m manufactures.
which she is successfully doing. By go
ing off on the Free Trsde folly. in order
to break down New England monopoliss.
she will break down her own infant en-.
terprises. that need protection far more
than those of New England do; for the
cheap labor Of Europe will come into
competition with them ss well. There
may grow up monopolies m under the sys.
tenn of protection, as there will under
any other system /: but it is poor policy
to break down the industries OF the whole
country in order to head off a few monop'
olies-and it is better to build up home
than foreign monopolies.
The principal cause Of the immense
rush of immigration from Europe is the
starvation prices OF labor there. Faro
pean m anufucturers pay their laborer'
perhaps less than one fourth the prices
paid 10 the United States. Withhold
protection from American manufactures.
and they will either be compelled to sus-
pend and throw their operatives ou. oI
employ ment altogether. or reduce their
rates Of wsges to the European standard
This is 9 question which deeply interests
the lsborer, the farmer. and every Other
working man. in the West as we'll % in
the East. The Republican party is es.
ssntislly the Wo-king-men's party; and
if it permits itself to be humbugged into
embracing the Free Trade policy. it will
have cast ont one of the very foundation
rocks OF its organiz alton.