Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-17
WHICH POLICY PonySu SHALL WE

WhlCh EVLlO buhLL WE
q1ilias ADOPT.
The question of National policy In regard to
the tariff on foreign importation l. dav by dar
assuming Increased interest with the people.
II IL well kmpwn thst twu distinct lines of policy
ari being advOcated. Those IN favor If what
u termed 4" Protection io Home Industry, ad.
Vocatc the adoption of tariff which shall add
"a the cost NJ frytgn productions, thus diminish
ing their competition IN our market, aud causing
a consequent increase in the cust ~ the home
made article. by this prrcess, luss II sustain.
Cd bv the Government Ia It's revenue aud also
by the consumer In the extra cost " the article
pr'rcted, the benefit wholly accruiug to the
manufacturer.
Those opposed 10 such policy, demand the ad.
justmcnt 81 the taiiH for the purpose Of securing
the largest revenue with the least possible injury
% the productive power Of the people. They
deem all special ieRislHton fOr the benefit Of
privileged classes, us wrong IN principle and
oppressive in character, tending only to benefit
few at the cost oi the many. This latter pol
iet We cordially and most empaaiicaly support,
hrlieSing that the best interests Of the nation
will be promoted by its adoption.
The mode Of operation adopted by our oppo
ncnts in thus controversy IL very crNrtilv taken
they appeal IN the prejudces. they raise The
Uutery of "Briish Free Trade I" Thought by
British gold ~ &C., and thus they seek 10 d.
vert attention from their hands, which are thrust
into the national purse. Such outcry, We hold
- brng the M o. paltry CANNON ever oisted IN
all Intelligent people. Men, wh0 by vicious acts
at legislation are plundcriug the people of their
hard earnings under the pretcnss Of protecting
privileged manufactures, are not tLosO whO
should attempt to lAstcn on others a sorlid Nc-
cusatiun. There IL a rule as true and absolutc
ashnly writ, which the people are applying %
the questions in dispute, viz Prove all
things; hold fast that wh;ch is good"
II ,however, witt on III grace, that these mo.
all s,f n,tt III rnha klt tIst
themselves are illustrating by their commercial
policy, the most oppressive aud debasing char
ncteristcs of the British system, WHICH happi-
ly has now become obsolete. The system Of
iaouopolies, created BY the United states tariff,
now In force, IL precisely similar to that which
for three centuries has cursed and imPovcrish-
ed the laboring classes Of Great Britain m,-
nopolies based merely on the distinction OF caste,
and the elevation Of the aristucracy TO power,
whilst the masses were crushed by the iron heel
0T despotism, During that period protection was
the rule freedom Of action the exception.
Cuder tho plea protection, the mnnarchs Of
England assumed the special privilege Of tho
divine rght--b do just as they pleased. The
people Exploded that bubble of sopbistry md
0f arrogance, by deeapitaiing Charles the First.
Under the plea OF protecting the teachings of
Him, who proclaimed Peace on Earth, aud
god will toward men," the British priests es-
Iablishcd church according to law, Of which
the rciguing mouarchis the head. For genera
tsns its policy was that of prescription, OF per
Rrcntiun, and IN some instances even the penal
" " death was inflicted on those who repnda-
ted ita cutnmnniun, aud all holders 0t property
were compelled 10 support it's clergy. Such
tunes have passed. Tho Catholics NOW possess
an equality OF civil rights hissenrrs enjoy
fIe dom of co scen in ma tars of r. igi tie
,Isish Ehurch has been dis-cstubIshcd, and the
day fs not distant when the English Church
win he deprived of Its exclusive aud unjust pro-
tectinu by national law.
Undar the plea Of protecting and psrpctuating
the arlstocratic class, the English laws "t
primioRenture aud VI entail were enacted, by
which the real estato Of the nation has fallen
into comparatively few hands. The poor In
berit penurv and suffering.
Macauley'S graphic narration ~ the mOnnno-
lies existing in the reign of Elizabeth agree in-
timntely with the state of things in these United
States in this wear OF grncc, 1880 II we use
ihs name Congress Instead Of Elizabeth, the
description will b. found true to the very letter.
Macauley's statement is rs lullowsi
"The Queen EliLibcth took upon herself to
grant patent monopolies by scores, There was
scarcely family IN the ram which did not tcrl
itself aggricvrd by the oppression aud rxlorti"n
which this abuse naturally caused. Iron, oit
riaegDr, coai sdiipe,re, isd2, starch, yd'H. SKINS
iSItAsr gLtss co.d b. bnHJht only al erior'ionUie
,,rise-. Tho language ot the diScontcntcd party
was high aud mrnacnR, and was cchned by the
vace oi the whole nation. The coach oI the
chief minister Of the crown was surrounded ny
an indignant populacc ,oho cursed monup(if', aud
exclaimed that the prerogative should not he
suffered 10 touch the old liberties Of England"
This policy Of Protection eliminated IN Eng
land in 1912 and its results have been recorded
by NOBLE as follows;
"In the manufacturing districts miils and
workshops We're closed and property daily de-
preciatcd in value in the sea ports, shipping
laid up useless in the harbor agricultural la
al mia ala WtaIp
cn starvation wages and pauchial relieii the
revenue was insufficient to meet the national ex'
psnditure : the country was brought to the verge
VI national and universal bankruptcy.
The protective system, which was surpwi'
with a view ~ rendering the couutry indepen'
dent ai foreign soerccs Of supply, and thns' u
was hoped fostering the growth of hninc trade
had most efectually DESTROYED that trade; by re-
'lueing the entire population u bcggary, des''tn
ton and want"
To such results Il may no, be possible to rc
duee the people of this country until the bound
less natural resources with which We are en-
dOwed as nation are less effective they now
conceal the injury done by our false system u
legislation, but still We believe that privilrdg'
endowed By law with power is taking lrm th'
people portion of the results Of their labor
rendering no service in return.
In ISi9 the first practical measures IN the tii
recti of free trade we're carried into effect b,
the TednetiAn or entire abolition Of dute'
% hhnut 500 rsicles, on which taxes had beer
imposed previously. From that time there has
bseu asteady onward policy adopted by the ~
mo al OF dutiNs from over ? 1000 different articles
the large revenue being mainly derived tron
thirteen articles ot taxation. What then ha
been the result of this free trade policy Ia Eng
land II has rendered agriculture prosperous
largely augmented rent, vastly extended manu-
features and while securing an increased revc
nue., has BY improving tue value Of property les
Gha btsr nft HuunpFignt I'm
diminished some 50 per cent. from what Il wa
under the system Of protection the system
popular education has been largely extended
the price OF labor has increase on '-third.
In i647 She cotton manufactures oE Englan
consumed 6,3Te bales Of cation per week, 0f 81
pounds each 10 1853 thev consumed 52.0s
bales IT cotton per week, of S54 pounds each,
3. la la5a the expnrls Of England wera Gll5 S2l
Ne9 sterling value or about $500 ,a0e, ono,
1893 the loTuAhns agRre Gate Ut Ee!5 S5S OSS, q
nearly ,sl 200 600 900 had been attained. Thu
Ia the Ayears of free trade the exports M Enl
land had nearly doubled, In 1884 England 81
ported 60 the amount " about $i8 per head
its entire population. 10 ls67 to the extent
about $50 per head. In 1854 the imports ave
aged about sss per head Of the population
1867 about $40.
Ia whatever view tho free trade policy of En
iand be regarded, it exhibits an Immense |
crease OF business over the old protective systci
In regarding the prosperity Of nations il ma
iers but little oy what name its policy OF suece
il dssignated the question is Is Il the true y,
icya wal Badysncs the general Interests
the peOplsf Will il give wealth. comfort a
prosperity 10 the masses Of our people 2 II
then let as adopt such policy although IL m
slnAnats frpm Britain, OF France, or from Til
brctoo. Ifthe system Of protection is rig
then lot us all enjoy II equally. let US az,
sssrcoarse with the rest Of the world aud Ii
Ne Chiness Of old, live in uttOr isolation fr,
kindred nAtioaH! Such policy will furnish
illustration Of the protective system, p
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