The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-07-17
Proteeao. . Am.rie.n 1nap,tr,.

frplnlnr Mt among the looming 19SoeS EiSiDS
above the political horizon for the Presiden-
tial campaign Of 1874 is that of Free Trade as
opposed to a tariff for protection to American
industry. In the triumph Of James X. Polk
in 1874 over Henry Clay. the colossal cham
pion of the American system, and in the tariff
measures for revenue which followed as the
settled policy of the Democratic party, it was
believed that the doctrine Of protection to
American industry by the Federal Govern
ment had received its final quietus in our po-
litical economy for all future time, and such
doubtless would have been the case had not
great national crisis and conflict of arms en-
sued some sixteen years later. The public
e1iSencies which arose out of the war impera-
lively demanded tina. ALI enormous tariff
should be imposed upon imported goods, not
for the purposes Of protection but to aid the
National Treasury in the time of its sorest
peril. Men who had been the lifelong adyo-
Gates of free trade or an advalorum tariff for
revenue, at a single bound passed TO common
ground with those who had been the foremost
champions of high protective tariff in the
days when Harry of the West was in his pris-
tine glory. A high tariff in the first years of
the war became Us much a military necessity
as the raising and equIpping of heavy bodies of
troops In the adhering States for the suppress
sion of the rebellion, and hence was cheerfully
acquiesced in by all who favored a vigorous
prosecution of the war. The country, how
ever, has passed the period Of military neces-
sity, and all questions affecting the civil pol
icy of the States must be judged by their mer-
its as in times of peace, without reference to
the exigency which called them into existence
as dernier resort. 4 high protective tariff
is either right in principle and defensible at
the bar of public opinion, or it is wrong and
unjust in principle, and should be reduced 10
standard Of revenue alone at once as an set
Of justice to those who are made to pay enOrm-
Gus sums which GO into the pockets Of Eastern
manufacturers. The most singular phase of
the move to overthrow the protective system.
however, is found in the fact that many of the
New England protectionists who have grown
enormously rich under the fostering shadow
Of the protective system, are now uniting in a
movement designed to sweep away the entire
series of Congressional acts fayoring a protec-
tive policy. The secret of this action on the
part Of New England manufacturers, however.
may I've found in the two-fold circumstance
that the tariff has forced goods of American
manufacture up to such exorbitant mates that
ue are driven from the markets Of the world
and the business Of exporting manufactured
goods literally destroyed; and in the second
place, manufactures have broken over the
n ind Il
and are spreading like some Wild c1nta.iou
all over the West and South. which are be
coming more formidable and dangerous rival
than the manufacturers of Old England. When
the -aw material is .I,.En in the SOuta and
the splndles are operated in the West az South.
and all the supplies which are needed 70 sub
sis: the operatives are produced az their own
ger pay tribute to the East, and becomes indie
pendent Of those - whom they have been 80
long held IL state @: Ghjcct yaS~tl4-s so;
only has the protective policy Of iGv Govern
men; destroyed the foreign commerce Of New
England, but i has called into life . T!vHl TINT
threatens to sap the life blood and source Of
ali her wealth and prosperity. We need not
therefore be surprised If we should lind New
England in 1872 among the foremost champi-
ons Of Free Trade, as without commerce She
langrIishes and dies. The scep;er OF manufac-
turing power Is fast passing away from the
East under the wonderful impetus given it by
the high protective tariff Of the last few years
and, ike the march Of empire, is moving
toward the setting sun and founding an EN-
pire il the land drained by the Father of
waters. But whether New England shall bc
among the foremost advocates or not of the
policy of Free Trade in the Presidential cam
paign of 1872. certain IL is that whoever NAV
plant themselves as a political organization on
the protective system now maintained under
authority OF the Republican party. will suffer
crushing defeat and sink out OF sight as a po-
itical power in the land.