The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-05
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY PIG
IRON.

From the Ohio State Journal
1t is in no way surprising that young,
arrogant, ignorant person, thrown untimely
into Congress by some upheaval of the sub
terraneans, should feel that our Government
stands in the relation of Divine Providence
to the people of the United States. and that
they should look to it for daily food. Much
is to be forgiven in the overwhelming sense
of responsibility which disquiets the young
person in such case He feels us on his
mind. He feels that sleepless vigilance is his
duty, in order that the world may be kept
wagging, and he learns slowly, if at all, that
that people is governed best which is gov
erned least.
But that men of reputation as grave and
experienced statesmen should so far mistake
the proper function of government as to sup
pose that all good citizens should pray daily
to the Ways and Means Committee, ''Gve us
this day our daily pig iron," is pitiable.
There is not a school boy in America whose
instruction should not enable him to correct
so absurd a misconception of the proper
sphere of government. Yet this is the
crowning grace of good statesmenship in the
eyes of some of our Congressman of best
repute, and scme of our journalists of widest
reputation.
We have sincere and ardent regard for
Horace Greeley. If we could for moment
permit ourselves to adopt his style and Ian
honest wrongheaded idiot in the civilized
world. No man has a wider and higher con-
ception of the capacities of journalism than
Mr. Greeley. No other man in all the caravan
Of time has ever SO thoroughly saturated any
journal with his own personality, and made it
80 potent an engine, as Mr.. Greeley has done
with the Tribune. AS a journalist we adore
Greeley. AS scientific farmer he excites
our respectful admiration. What he knows
g.. 49, falro
without even reading it, But as a political
economist the venerable woodsman is not a
success.
His whole theory of political economy is
directed to requiring of Government despe-
rate attempt to make foreign manufactures
cost as much as our own to the consumer.
This is to be accomplished by forcing him to
pay the difference, and trife over, into the
pockets of few capitalists. And Mr.. Gree
ley thinks the whole power of the Govern
ment, in all its branches, should be energized
in this direction. Congress should make
foreign pig iron cost as much as ours, or die
in the attempt If any lunatic should embark
all his capital in an enterprise to produce ma
tive bar steel out of costly cutlery, at ten
times the cost of imported bar STEEL Gree
ley would demand that tariff of ten times
the cost of the foreign article be laid upon
imported bar steel, in order that the native
lunatic might be protected from loss
Some scientific farmer has recently demon
strated that fair article of tea can be grown
in California, at cost of $40 or $50 pound.
Greeley's theory will require of us that a
tariff be laid presently upon all foreign teas
sufficient to ''protect" this Californian in the
growth of tea, provided he cares to continue
the business. 1t is a merciful thing thai
home production by less scientific nativ,
farmers has been successful in giving the
American people a very fair squash at low
rates, or we should have had Mir. Greeley de-
manding protection of two dollars and
half on squashes, in order that he might keel
up his scientific farming without loss.
We forget, however, for the moment. Pro
lection is not for farmers. A farmer who i
opening up new farm, and who finds it mar,
to make expenses the first few years, Will
his business is in its infancy, does not expee
''protection, and would not get it if he did
Protection is for the Yankee capitalist, VIII
is starting new mandatory of some sort
The farmer, my friend, takes for his shar
the privilege Of paying for protection-no
of being protected. Let him buy any articl
produced by our Yankee friend, and he wi
fnd whsis the ''protection' comes in.