Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-01-07
LICE rARrrF 80 1IoNoroIIns.
IFron Ihe Cincinnati Gaa5tts.l

lFrou- the Cincinnati Gazette.
To reduce the prohibitory duties
would reduce the burdens Of the peO-
pie without impairing the revenue or
causing importation It would simply
abate monopOlies BY furnishing COM
petition beyond q certain Rl sufficient
point. And besides this WOuldrelieYe
other industries from burdens. But
those who assume 10 be the champions
Of protection have run the theory %
suCh aud extreme that they now de-
clare that prohibition Is the only
protection, and that If revenue be a
consideration they would rather have
free trade. And these declare chat
the way to encourage manufacture Id
By creating mOnopolieg, aud that IL we
take good care of these, they will take
care Of the masses. But monopOlies
do not tend TO enterprise or improve
ment. They never did. They devote
their energies 10 the continuance Of
the monopoly, aud are always fearful L.
will break down.
We have q few tariff monopolies
which oppress all other productive in-
dustr1ea, and they have their ma6hin-
ery 20 control legislation. Every en-
zine, labOr-saving machine, mill, agFi-
cultural engine, implement, every
house, household, aud every produc-
tive labor, is taxed not less than 80 per
cent. in excess Of q fair profit By these
monoplies. We would not disDossess
one Of these interests from the market
at fair profit; but Wewonld abate the
prohibitory duty till il would make
competition possible beyond O fair
pT0Et. We have che great railroad
mOnopOlies imposing their taxes on
producers, and compelling them TO
pay dividends on stock multiplied BY
watering. We have great combina-
tions of money capital speeulating on
the Measure Of values of the labor of
the whole country, and bankruptlng
legitimate traders By their piratioal
raids. We have q domestic. salt mon
.opoly, created by the tariff. and its
natural adjunot-a privileged salt class
Who are allowed a drawback Of the
duty. We have crushed cur ship
building by tariff mou6poiies which
raise the main materials so per cent.
IN cost, and now it is proposed BY
Horace Greeley TO create another pri-
ileged class by paying a bounty Of 50
much per ton on every American built
ship. And for the same reason there
Ia a strong combination now working
to have Congress sUbsidiEe great lines
of steamers TO Europe. These things
mean boundless corruption.
And to these we have the great land
monopolies, created By sUbsidizing
railroads, and q horde pressing their
demands for more. And in other
branches Of industry and trade and
trauspor ration we see combination ia
the nature Of monopOlies too numerous
to mention. It has come to be thought
that no enterprise can be undertaken,
except il be made a special privilege, or
bountied BY the Government. Where
ia the thing 20 end Is it not time
20 pause and examine the foundation
Of this dangerous struoturef For no
privilege or monopoly creates its own
wealth. It has 20 come out Of some
body. And beyond these shining in.
terests there are the great masses
whose necks bear this yoke, and who
are digging out Of the earth the pro-
ducts, whose results are transferred 70
these favored classes. Blind fanatl-
cism and subsidized advocacy have
pushed this system ELL it il in q peri
ious state. The friends Of honesty
and Of honest protection 10 American
industry must rescue the policy from
this abuse aud popular odIum, OK ~
will be carried down in the collapse Of
this bAseless structure.