New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-17
INTENTIONS IN ST1TESMANSHIP.


He who attributes to his opponent motives
and purposes which that opponent Indignantly
disclaims, cOnfesscs his despair of convincing
and his readiness to insult. Every man being
necessarily better acquainted with his own in
tentiOns than another can be, he cannot but
feel the indignity to which he is subjected by
disputant who says: "You pretend to mean
"this but You do not: your real meaning is
"duite different and one which you are
ASHAMED to avOw." He who thus outrages
the decencies of debate closes the controversy.
He makes the matter in question one not for
the forum and the academy, but for the police
and the Court of Sessions.
Mr. John Stuart Mill, in his letter ostensibly
designed to show American PrOtectionistS the
error of their ways, has seen fit to say:
Ihold every form OF what Is called Protection TO be
an employment of the powers Of government TO tax the
many with the intention Of promoting the pecuniary
gains OF a few"
How could Mr.. Mill knOw thisf BY the
confession of the culpritsi Did Napoleon l..
ever avOw that, in his strenuous efforts to
supply France with homemade Sugar from
Beets, it was his intention to tax the many "
who consume or desire Sugar, to promote " the
pecuniary gains of the few who had at that
day been persuaded to embark in the cultiva-
ton of Beets and the manufacture therefrOm
of Sugarf He discussed the subject, after his
exile to st. Helena with those who surrounded
him will any one pretend that he there con-
fessed or betrayed the sway of so base and
paltry a mOtivef Was he ever gravely accused
of it while living3 If not is it probable that
he truly might have been7
But Alexander Hamilton, in preparing his
great Report TO Congress on the policy of en-
couraging Home Manufactures, was brought
face to face with the allegation that Pro-
lection enhances prices and tends to create
gainful monopoly in behalf of those engaged
in the protected industries. Here is his well
considered and positive response:
"But though it were true that the immediate and
certain effect of regulating controlling compe
ttion OF foreign with domestic fabrics to increase
the prices 1t Is universally true that the contrary the
ultimate effect with every successful manufacture
When domestic manufacture has attained perfection
and has engaged in the prosecution OF 1t competent
number OF persons, 1t Invariably becomes cheaper
Being free from the heavy charges which attend the
importation Of foreign commodities 1t can be afforded
and, accordingly seldom or never fails TO be az
fOrded, cheaper In process OF time than the foreign
article for which 10 IA substitute. The internal compe-
ttOn which takes place does away with everything
like monopoly and by degrees reduces the price Of the
article 10 the minimum Of reasonable profit on the capa
employed This accords with the reason OF things and
with experience Whence it follows that is the inter.
est Of community. with view TO eventual and perma.
nent economy the growth Of
in national view. temporary enhancement OF price
must always be well compensated by permanent reduc.
ton OF It,"
Mr. John C.. Calhoun spent the later years
of his life in vehement efforts to overthrow
the Protective policy; but hear him in 1916,
advocating in the House of Representatives
minimum duty of Ct cents per square yard on
all Cotton Fabrics costing less than twenty
five cents per square yard-one OF the most
siringcntly, efficiently Protective duties ever
imposed. Just consider his reasons for uphold