Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-19
Miseellat,epns.
OUR INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY

assume nothing, except the privilege of -
pressing my own convictions of the relative
bearings Of the policy of Protection" and
Free Trade" upon the general interests OF
society, as well as to bring such proofs as
may be at hand to sustain the premises.
do not expect any one to accept my views un-
less well founded. There can be no doubt
that men may be honest yet differ radically in
opinion as to general policy upon a question
admitting such diversity of individual and
local interests.
The aim Of all government is to so control
individual and local action in the general in
terest, as to render the whole body harmoni-
Gus, combining political and religious iber-
ty with prosperous industry.
The value OF a free government is measured
by the comfort it brings to the governed, but
the acceptance of such an axiom will not feed
and clothe the laborer and his family, without
practical and wise application of such laws
as will ensure his business prosperity, and it
is not strange that men differ in the character
and detail of such laws, especially so, for the
reason that the tendency of all trade is antag
onistc.
The aim of Protection" is to bring plenty
of business and high price for the labor en-
gagged therein, while Free Trade" or un-
shackeled commerce offer to the consumer
foreign products at lower prices. Now the
question for Maine to decide is whether she
is or will be consumer of foreign industrial
products, or a producer for herself and others.
If the citizen who believes "Free Trade
is for the best interests of our country was able
to bring men to act as brothers in a common
bond of reciprocity, we might not care to
question whether we would be producers or
consumers. But SO long as the ineradicable
instincts of our race are selfish, catering to
our own wants and pleasures will rule our ac-
ton, and the weaker must give place to the
fstronger. For example, the commercial city
of New York would rule the industrial inter-
ests of Augusta and Lewiston could she so
shape national legislation as to place her own
interests in the fore ground. To equalize
their rights and powers is the duty of the leg
islator, and unworthy and unfaithful is that
one who loses sight of the general good in
selfish greed, of a special advantage.
GREE TRADE"
So long as Capitalization of wealth, which
necessarily follows system of aristocracy
and hereditary rights in foreign countries
degrades labor to the lowest limit which hu-
man organism can bear, it will be inexpedient
for the free labor of America to come in direct
competition with it. 1t is not necessary for
ME to refer at any length to the steady en-
croachment of the power of wealth upon la
Dor in those countries which a system of free
trade would bring us in contact with. As
fair illustration, consider the effect of this
doctrine in India, one of the many countries
which the policy of England has ruined--a poll
cy describedby leading statesman in speech
in Parliament when he says "England's treas
ure is in foreign trade; again, England is
is the workshop for the world, and her inter-
ests demand raw material and free market
in every land" Such sentiments, uttered by
leading statesmen while the question of war
with India was being discussed, were the key
note to the unceasing effort of the British gov
ernment to suppress native manufacturing in
that unfortunate country, and force her peo-
pie to the field to supply the demands of Eng
lish machinery; changing the condition of
happy people to ruin and distress, which Sir
Robert Peel said chad no parallel in the an
nails of commerce." This policy drove the
Irishman from his home, and desolated as fair
an isle as dots the ocean. One hundred wears
ago, Ireland had cultivated society and an
intelligent and powerful press; where are
they to-day9 They disappeared as her people
lost their power to control their own labor, to
protect themselves in their various indus
tries, to be self employers, and became serfs,
or their labor, a hired commodity.
Macaulay, speaking of the policy of the
English Government in running the industries
of this people to build up her own, expresses
it ''as the most oppressive form of barbarian
despotism, resembling the government of evil
genii, rather than the government of human
tyrants." This is the ground work of her
immense efforts to control the manufacturing
interests of this country. Our products and
our markets are her necessity; while the
interests of commerce and exchange are her
allies. This same policy Extensively enforced
| mr. npI ha nd 1nv,r
And it was this same aggressive spirit of aris-
tocracy, divested of hereditary right but
based on human slavery, which.prompted tho
late grand attempt to degrade the free labor of
America. Going back to the DAYS of the Rev.
olution, what inspired the people, when on
Bunker Hill they sealed the grand compact
of protection" with their blood, save pro-
lection in civil and religious liberty, and a
right to trade when and where the interests
of common country demanded?
What England could not accomplish with
arms, she has persistently attempted through
her intrigues with capital, engaged in for
eign commerce; and the efforts of those COM
binations to control our elections and Con-
gress are well known. The results are mat
ters of history. With such a record before
us, it is difficult to realize that men can be
found who, for minor local interest, based on
great foreign interest, are willing to sell out
ness induces this or that trade or combination
to obtain special protection and legislation in
favor of its own interests, and adverse to 9TH
er interests; but is that any adequate reason
why our intelligent laborer shall be brought
in competition with the human machine and
serfs of a foreign government? Is that any
reason why the man who, exercising his free
prerogative, combines with his neighbor for
common protection and is taxed therefor--is
taxed to educate and fit his children to take
honorable positions in society-shall be forced
in competition with the laborer of Great Bri-
tain, who is not taxed to support our burdens?
Are we to be taxed to support our govern
ment, and then yield our industry to feed
people who in our late war preyed upon our
commerce and menaeed US in our extremity
sRaise our revenue" says the free trader,
from the things we do not produce, and open
our ports to the products of the worldi in other
words kneel in the dust with the slaves OF Ire
ID. rtuuaI India and Turk4V