Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-10-04
The Protective Policy.

TFrom the American Iron Trade in 1851
Protection is a principle and not an expedi.
ent. If it is right, the reasons for believing
in it and maintaining it should be so clear and
SO conclusive that its friends will never be
tempted to apologize for it, nor its enemies be
able to delude the unthinking with stories of
its oppressive burdens. There is nothing
complicated, nothing metaphysical, nothing
hard to understand in the protective policy,
and it should he discussed with that simplici-
ty of statement and directness of application
which it SO eminently admits and so fully in
vites. 1t is plain question of the duty of a
nation to encourage the industry of its own
people in preference to the industry of an
alien people. 1t is a question of the duty and
interest of nation to develop all its resources,
rather than allow some of the most important
of them to remain undeveloped. 1t is aques-
tion of diversified euployments and unbound
ed possibilities for nation capable of great
achievements, rather than a limitation of its
powers to such occupations as will prevent it
from becoming independent and its people
from going forward. This is the protective
policy. 1t is not the instrument by which
monopolies are to be establishep, but it is the
foe of all monopolies, domestic and foreign,
for it encourages the widest competition in
productive industry. 1t is not the instrument
by which one class of the community is to be
benefited at the expense of another class, for
it seeks the common veal by afording EN-.
ployment to all classes 1t is not q tax upon
ene industry for the benefit of another indus
try, for its design is to impose taxes upon
foreign producers that domestic consumers
may obtain cheaper commodities, and this is
its effect. 1t is not hindrance to commerce,
but help to it, for it stimulates internal
commerce when it stimulates the development
of resoul ces which could have no value if not
exchanged for other products, and it aids for
| elgn commerce when it enables a country,
through the competition and increased skill
of its people to produce commodities 81
cheaply that other countries will be induced
to purchase them. 1t is the policy of patriot
ism, Of progress, of Civilizations policy that
defends the weak against the strong, AMI
stands resolutely for ones own against all as
| sailants.
The protective policy of the United States
has always aimed to advance the welfare of
its working people. Protection has benefited
them because it has diversified their employ
ments, increased the rewards of their labtf,
cheapcned the cost Of the necessares Of life
stimulated enterprise, developed the national
resources, expanded commerce between the
States and with other countries, prevented the
evil Of direct taxation, and elevated the whole
tone Of our national life. The industrial poll
cy OF Great Britain, whether controlled by
protective or free trade influences, has always
aimed TO advance the interests of her ruling
classes, and has never sought the elevation oi
her working people. 1t is the glory of the
United States that she has not adopted an In,
dustrial policy that would degrade all labor
and it is the shame of Great Britain that hel
labor has been systematically degraded tina,
her aristocracy might prosper.