The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-01
Rarsnns and Probation.

DR.. Hollands "Topies Of the Times In
Scribner for December, says Absolute pro-
lection is absolute prohibition. Absolute pro-
lection is, therefore, the destruction OF rev
enue. A tariff so high as TO shut of all
importation is tariff squarely opposed to all
revenue. The principle of protection is at
war with revenue. To give revenue, some
thing, or rather good many things, must
come in pretty freely. To get the largest
revenue, We must alb andon the policy Of pro-
lection entirely.
II is beginning to be apprehended that tho
petting Of our industries, at this period Of our
history, is luxury which, as great, impov-
erished people, we cannot afford. We have
learned, at least, that protection cannot keep
industries alive when the market for their
products is insufficient, and that we are pay
ing much more than we ought topay for goods,
while the man who produces them is not ben.
Gifted. Some Of our industries, which have
been utterly overshAdowed by protection, have
died out. An illustration Of the working OF
protection, in increasing the cost Of goods to
the people, can be found in almost everything
we wear. A silk hat, for instance, which
ought TO cost, at its best, no more than five
dollars, now costs eight. The duty Of sixty
per cent. on the plush and other silk employ.
ed makes the silk hat luxury, and nobody
is benefited. We pay three dollars more for
the hat than we ought to pay; the halter him
self does not at all increase his profits, while
he finds his business cut down 10 its lowest
mark compatible with continued existence,
for only rich people will buy silk hats at the
price A low tariff on the materials-sAy a
tariff Of twenty per eent.-would increase the
revenue, and so cheaper the hat that every.
body could afford to buy it, and thus set all
the manufacturers at work. Forty millions
Of people, with every man and woman OF the
number heavily taxed to keep alive our wooden
industries, while their gates are shut down
and their workmsn unemployed, do not form
q very ediiying spectacle, The people have
petted the manufacturers good many years.
They have submitted TO 4 taxation for this
purpose that none but prosperous people
could stand. Now it seems to us that 1t IL
time for the people 10 take care Of themselves
time for the fostering mother to push the
birds out Of the nest.
We have built q wall around us-a wall oil
protection. Our manufactures are lying still
because they have no market They can get
no market outside, for with raw materials
taxed, as they are in many instances, the
cannot compete in the markets of the world
Again, they can get no markets outside, be
cause what these markets have TO give us in
exchange is shut out by protection Trade
is game Of give and take; and we canno
shut out the products Of other nations il wi
hope to sell them our own. We ask for nj
free trade that will be inconsistent with tar
III that will give US the largest revenue; bu
it seems to US that the policy Of taxing thu
people Of the United States for the protection
Of industries that have become bankrupt unde
the policy, or have ceased to find suficien
market at home, is about played out.