Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-01-14
Gov. GarcelOn and Protective
Tariff.

Gov. Garcelon places a protective tariff
among the measures which he says have
"prostrated ourmanufacturing industries
and drought destitution and misery into
the abodes of the laboring and industrial
classes throughout the land.'' The Gov
ernor lives in one of the most thriving
localities in the State. Its thrift is due to
the large manufacturing industries CEN
tired there. Those industries not only
give employment to the operatives en-
gagged in them, but have built up one of
the best markets for home agricultural
products In the State. They feed the fac
tory hands and enrich the farmers of that
region.
Now the manufacturing industries at
Lewiston and Auburn could not and never
would have been built up but for the pro-
lection afforded by our tariff. But for
this those busy, prosperous communities
now found upon the banks of the An
droscoggin, could not have grown there.
A few farmers would have occupied the
site of the present cities, with no market
for their crops nearer than Portland The
tariff enabled Lewiston and Auburn to be
what they are, and yet citizen of Lewis
ton. occupying the position of Governor,
pronounces protective tariff one of the
greatest evils in the nation. A protective
tariff has made Massachusetts the power
full and wealthy State which she is. A
protective tariff has made the United
States one of the leading manufacturing
nations Of the world. European states
men are Witnessing with wonder and
alarm the products of their looms and shops
unable 10 compete in the markets of the
world, and even in the markets of Eng
land and Germany, with the manu-
factures Of the United States. Is this an
evil to our people? Is it an evil that they
are able to purchase cotton and wooden
goods. and most Of the varied products of
manufacturing industries, cheaper than
they can be produced in England and
cheaper than ever before known in the
history of our country? Yet this is what
the protective tariff has done for this ma.
ton.
What has Gov. Garcelon's attention been
taken up with the last year that he has no,
read in the papers accounts of the triumph
of American manufactures abroad
even in the very strongholds OF
free trade? Germany under the
advice and lead of Bismarck is about te
adopt protective system. and England il
hesitating and uncertain what TO do to save
her industries. Only last Saturday. the
New York World, that hard money free
trade, democratic organ, which we pre-
sumo Governor Garcelon sometimes reads
had the following in its columns
Mr.. Alfred B. Hollis, who represents sew
eral great English firms. has for five wear,
made regular trips 10 this country, travelling
from New York TO San Francisco An arti
Gle recently published in "a New York news
paper concerning the falling off in the de
mand for English goods in this country. an,
the increased demand for American manufac
lures in England was shown him by a Worlt
reporter recently.
Mr. Hollis hesitated for a moment, an,
then said : s'rhis really annoys me. Unit
recently found ready demand for Eng.
lish manufactures. American superiorit,
in design in every branch of manufacture ha
wrought a change in commercial interests.
few years ago England drew large sums o
money from the United States in return TO
her manufactures. Now the tables areturned
There Is hardly branch Of trade in Rnglant
that Is not represented in the United States
and 70 good account. Vow, while she is sue
eessfil in exceptional lines, in the majority