The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-29
loAnr1ELD AND PROTECTION.
His twenty Year.' record In cOpErss
on the Tariff.

His Twenty Years' Record in Congress
ON the TarIn.
From the American Iron and steel Bulletin.
General Garfield's tariff record having
been made a subject Of discussion since
bis nomination for the Presidency, it is
both just and proper that we should state
that the Protectionists Of the country who
have kept watch over tariff legislation dur.
ring the past twenty years, and who have
assisted TO shape and maintain the present
tariff, are perfectly satisfied with his tariff
votes and speeches. They and all other
Protectionists have indeed abundant rea'
son TO be thankful to him for valuable as
sistance rendered to the cause Of home in.
dustry when 1t was in serious peril from
Free Trade attacks. His votes and
speeches have been uniformly and con-
stantly in favor Of the protective policy.
HIS FIRST TARIFF SPEECH
in Congress was made in 1896. In this
speech he carefully defined disposition on
the question Of Protection as follows;
Ihold thata properly adjusted COMPETE
,;on hatween home and foreign products
Ia The hest vuape TO regulate international
trade, DuiieJ H.oud Le 20 high that our man
miacfurers can fairly compile. with ule toreign
nrod,lri, hut not so high as to enable them
70 drive out the foreign article, enjoy,
,nonopoly OF the trade, and regulate the
nrices as they please. This Is my doctrine
If Protection. II Congress pursues this
lima of policy steadily We shall, year by
wear. approach more nearly to the basis
Of Free Trade, because we shall be more
nearly able 10 compete with other nations
on equal terms. l am for ProteGtlon
that leads to ultimate Free Trade. am
for that Free Trade which can only be
achieved through a reasonable Protection.
There was nothing in this declaration
to which Protectionists could fairly object.
We are exporting many products Of Amer
lean factories and workshops to-day be-
cause Protection has made their produc'
ton and expectation possible. Great
Britain was able to establish and maintain
Free Trade only after centuries OF the
most vigorous protection OF all her indus
tries. This country is simply
COPYING HER WISE EXAMPLE.
and in the extract we have quoted Gen.
Garfield distinctly declares his approval
oft.
In his next tariff speech, delivered in
1870, upon Gen. scheuck' 8 tariff bill which
provoked long and bitter controversy,
Gen. Garfield advised the Protectionists
Of the House to assent to moderate re-
duction OF the war duties which were
then in force, for the reason that they
were higher than was then necessary for
the protection Of our industries, and, be.
ing so, they gave occasion for uniriendly
criticism Of the Protective policy from
which 1t should be relieved. He said:
After studying the whole subject as
carefully as am able, l am firmly OF the
opinion that the wisest thing that the
Protectionists in this House can do is to
unite in moderate reduction OF duties on
imported articles. He is not q faithful
Representative who merely votes for the
highest rate proposed in order to show on
record that he voted for the highest figure,
and, therefore, is a sound ProteCtionist.
He is the wisest man who sees the tides
and currents of public opinion, and uses
his best efforts TO protect the industry pi
the people against sudden collapses and
sudden changes. Now, II do not mis-
understand the signs OF the times, unless
we do this ourselves, prudently and wise
~, we shall before long be compelled to
submit 10 violent reduction, made rude.
ly and without discrimination, which will
shock il not shatter all our protected In
dustries.
The great want OF industry is a stable
policy; and II is significant comment on
the character OF our legislation that Con-
gress has become a terror to the business
men OF the country. This very day the
great industries OF the Nation are standing
still, half paralyzed at the uncertainty
which hangs over our proceedings teTe,
A distinguished citizen OF my own district
has lately written me this significant SEN
tence: "It the laws OF God and nature
were as vacillating and uncertain as the
laws OF Congress in regard 10 the business
Of It's people, the universe would soon iall
into chaos"
Examining thus the possibilities OF the
situation, believe that the true course
for friends OF Protection 10 pursue Is to re-
duce the rates on imports when we can
Justly and safely do so; and, accepting
neither OF the extreme doctrines urged on
this floor, endeavor to establish stable
policy that will commend itself to all pa
triotic and thoughtful people.
GENERAL scuEScK's BILL
passed the House June 9th, 1870, General
Garfield voting for 1t in company with all
the Protectionists in that body. Itpassed
the Senate during the same month, such
leading Protectionists as Senators Howe,
Scott. Morrill, OF Vermont, Sherman, and
Wilson voting for it. The bill reduced
the duties on a long list OF articles-pig
iron, for instance, from 50 to 81, but it
was triumph Of the Protective policy
and disastrous defeat OF the Free Traders
and Revenue reformers, who had favored
still lower duties. 1t embodied provisions
that are retained in the existing tariff,
with which all Protectionists are entirely
satisfied.
In 1872, two years after the passage Of
General Schenck's bill, bill to reduce
duties on imports and to reduce internal
taxes was reported to the House Of Repre-.
sentatives by Mr.. Dawes, the chairman Of
the Ways aud Means Committee, and after
discussion 1t passed by large majority,
such prominent Protectionist as Dawes,
FRYE. Foster. Frank w, Palmer, Ellis L.