The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-22

Beecher on Protection.
The first of course of nine lectures
BY public men on Protection and
Free Trade, under the auspices Of the
Revenue Reform Clab, was
delivered last Thursday evening by
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, id the
First Baptist Church of Brooklyn. He
said that bis duty WAS to discuss the
subject only 90 far as related to tho
moral aspects OF the question. The
protective system at present in this
was contrary to good morale,
aud in the long run would work mis-
chief; it was directly contrary to the
spirit of Gospel; protective tariff
was organized immortality. The Amer
lean can buy whatever he likes in all
the markets of the wsrld, but he cam
not bring the articles home. The
these things home unless you pay
roundiy for the privileges. You must
buy them at home" "But can't buy
them at homo" "Then you mast wait
until you can" Lsughtei.) "And
we are told" he continued, that this
tariff is to protect home manufactures;
but how about protecting the liberty
of the citizens. An Immigrant, if his
clothes are dirty, can bring them in
free to New York-Qaughtsr) but if
his stockings are clean, the Govern
ment supposes that they have not been
worn, and be must pay duty on then =.
Between all the States there is free
trade, and i. works we'll; everybody
admits that; but the moment we
try to hsYe rec trade with Europe,
we are told that we must not do it. 1t
is selfish policy; it is separating this
nation from the rest of the world, and
this is contrary to good morals, aud
contrary to liberty. American COM
merce has bsen we'll nigh destroyed ;
ship building is almost an extinct
trade. What are the people thinking
Off What has commerce done that it
is obliged to walk In bondage to man.
ufacturers; no longer flying like the
eagle, bat walking like the barnyard
fowl. The fow chips that are left are
besieging Congress fer subsidies thai
they may live. There are more sturdy
beggars about than any that come to
your doors. Taxes are levied, state,
aud county, and city, and tho citizen
knows what he has got to pay, and
what is geing to be done with tit
he can find out. Laaghter.) All tax
alton should be direct. The tariff
draws larger sums by indirection
There are two kinds of tariff, the rev.
enus tariff, and this may be borne, ol
tolerated, but when tariff is propos
ed that proposes not emily to raise rev
enus, bat to raise it in order to protect
/ SEINE special industry, that is wrong
aud mischieveus. 1t is one Of thu
NEST vicious agglomerati0ns Of abom'
inations that can be imagined. Oul
tariff excludes many articles which
eur people want, and as. .OOO, 900 Of oul
citizens are oppressed, that 800, 1000 la
boring men may be protected. Pro
lection at first 10 spar to enterprise
but in the end 1t destroys 1t and leaves
it in the position of rich mems sonl
that have no necessity for exertisn
A man that Is weak may uso q crutch
but the weak manufacturers that have
had the erutch Of protection for these
| last twenty years are now ciamOrin0
fer three legs, two natural and one
| wooden. (Lnughter.) The whole the
without protection ii may take them
longer, but the growth 10 more health
full. The energy and intellfgence o.
the people arc all that ia necessary fol
success, and they need no. protection
1t is said that the protective tariff fa'
vors the labering man. II this wa'
true, We should have no right to in
crease the wages Of the American Ia
borer at the expense of the foreign la
borer; but it is not true. It is not thu
protective tariff that raises the price
Of labor, but it is the social and polit.
ical surroundings of our workingmen
One fall third Of the wrgss of our la.
borers goes to pay the added price o.
all that they censume or use-added
by the duty on imports. The unpro'
tected laberers are vastly in the ma.
jority over the protected ones; the
blacks of the South, the agricultural
laborers in the Weet are far the most
numerous. Only about 500, 900 labor.
srs have their wages raised by this 80.
called protection that they are said to
be receiving, The whole machinery
of this tariff system IL demoralizing
At this hour what are -protectionista
doipg2 Is there one protected indus
try that is willing to let go? Is there
one that will consent to reduction
of the duty2 Not enc. They propose
10 take of the internal revenue taxes.
They propose to take of the duty on
matches and patent medicines, and
confronted along the whole line with
the cry that our shipping 10 ruined.
they propose to take the ships into the
scheme Of protection; and they say
Run your ships; we will pay the ex
penses and leave you little over.
While Great Britain is enjoying 6
prosperous trade with South America
we propose to pay John Roach fol
running a few ships TO Brazil. just
now the majority may be against Us
but we have truth on our side that
believe in it with their whole soule,
and who are determined that theiI
light shall not be hid under bushel
The whole force of the Gospel o.
Christ is on our side, and these thing
are invincible; and they always ars
invincible when patience and courage
are worthy Of the truths which they
advocate" (Prelonged applause. y
New York World.
The kepabllcan Program. II
The Pittsburgh Post arranges th,