The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-02-25
rmE QUESTION or rurx TRADE.

AT last tho Democrats In Congress
are bold enough TO talk free trade. The
body of the people have been in favor
Of it, North and South, for many years
past, but il has been difficult to sccure
help from our national representatives.
Whenever the question was raised, the
cry of "protection to home industry"
was raised, and the demagoguory which
generally apPertains TO Congressional
legislation smotherCd the demand for
free trade and gave tho proteotionists
fair field. Congressman Hurd made a
report in faver of free trade, but the
committee OF which he was member
smothered him out. II is absurd and
outrageous that this policy of protection
should obtain. The question of tariff
is harmful and tho American people |
know how they are harmed by IL. Even
granting that there should bo tariff,
revenue tariff alone will answer all pur-
poses. American statesmen cannot af-
ford to push the matter any further.
To protect native industries in their in
fancy was excusable enough, but now
we are fifty millions strong and why
our manufacturers should loo afraid TO
cope with countries less favored by ma.
ture is question which will puzzle any
honest man 10 satisfactorily answer. II
may DO said that in Europe they can
manufacture cheaper than We can, be
cause of starvation wages and pauper
labor. The average British operative,
in proportion to tho prices current in
his own country, is littlo worse paid
than the mill serf of New England,
Pennsylvania, or, indeed, Ohio, but
particularly of Now England. What
generosity have manufacturing monopo-
lists shown their employees at Lowell
and Lawrence, at Biddcfotd and else
where in tho Eastern States, that should
entitlo them TO either patriotic or phi
lanthropic consideration Why can
not they now, while protection has been
p steadily in their favor for years, put
upon the market goods that will com
pare with those manufactured in many
countries Of Europel If tho ordinary
citizen in buying a suit Of clothes, any
honest dealer win assure him tha
French OF Engliah goods will last TIVE
or three times as long as American
made cloths, and that tho difference il
Q the cost il hardly enough to make hin
= buy tho cheaper or poorer article. l
Q American goods can not keep pace il
excellence with foreign products, VIII
0 in the nAmc of common sense, mus
: thoy be protected" at the expense O
the people, who are indirectly heavil
o taxed TO sustain cisatlantic manufaC
r turors simply iccauso they are Amer
; cal II wages are higher in Americ
i than in England, clothing is proportion
d ally higher in the former country
6 Food in more plentiful with us,and tha
a - -----~ ---~asnrs haia"--- .l.a- niha
u differences. Ii may be urged that Eny
L land, should protection be abolishe,
10 can uadersell ua so much ia our ow
Is markets that native industry will /
l. paralyzed, if not entirely destroy Is,
= Well, suppose few of the factories al
Il compelled to suspend, which may nj
n occur, the country is wide enough f
n agricultural pursuits, and a chang
n from the loom TO the plow, from IL
1t foul, hot prison Of mill to tho bracin
'r atmosphere of the prairies, would M
u be such dreadful fate for the unhapp
d artisans who wsrk year in and year OF
n for a mere pittance Ii is not by an
IL means certain that FREQ trade woul
D. have deadly effect on home manufa
J. lures. 1t might boget an honest spir
10 of emulation and compel mill owners
y, turn out articles worth the money pal
N for them by the people. II America
" producers Of clothing and other mater
u al cannot put goods on the market
Is to compete with those Of their muc
70 dreaded and law debarrOd Europea
rivals, the sooner the fact is shown {
4 their own expense, and not at that
'e the public, the better