Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-04-07
ReIenne VS.. Protection.

Nttu8 hAo ~ =
enc Of the chief industries protected, and
which Is here confessed 10 have failed af-
ter twenty years to enable it to compete
even in our own markets with foreign
goods of the finer quality. What is true
of textile manufacturing is also true OF
many other industries. What remedy,
then, will afford the American manufac-
turer relief Not the one here suggested
OF increasing the manufacture OF goods
Of finer quality. for, aside from the inn
practicsbility of the plan, this will only
aggravate the difficulty by adding to the
aggregate stock in the home market, but
the increase of the market for what can
already be manufactured. The American
demand cannot consume what they pro-
duce. They must therefore enlarge their
market or stop production. To adopt the
latter course is to invite ruin. The mar
ket cannot be increased in this country.
1t must be found in other countries.
Foreign markets must be sought. But
these cannot bs opened as long as we
close our markets to their products, with
which in most instances they only can
buy; in other words, as long as we con-
tinue the protective system.
say, therefore. to the American man.
ufacturer, sooner or later, you must choose
between the alternative of
RUIN OR ABANDONMENT
Of protection. Why hesitate in the de-
cision? Are not Canada and Mexico and
South America your natural markets :!
England now supplies them with all the
foreign goods they buy. Why should not
you. Your coal and iron lie together in
the mountain side and can be almost
dropped without carriage into your furn-
aces. While in England the miners must
60 thousands of feet under the earth for
those products. Your labor suffers for
want of steady employment. The inter
est on Tho public securities will soon be
reduced, which cannot but have health
full influence on the cost of manufacture
irg The methods and opportunities o.
transportation are better than those en-
ioyed by any other nation of the earth
In fine the situation is yours. Break
down your protective barrier. All the
world will do the same. Their walls will
disappear when ours fall. Open every
market of the world to your products,
give steady employment toyour aborers.
In little while you will have the re-
ward which nature always gives to those
who obey her laws, and will escape the
ruin which many of your most intelli-
gent operators see impending over your
industries.
Ihave not time to-day to more than re-
fer to the ruinous effect of protection up
on our carrying trade. In 1856, Is per
cent. of the total value of our imports
and exports was carried in American YES
sells, while in 1879, II per cent was car
ried in such vessels, and in 1880 the pro-
portion was still less. In 1856 1851 ships
and barks were built in the United
States, while in 1879 there were only 81.
It is question of very few years at this
rate until American vessels and the
American flag will disappear from the
high seas. Protection has more than all
else to do with the prostration of this
trade. 1t accomplishes this result ~ by
enhancing the price of materials which
enter into the construction of vessels, SO
that our ship-builders cannot compete
with foreigners engaged in the same
business; (9) by increasing the cost of do
mestic production SO that American man.
ufactured goods cannot profitably be ex-
ported; (3) by disabling our merchants
from bringing back on their return trips
foreign cargoes in exchange for our pro
ducts.
Nor will say anything as to the in
crease of the crime of smuggling under
protection, crime which has done in
oalculable harm to honest dealers, par
ticulary on the border, and a crime out
Of which some of the largest fortunes of
the country have been made.
There are many who will admit the ab-
stract justice of much that | have said
who profess TO believe that it will not do
to disturb the tariff now. But for the
protectionist that time never comes.
When the depression in business was uni
versal, they say you must not disturb the
traiif now, because the times are so hard
and there is SO much suffering. Now,
when business has improved, they say
you must not interfere with the tariff,
because the times are good and you
may bring suffering again. When the
present tariff was first levied it was de-
Tended as Temporary expedient only, re-
CURED as necessity by war. Now that
aquarter of century nearly has passed
by and peace has been restored for fifteen
years; the advocates of protection are as
determined to hold on to the government
bounty as ever. Ii they are to be con-
suited upon the subject as to when the
people shall have relief, the system will
BE- perpetual.
1t is said we must not disturb the tariff
because we must raise so much revenue.
do not propose to disturb it to diminish
revenue, but to increase it. The plan l
nronosa will add one.fifth at laast to tLa