Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-24
Henry Ward Beecher ON Free Trade
and Protection,

1 This great question I'M political econo
my was brought before the attention o1
common people because IL was Their
/ votes that would determine the policy
OF the nation. He title lecturef} entered
with zeal into the advooacy of free.
trade principles, because he believed
that protection was not only wrong in
It's methods Of developing itself, but also
because he believed it to be wrong in its
fundamental principles. TApplause. ]
A protective tariff was protective inn.
morality. IF there was one thing that
caused the American heart to beat more
| than another it was the love of liberty.
Men were free in every direction until
their liberty impinged upon the liberty
OF other men. The American might
command the manufactures Of the
world, but he must not bring them
home. II q man admired d painting or
statue he must pay heavily to the Gov
ernment to allow him to bring it from
the country in which he had found it,
The Governments stood with its officers
at every port and obliged him, when he
returned. to swear that he brought moth
ing home but himself and his skin. It
was said, however, that this was q pro-
lection to American industry. On many
foreign made articles there was PEN
atty Of nearly 100 per cent. The idea
seemed to be that the Yankees were our
brethren, but the Englishmen were our
enemies. By this policy American
commerce had been well-nigh de-
stroyed the building of ships. that was
once the most extensive trade in Amer
lea, had now well-nigh disappeared. A
protective tariff was source of mischief
fnPth0P in0epnvrnh
OF indirect taxation. When taxation
was direct every citizen was compelled |
to think about what the Government |
did with Its money. When one and |
ten cents extra per yard was put on |
cloth that was bought, the taxation was |
not perceived, and the Government |
could not only more easily raise reve- |
nue., but they could cover up improper |
appropriations of money more easily
Asa matter of wisdom there was no
doubt that direct taxation commended |
itself to every statesman. The Govern.
ment of the United States was in far
greater danger of q surplus of money
than 1t was of want of 1t. Revenue
tariffs might be tolerated, but when .
tariff was introduced for the purpose Of
protecting industries then q very differ
ent thing was brought to bear upon cit
izens. The moment an industry was
protected then all enterprise and skill
was thereby blighted. But it was said
that this was done to protect the wages
OF the working people. But of those
people nine and q half millions were in
jured BY 1t and only half q million BEN
Gifted. 1t was said that America was q
young country and could not stand in
competition against country that was
long established and had cheaper labor.
1t was said also that manufactures are
necessary for the development Of civil
izadon, and that q nation that depended
wholly on agriculture could never have
q highly civilized people. It was furth-
er. said that nasoent industries, like
children, must be protected in their
growth. For q limited time industries
might be helped by protective policy.
had had that help; but where was there
an industry to be found which had had
help that was now willing to give it up ?
All these protected manufactures were
at the teat. and lay upon the breast of
the Government. Any attempt to car
ry free trade policy out in campaign
would be met by fund of five million
dollars to prevent it being successful,
and by the very men who were making
the most noise about the corrupting in
fluence of British gold. The statistics
of the manufactures of this country
showed that they throve best when from
the beginning they were without pro-
lection. It was fact that fully one
third of the wages of the workingmen
was required to be paid to those who
had their industries protected, and
which, but for this protection, the
would not have to pay.