The Republican journal., 1882-03-23

Protection VS.. Free Trade.

Having shown that the Democratic par
tv and England are the advocates Of free
trade, Mr.. Frye went on in his speech,
quoting from Henry Clay in 1882, and from
DR.. Loring's recent speech in Boston,
presenting the benefits which had accru-
ed to this country from protective tariff.
These exhibits are most gratifying. That
of DR. Loring is marvellous in its showing
Of the grow Ii of agricultural, manufacture
ing and mechanical industries and their
products in this country since 1870 We
continue our extracts from Mr. Frye
speech.
Our periods of prosperity have been the
years Of protection, and of adversity those
of free trade, and by free trade mean a
tariff for revenue only. In 1889 1901 We
had protection in 1901 1872, free trade !;
in 1oI2-1Sl6, protection; in lo1G-lS24
free trade; in l6241533, protection; in
1888 1912, free trade in le42-1s47, pro
lection; in lS47-lS6l, free trade; and in
lo6llosl, protection again.
Take for an example those good old
Democratic times from 1877 to 1860. That
party found the country when they took
it in condition of healthy prosperity.
placed it promptly under tariff for re-
venue only, held it for twelve years, left
it in debt, with its Treasury bankrupt,
unabled to borrow few millions even for
II per cent. interest, its industries almost
destroyed, its courage completely paralyZ-
ed. The Republican party received it in
this condition, placed it as promptly
under protective tariff, carried on a four
years war, raised billions of dollars by
taxation, other billions by bonds, paid
its debt for years at the rate of one
hundred millions a year, reduced the rate
of interest to ; 20 per cent, and have it
to-day in the most prosperous condition
it ever enjoyed.
The only country in the world know
of that has thoroughly free trade forced
upon her by compulsory process is that
most distracted and unfortunate land,
Ireland. Before the union her manutac-
turing industries were protected against
England By duties on woolens, silks, cot
ton, yarn, and twist, and cotton man
ufactured goods. Her calicoes and mus
Inns were protected by duty almost
prohibitory, and Ireland was rapidly be-
coming a successful manufacturing coun-
try Her people were happy, content
ed, industrious, and prosperous. There
was loom in almost every house, and
with 1t comfort came, too. Her linens
were known and appreciated all over the
world, and her silks were gaining a ready
market. There were in 1900, as appears
by an imperfect census the, taken, over
5000 weavers employed in Cork alone,
over 5000 manufacturing woolen goods
in Dublin, 5000 making blankets in Bal
brigan, 1000 weaving calicoes in Wick
low, 900 making tlannels, while the num-
bers engaged in linen work were i'm
mense. This linen trade was encourage
ed by subsidies, but they We're gradually
Withdrawn until all protection ceased, in
1926. In 1925 more than thirteen million
OF dollars were expended in the purchase
of coarse, unbleached home made webs of
linen. What power Of good of comfort
and Of happiness, those home made webs
revealed. England, not content with de-
stroyng lreland's navigation, with crush
ing out, in the earlier days, her manufac-
ture of woolens, greedy to manufacture
for the world, determined that the rest
of mankind should raise the raw materials
to feed her hungry looms, as the South
"dilleu us W lteu t1elf SldEeS, DeSulleu
poor Ireland into asserting 10 the act OF
the union under the terms of which every
duty was repealed some gradually, to be
sure, but certainly. The act continued
the tariff on woolens for twenty years,
terminated it on calicoes and muslins in
1921, on cotton yarn and twist in 1916,
withdrew subsidies in 1896, and Ireland
enjoyed the benefit of absolute free trade
What was the result? England held
both ends of the bargain. Ireland could
raise in her fertile soil the raw material
England could make it into goods cheaper
than she could, but Ireland had no voice