Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
Lew iston Journal.
SENATOR FRYE ON THE TARIFF.
\ POWERFUL SPEECH ~ TIE 4. :. SENATE
on FRIDAY.

MI FRYE. on Friday. addressed the Sen
ate upon the tariff, the Morrill, commission
bill being informally taken up 10 permit
his remarks. lie said he could not hope
70 enlighten the Senate either as 10 the
benefits OF protection or the danger OF free
trade aud is twin sister, tariff FOR reye-
nue. only" but he spoke to the American
people who were intensely Interested In
the question. Announcing himself pro
tectiOnist from principle, he argued from
the natural timidi;y and inertnesS Of the
capital that special inducements 10 encour-
age its employment and incite lis activity
in the mines, FORCES, foundries and factor
les OF the country were Indispensable. In
our manufactures capital was entitled TO
protection against the competition OF
cheaper goods produced by the hall-paid
wOrkmen Of Europe.
Upon the question OF wages he urged the
disparity between the condition OF Europ-
can and American workmen, the latter hav-
Ing responsibilities a. citizens which did
not pertain 10 the former, and his comforts
bein such that his very necessities were TO
his foreign competitors IS luxuries. To
cut down the wages OF an American 10 the
European leye! would be 10 impair the
foundations OF our government, for hun
cry. half-educated citizens could not per-
form the duties Of citizenship.
After showing the extent 10 which Eng
land protected her manufactures under
what might he termed tariff for revenue
only" he said the proposed tariff policy OF
the Democrats in order 10 induce large i'm
portations aud create great revenues would
necessarily make duties on manufactures
so low that our foreign competitors would
uudersell Us in our own market. He knew
Z from his experience on the Ways and
Means Committee of the House what his
Democratic friends meant by tariff for
revenue only" Such tariff would be
more disastrous 10 our people than free
trade, IS il would subject us 10 the compe-
tition OF all other countries in everything
we raise or manufacture, and increase the
cost 10 US OF foreign products.
Mr.. FRYE reviewed the policy of England
in sacrificing every growing industry OF
her colonies aud REFRESHING their interests
to crafty her selfish purpose of building
up aud protecting her own home indus
tries while she strengthened and extended
her commerce at the expense of every ma.
tion she could frighten or delude. Finding
herself mistress Of the seas and ''manu-
facturer OF the world" she adopted free
trade in the belief that with her advants-
ges she could successfully compete with
the world, hold her own markets and gain
others. With an overlooking population,
a production one-quarter OF which she
could not consume at home, with one
third her spiudles idle and protection
againt her manufactures in almost every
country, she may have cunningly Joined
the Democratic party in a crusade against
our industries.
He contrasted the period of Democratic
revenue tariff-l7i1 to lS00-with the Re-
publican protective tariff ever since 1860.
The former left the country in debt, and
its treasury bankrupt, while in the latter
8 successful war was waged, billions OF
money raised, the national debt paid at the
rate of hundreds OF millions per year, in
terest reduced TO - per cent, and the
country made prosperous. While British
wOrkiugmen and manufacturers are dis
coutented under free trade, its deplorable
effects are clearest in the woes OF ireland
whose first act if she had a parliament OF
her own would be TO pass y protective tar
III. Free trade should divide with land
tenure the responsibility for their woes,
and vet nine tenths of our citizens of Irish
birth. starved out OF home and driven here
into exile, go every year to the polls and
vote with England and the Democrats
party for free trade.