The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-10-06

IlBut DcCduSc III - Que VI TIC steps cS-
sential to National progress and indi-
vidual prosperity. And if it is right,
as we affirm, then the reasons for be-
lieving in it and maintaining it should
be made so clear and so conclusive
that its friends will never be tempted
to apologize for it, nor its enemies to
delude the unthinking with stories Of
its oppressive burdens. The fact is, that
there is nothing complicated, nothing
metaphysical, nothing hard to under
stand in the protective policy, and it
should be discussed with that sim
plicity of statement which it so emf
nently admits and so fully invites. 1t
involves only the plain question,
whether il is the duty of nation to
encourage the industry of its own
people, in preference to the industry
of an alien people. If yes, then the
protective policy is right in theory,
and ought to be adopted in practice.
In the protective policy is, also, in
volved the question whether nation
should develope all its resources,
rather than allow some Of the most
important of them to remain unde-
veloped. Directly involved is the
question of diversified employment
and unbounded possibilities for ma
ton like ours capable of great
achievements, rather than a limita-
ton of its powers to such occupations
as will prevent it from becoming in
dependent and its people from going
forward. 1t is the policy of patriot
ism, of progress, and of civilization.
A policy that defends the weak
against the strong and stands reso-
lutely for ones own against all assail-
ants. 1t is the policy that builds up
our industries, pays large wages to
our working people and makes them
more prosperous and happy than the
working class in any other nation.
1t is not the instrument by which
monopolies are established, but, on
the contrary it is the foe of all mo-
nopolies, domestic and foreign, for
it directly encourages the widest
competition in every department of
the productive industries and, in all
branches of trade and commerce. 1t
is not in any sense tax upon one
industry for the benefit Of any other
industry, for its design, its operations,
and its results are simply to impose a
tax upon foreign producers that do
nestle consumers may obtain cheap
Ell commodities; and it has never
failed to bring to any people adopt
ing it that result. 1t is not, it cannot
be made the instrument by which
one class in the community is to be
benefited at the expense of any other
class, for it both seeks and promotes
the common veal by affording, at re-
munerative wages, employment to
all classes. 1t is not only, not a
hinderance to commerce, but instead
a positive help to it, for it stimulates
internal commerce when it stimulates
the development of resources which
could have no value if they could
not promptly be exchanged for other
products, and it aids foreign COM
merce when it enables the country,
through the competition and in
creased skill of its people, to produce
commodities so cheaply that other
countries will be induced to purchase
them, because they are furnished so
cheap.
The protective policy of the
United States has always aimed spec
tally to advance the welfare of the work.
ing classes, and it has accomplished
tn at. 1t has benefited them direct
ly because it has diversified their en-
ployments, largely increased the re-
wards of their labor, developed the
National resources, expanded COM
merce between the several states and
with foreign countries, stimulated new
enterprises, chaapened the cost of the
neccessaries of life,prevented the evil
of direct taxation, and UNNECESSARILY
elevated the whole tone of our nation
al life. The industrial policy of Great
n