The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-03-17
THE LEADERS, eRl1,cIsn.

subject of free trade, insisting tina
according to our position, our stat;
Legislature should be empowcre.
TO enact tariff law, 40 high IA to
prohibit the Importation of all man
ufac,nred goods. The article I,
which our neighbor refers is insuS
crptible of any such construction
The power TO legislate on matter.
affecting our commerce with Other
nations, is rightiully lodged by on
constitution, in Congress. If Ore
gon were an independent nation, sh.
would have the right, and it would
he her duty, to enact, not Il pr"hibit-
ory. but n Il protective tariff, Of such
CHARACTER as to insure within her bor-
derS, the development Of her ma
terial resources and the multiturm
avocationS pertaining to the indn>tri-
al, manufacturing and mechanical
arts.
There are two extremes which, N
The discussion of this question should
he avoi'lrd: prohibi,ory tariff is
one of these and the LEADERS, pei
theory of free trade is the other A
prohrbitory tariff would enable IT,.
manufacturer to exact the most rx
t"r,iona:c prices Tor the pr"iur's .:
his labor, while free trade woull in
nnhate nu' country with the products
nf skilled labor, from the old worltl.
aud would be as obstructive tu our
manufacturing interests, "a was the.
recent invasion of Chill 10 the pos
prity and happiness of Peru.
Our ne:ghhor quotes from the Ore
."nian, (Which, by the way, is the
best part of his artirI-), in which
quotation, the astounding statement
IS made. that the number of persons
by our present protective
ar;ff, does not exceed 100000. In
he single state of Massachusetts.
which, in 1878 had population OF
lhout 100000, there were SIG ,459
Employed i'm the manufacturing and
mechanical industries We have not
ne data from which to determine
he number employed in these ocrt,-
ations in the other states, but tha,
he number is much larger than as
rrrcscnted by the Oreganian, admits
OF of Il reasonable doubt. The ar
Gle OBJ bjected TO by the Leader how
yer, clearly showed tha, the whole
eople are benefited by the tariff
We showed that the inauguration
the free trade policy wnuil utterly
pstroy our manufacturing anil me-.
lanical industries 2. 1t was also
aimed that no government, ievo; I
manufacturing interests, you'll b,
lt-su>laininy in case of war with
me powerful nation like England
Russia and therefore, that The very r
tety of the country, the welfare of ;,
e whole people, is involved i'm this
.stion. The Leader does 70, deny ::
her of these propositions, whi.. h y.
It is to be taken as logical adj
ssion of their truth. =,
But we are gravely told that WI. :,
'nld not have home market for
e-lenth of our surplus products, :,
On if Se were properly supplied -
th manufactures. This Nigh. b.. =.
lie If "'r population were to re- q,
lin what it is now, but our neigh =,
+ must remember, that if skilled
'or, mining, stock-raising, agricul- =.
g, manufacturing Interests etc. .
re properly developed, our popu.
ION would not long be confined to
present insignificant proportions.
der such favorable circumstances. ,r, "
'g"n would be susceptible of a =.
Use population. She coul,l easily w
e peaceful anil profitable employ az
Mt to at least 100000 of inius y"
MS, c"ntentel AMI happy citizens. '''
IL a manufacturing communit Y, VI
grea: diversity of vocations IT. W"
ring skilled labor, gives anpl- p"'
pc to the employment of. the. '"'
ng, i'll those vocatipns III which, ~"
bent of mini and natural iuclina- '''
!, they seem best fitted by nature Iva
tcceed. 1t therefore becomes an ~
eraiive need o. th;. whole coun. 'y
that government. pursue snch are
cv, as will in-ure Il diversit v of al
IpaiIons commensurate with II e 1oi
rsitv Of capacities, thus avoiding
aste OF human apiiiud.s.
will be observed that the Leader oona M
)t satisfied with antaoOuiZinp he &C tit
'facturing interests; it also OPP sSoo
= he patent laws Now we do asse'
pretend that our patent laws are nan mer,
sceptible of improvement ir sessi
; respects, but we are fully of The Hr, nrpt