Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-01-21
ICoMMUNICATED.
Free Trade vs.. Protection,
To the Editor of the Gazette:

10 the Eiit0r OF the Gazette:
The poliiica situation i, Il is county i 0.
Of great interes! and presses Oh The iumsdiste
happiress of the humblest citizen. The rcpus
llcan and democratic parties boIb Calm the
consideration of thoughtful men. SINGS 90 one
will DEFY that each has many sound vicwJ and
honest followers. Their rival claims. hoxtv:r,
should be subjected to critical exsmioalioo, The
projections of each balanced. and cur support
should fall to that organic ,lion WHOSE pri, c Dies
promise NEST good to the whole o,uotly. We
issues that divide these parties, but We wish TO
selec. that one we thitk most important, to
examine its merits, and TO htlp those OF your
| readers who venture 10 think Ter thems elv,s to
its Intelligent solution. We aluda to The .y:-
tenn ct protective duties which has dis inpuishtd
| our commercial policy since 1851. That it is
an evil VIC expect TO demonstrate to The salts
faction of those who may follow these pspers ;
that it has so long remained is proof OF the
little attention our countrymen bssow upon
their dearest affairs that it is at this day so
vigorous and defiant is di:csuragiug to whoever
would work political reform.
The de6oiion of free trade lies i, its names,
Protection is its reverse, ard ccnsG 10 the lew
OF so high a tex 90 foreign articles seeking our
markets that they cannot be sod to advantage
alter its payment. The consequence is the
homo producer is left 10 uudisputed possession;
he has no oonp,i;ion beyond what he csn
canrol. aud the consumer buys at advanced
| prices. Oae defoition CONSISTS of two parts
First, the foreign article is excluded, and this
IH clear when We reflect that 1.-THE market value
OF any commodity be represented by A. and
| the duty Is 100 PCT oant, the foreigner must
SSH at q plus 90 per csns. 1.-The tariff in order
to live. Here is the chance of the American,
who seeing prices 80 high. and h.ving no duty
70 pay, at once enters The market aud holds it
at llus &c per cent, thus driving tui It's
foreign competitor. size, buyers will always pay
the lower rather than lhs higher price.
Second, The DIG, OF IT. protected article is
always advanced. The money any c,nmodity
will bring ls its pr;ca. and prio, is governed
by the low IT supply apd demand. Prottc. ion
clninlsheS the supply aod 10 oors; qusrca the
demand increases. Increased demand means
| enhanced price, But q mere corvIrcop proof
OF this part of Gu, deaciou is found in the fact
that the protected always Glamour for higher
dules, urd bitterly oppose aty s.em OF 10 red uce
them aud We Bay omphsticay political history
does not disclose one instance to the CONTRARY
Now, it the favored oliss gained notbiog from
tho duty it would be Indifferent! to lis REDUCTION
or repeal Did prices range the same under a
tree ss under protective system We Wcud not
observe that c)tc:rn OF msnuf.c urers TO retain
the tariff; and thus tho assu upttn is rec1-
lived.
The democratic psrty is the advoo;tI Of Tree
trade; the republican party is the strength of
protection This will b, admitted when we re-
| tecs that the first piry has the larger follow
Ing 10 agricultural, while The second is chiefly
supported Ia manufacturing districts. Demo
c's'ia instincts poiot 10 tq1ally and free rads is
equsllty. Repuollclns, Oh the other hand,
have favored subsidies. IubIic giants and
enormous pensions; a protective tariff is in
perfect accord With this policy. But, an ex-
animation of tho platforms of each orgspiz .tion
t0rolshes ample proof of its tendencies. The
democratic convention Of 1876 attacked pre-
tecIion 10 truly noble lsDgusge, which this
country will one day advert to with n de, and
| To- 1881 the sans convention pledged its COZ
slituetcy to tariff ter revenue only" In
1860 the republican party assumed prominence
for he FIST time, snd enunciated its adherence
to the protective polcy-s policy it enforced
The FLOWING year and h,s always relisiously
guarded. 10 1880 tia n5ention which ne M
mated Mr.. Garfield declared that the duues
lsvled for revenue should 80 discriminate IS to
favor American labor. 10 ths: year the COZ
test narrowed to the single issue of protection.
aud was lost BY the democracy in that democrat
ization which will always ssz, on any party
whose leaders are recft ant to its vital pricclplss,
Now. 1t cur present system be wrong it must
follow that the opponents of that system should
hsVe the support Of udsper deLc,, sic reform
Gao only come By their haEds. Those who
thrive BY an abuse will not change il, but will
rather lucresse lis play.
l these papers wa will endeavor 10 preaert
the salient features sf cur Commercial policy,
add point 90! its weaknesses. HoR,ysr, be-
lora entering upon this subjsct, it may be Of
interest 10 learn something of the history Of
trse-:rade its Europesn development and
American vlcissilud;s. 10 our NIX We will
present summary oi is ris, and progress.
Max.
We hav, heard both Democrats and Rspub
cans say that there is nothing better for 4
~ uoh Ihan n, pr'p 49, o..