The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-20
Slavery and Protection.

Slavery and Protection, is the title OF
pamphlet of seventy pages, embracing an
essay on these subjects read before the New
York Free Trade Club by E. j. Donnell
Slavery is an institution of the past, and
few, if any, are interested in discussion
of it, but the author has brought it in to
show that both Slavery and Protection grew
up together under cur constitution, and that
both have been clogs to manhood, self-re-
lance and the country's moral and mate
rial progress. Slavery was espoused by the
South and Protection by the North, and
prior to the war, during the frequent an
tagonisms between the sections, concessions
from one to the other permitted the estab-
lishment and growth of both Slavery and
Protection Slavery finally was abolished,
and none are SO glad of it, remarks MIR.
Donnell, as those who upheld the system,
and he predicts the certain abolition of the
system of Protection, and adds that none
will so gladly acknowledge its benefits as
the now Protectlonlsts.
There was nothing in the constitution
prior to 1867 or 1868 prohibiting Slavery,
and Mr.. Donnells arguments and infer
ences to the contrary are not even speclous;
but the constitution not only does not sane
ton protective tariffs, but positively pro-
hibits their imposition. Article 1, section
8, gives Congress power Ito lay and col
lect taxes, duties, imports and excuses to
pav the debts and prouide for the comnso"
defence aud general aoe!fare Of the United
States" A tax to protect certain manu-
facturers is not tax ''to pay the debts and
provide for the common defence and gen
eral welfare of the United States; it is
tax in violation of that provision OF the
constitution, and the one under which
Protectionists claim their power and au-
thority. High protective tariffs are calcu-
lated to prohibit importation, and thus
lessen the revenues, and excessive duties, for
protection, must operate contrary to the
power and authority of the constitution, as
expressed in section eight of the first Article
Reviewing the history of Protection,
Mr.. Donnell says it began by levying i'm
port duties averaging eight and half per
cent; that this was only the thin entering
wedge, and that during the past twenty
years duties averaged fifty per cent on the
total imports. This tax, he continues, is
SO levied that the government collects
two hundred millions of dollars, and thou
sand millions are not collected by the gov
eminent, but 90 into the hands of manu-
featuring monopolists, who are protected
from foreign competition by the govern
ment. This high tax, then: prohibits five
sixths of the people from buying where
they can buy cheapest, and compels them
to buy home productions at double the
price they could be bought for, if protec
tive tariffs were abolished. Farmers have
to pay double price for plows, harrows, and
all agricultural implements and machinery,
and for much that they eat and wear, i'll
against foreign competition. In fact every
citizen not IL manufacturer, must contrib
ute to make the manufacturer rich.
SAYS Mr.. Donnell, "When each branch
of industry supports ITSELF all add their
gains to the national wealth; when one in
dustry supports another, the contribution
is so much deducted from the aggregate
gain" Nothing could be truer. If one
class is taxed to support another one be-
comes richer and the other poorer. One
class becomes arrogant and overbearing, the
other reduced to want, beggary and are
converted into tramps.
The subject of Protection is one of great
Importance to the people, and is one less
understood than any other. This is not
the fault of the people entirely. The press,
public speakers and writer's on the subject
do not deal properly with it. Everyone
proceeds upon the assumption that people
generally have some knowledge of the tar
if and how protective tariffs operate.
About one in fifty understands the subject;
to the others, the articles, speeches and es
says are about as we'll comprehended as so
much Greek. The pamphlet of Mr.. Don
nell approaches nearer the general public
comprehension than any that has come
within our knowledge recently, but it does
not meet the wants of the public. 1t fur
nishes much valuable information and food
for thought, and its general distribution
would awaken an interest among the people.
Mr.. Donnell asks the farmer and working
man to consider the subject and to discuss
it in their debating societies, and to inform
themselves, adding that wisdom and power
are to be gained by knowledge.
We do not know whether Mr.. Donnelps
pamphlet is for sale or for gratuitous dis
tribution His address is 2 and 4 Stone
street, New York, and persons and societies
can write to him for copies of his essay.
In conclusion we would ask Mr.. Donnell
to continue his work toward elevating and
enlightening his ellow-countrymen. We
would suggest that he give facts and figures
concerning the tarif-how much, under
the system of Protection, do carpets, coats,
pants, boots, shoes, sugar, coffee, plows,
harrows, and farm implements and ma
chinery generally cost, and how much they
would cost under tariff for revenue for
the legitimate and economical purposes of