Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-02
Judge Foraker on the Tariff.

Judge Foraker of Ohio, in his opening
speech of the campaign made the following
sound and sensible remarks in relation to the
tariff
The laborer in this country is part of the
governing power. He is voter. He has a
voice in the government. Aside. therefore,
from all humanitarian reasons, we want him
TO have chance for self elevation. We
want him to eat meat and be comfortable. We
want him to be able to take care OF his family
and educate his children. We want him TO
gather knowledge and be good citizen, love
his country and be able and willing to take
care Of it. And for this reason il is that We
cay il we cannot go into the markets of the
world without being subjected to an unjust
and degrading competitor, we will make our
selves independent of those markets by max
ing markets of our own. Instead of sending
our raw cotton across the ocean, to be there
manufactured and sent back to us, we will
have cotton mills here. We will mine our own
coal, develop our own minerals, manufact
ure our own iron and steel, build our own
railroads, with our own products, and thus
have division of labor. diversity of employ-
ment, home markets and domestic COM
merce. This has been the policy of the re-
publican party in the past; and we intend to
continue II in the future. The wisdom of it
is best shown by its results. Under its intiu-
ence the material prosperity of this country
has been such that it is absolutely without a
parallel except in the political growth we
have enjoyed during the same period. When
the democratic party went out of power the
credit of this nation had been so impaired
that six per cent. government securities could
be sold in the markets of the world only with
difficulty. even at ruiGous rates of dis
count; but to-day our securities stand
more than 3 per cent. higher in the same
markets than those of England. But We
hear the objection that this policy creates and
fosters monopolies. The tariff law NAV not
be perfect. There may be some abuses, but
il so, they affect the details of legislation and
not the principle involved. So far as the
principle is concerned, it is based on oppo-
sition to monopolies, instead of favor to
them, and especially those mouopolies which
exist on the other side Of the water. and
which bv reason of their large accumulation
Of capital, could and would crush out all
composition here if allowed the opportunity,
rs they always have done in like instances in
the past. The claim is equally untenable
that the duty is a tax on the consumer. How
10 II that the carriage manufacturer in Gin
cinnati can cell his goods abroad? 1t is be.
cause there are \ half-doxen other such es-
Adjustments in that city, and hundreds of
them In the country, all in competition with
each other, and because every article used in
the construction of their vehicles is the pro-
duct of other industries lin which there is
like competition. The result shows that by
means of protection We have built up the in.
dastries of the country, multiplied their mum.
Der and brought about home competition to
the extent Of cheapening these products be-
low what they could be bought for from other
nations and all this without eheapenins
labor, and with increased prosperity for the
whole country. Across the river, in the CITY
OF Louisville. there lives an editor who Is
one Of the ablest Of all the defender.
OF free trade. He 10 thus able because he is
frank, and Seems to be honest. He never
tries to straddle the question. If his mem
ory goes back far enough he may be able to
remember that before the war his news print