Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-09-15
PROTECTION OUR LIFE.


prosperity flows" The tariff of 1861
modified in 1870, has worked such
miracles on the farm, in the mine and
factory.and throughout home and foreign
trade, through war and peace, panic and
prosperity, that there is no longer an
incomprehensible mystery about the
subject, considered by some so abstruse
and perplexing as to be only fit for the
metaphysician. The present generation
are not acquainted with the discussion
of tariff under Clay and his cOmpeers,
but are close observers of the practical
workings of system that has for al
most a quarter of century been the
chief basis of our unprecedented de-
velOpment and success. Capitalists,
employers, and employees, see very clear
ly that every material good is increased
by protection to such degree that
apart from Just protection to the work
ing classes, and varied home industries,
to our markets and our farmers. and to
Our own national prosperity, individual
interest, and home comfort should be
promoted in all our political economy;
this is right and just, though the world
be ignored in our policy, for response
bility for the well-being of America
rests with Americans, and unless they
protect themselves they are defenceless.
Those who own the land, cut the forests,
open the mine. build the mills. factories,
and handle coal, ore, and enterprises,
merit the protection of the country
above those who bring their wares from
other nations where labOrers are slaves,
capital and wealth breeds mOnOp-
oily. Those who give employment, COM
fort, independence, thought. and great
ness to nation are as worthy the
nations encouragement and protection,
as those who fight her sanguinary bat
ties are worthy of honor and support.
A reasonable requirement from foreign
nation to compete in our markets with
our productions, representing the brain,
money. and muscle of Americans is en-
dorsed by all civilized nations of history
as eminently proper. Great Britain
secured her wealth under protection
much more rigid than ours, and al
though she is simply large factory, de-
pending upon a foreign market for
daily bread, it is becoming plain that
even England, with all her conserva-
tism, is being rapidly cured Of her free
trade lunacy. Gladstone projected the
present free trade policy of England,
and when he is displaced from the Min
istry, it is not too much to say that
protectionist will succeed him.
There is great dissatisfaction in Eng
land against free trade, and this unrest
is out-spoken and offensive. Henry Sidg-
wick, professor of Moral and Political
Philosophy at Cambridge University in
a textbook on "The Principles of Politi-
cal Economy" very strongly affirms the
principles of protection as favorable to
the country imposing import duties, and
on principles of economy. justice, and
civilization. defends the wise, safe and
Lying law of protection. The st. Ste
phen's Review, a heightened London
journal, vigorously condemns foolish"
free trade, the product of "self-sufficient
sophists," and in its editorial columns
introduces an article entitled "The Free
Trade Sham," as follows: "This is said
to be an age of shams, and of all the
shams, that of free trade is the great
est" Thus while protection brings en-
enterprise, industries, shops,
mills, factories, wages, profit, indepen-
lence, and the finer forms of civiliza-
ton to all in America, free trade has
England as people, and
Is left to the sole defence of British capt.
talists, whose vast manufacturing con-
Germs must suffer and disintegrate I'M
less they succeed in cOrrupting Ameri-
can legislation. and enslaving American
labor. Our nation, and every operator,
Town to the day laborer, must earn more
Than expenses, or financial disaster and
ruin will be our inheritance. Protec-
ton, to the extent of enabling labor and
capital to further prosecute and enlarge
The magnitude of our enormous business
transactions is essential. To the defence
# protection the Republican party is
openly and honestly committed, because
t is the genius Of that party to defend
he nation, defend the people, defend the
ln0r defend tho hnmns dafand tho