The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-05
A FALSE THEORY.

There is no objection to free inter
course between the states of the union.
In facilitating this intercourse, vast sums
OF money have been expended in the
construction of railways, canals, and in
the improvement of rivers. 1t is not
believed that every community should
produce each identical article it requires
or desires 1T is thought human activity
is stimulated and civilization advanced
by free exchange of commodities. No
state thinks to strengthen its own infant
industries by barring out the product of
others. PROFESSIONALLY each new com
munIty has to struggle and exert itself
to compete with older and more skilled
and advanced rivals. But it is held that
the surest, if not the only, way to eX-
celence is to stand on merit alone, and
such advantages as the cost Of tranSpor-
tatiOn affords. The unparalleled growth
of the wide range of industries of the
the United States fully justiies the faith
which has been reposed in entirely free
competition. There is no fact about
which there is more cordial agreement
among intelligent and rejecting men than
this one of free commerce between the
states No doubt this settled Judgment
is contributed to by the knowledge that
free trade between the states is secured
beyond the chance of disturbance by the
fundamental law. As the English statute
forbidding marriage with the wifeis sister
puts out of the question the tempta
ton to look with more than fraternal love
upon the charms of that near relative, so
constitutional provision closes the vision of
covetous p7otectionists to the apparent ad-
vantages of levying a tax on all goods fab
ricated beyond the state line. Else we
should have the specious but false doctrine
Of protection attempted to be set up
amongst OURSELVES as well as between this
and other lands The very same reasons
could be urged to restrict the commerce
between the states that are used to bar out
the products of foreign lands. We refuse
free commerce between the United States
and England because it is alleged the in
terest of American laborers is promoted
by excluding British competition. But the
Texan is asked to take the products of
Massachusetts without tax or limit, be.
cause the common interest of the two
states is thereby helped. In matter of
sheer business and commercial intercourse
what more interest has the Texan in the
citizen of Massachusetts than the Ameri
can has in the Englishman? If the Texan is
really moved by self interest to have free
buys cotton goods from Lowell which
could easily and readily be made at home
if the Lowell article were barred out by a
traiff-what reason can be offered by an
American should not buy in the English
market where, restrictions being removed,
he could buy cheaper than at homer The
restrictive system is based on the idea that
both parties can be benifted by the ex
change of products. which, if it is true,
our federal system is gignatic error that
should at once be reformed. Our rail
roads have been constructed ON a false
theory, our canals dug through want Of
a proper comprehension of economical
principles, and the development of motors
by which ships, boats and trains are driver
has been positive misfortune"