The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-04
BENEFITS OF PROTECTION.

marvellous increase in population and
wealth as our own, and our greatest
and most remarkable eras of prosper
ity have been during the periods of a
protective tariff. 1t is evident, even
to casual observer, that agricultur-
lists can only be prosperous when
they can command remunerative
market for their surplus productions.
If all men were engaged in tilling
the soil, then each would need TO
produce only enough to supply the
wants of himself and family, for there
would be no demand FOR surplus pro-
ducts, and they would be utterly val
ueless. Each man after raising
enough grain to supply his own ne
cessities would produce no more, for
none would want it. OF course such
state of society could not exist a.
mong civilized men. There must
needs be some manufacturers some
where, to supply the demands Of civ
ilization for manufactured products.
Now what would be the result il
America was exclusively an agricultu-
RAJ nation. if her manufacturing inter
csts were destroyed, and those who are
now producers were compelled TO re-
sort to farming for a livelihood?
Our productions Of the raw material
would be enormously increased,
while our home markets would be
completely wiped out and destroyed,
and we should be compelled to seek
market in foreign nations for every
thing we had to sell. The producer
would not only have to pay the adj
ditional cost of thousands Of miles of
added transportation, but owing to
the greatly increased production, for
eign markets would be overstocked
and prices would fall to a starvation
point. But when there is sufficient
number of our people engaged in
other pursuits, than that of tilling the
soil, to consume at home all the sur
plus products of the country, then
every producer can find a ready
home market at remunerative prices.
When enough people can be induced
to engage in the business of manu-
featuring iron and steel, wooden and
cotton goods, machinery, clothing
and thousand other needed articles
Of comfort and luxury, to furnish an
adequate home market, then the
country will be certainly prosperous.
But men will not embark in these
enterprises, if foreign producers with
foreign capital, and cheap labor at
starvation wages can flood our coun-
try with foreign products. There is
bat one way Of preventing this, and
that is by a protective tariff, which
shall compel foreign producers to
pay for the privilege Of selling their
goods in this country. This we did
from 1912 to $40, and we have pur-
sued a similar policy for the past 20
years. The result has been an enor-
nous increase in manufactures, and
as a natural consequence a largely
increased demand for agricultural
products. The following figures Ill
ustrate these facts.
in 1910 this country produced
10000 tons of iron; in 1880, 5000
tons; in 1860, 100000 tons, while
in 1880 our iron and steel works pro-
Guced 1,265,000 tons. In 1880 the
amount invested in the United States
III the business of manufacturing cot
ton, was about $40,000,000; now it is
$22j,000,000 In 1910 the product
G. WOODEN manufactures in this coun-
try was, in round numbers, $4,000
600; in 1880 it was 254 100000. And
not only have the above manufacture
ing industries increased in this mar.
vicious manner, but there has been
corresponding increase of all our
manufacturing interests.
Should this country abandon the
policy of protection, and adopt the
democratic idea of ga tariff for rev.
enue only"-which, if it means any
thing, means such tariff as would
enable foreign manufacturers to sell
their goods here, cheaper than home
manufacturers can, else it would not
be revenue tariff-our manufactur-