Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-10-23
PRnrErrION noEs PROTECT.

Many Of the readers of THE COMMON
WEALTH and of the old Slate Record re-
member the tits we had with Colonel
William M. GrOsvenor, the author Of
"Does Protection Protect?" He was for
some time editor of the st. Louis Demo
Srdt, long before 1t was consolidated with
the Globe, and was a strong Free Trade
man, and wrote, while on the Democrat,
we think, the pamphlet above referred
to. Afterwards he became editor Of
The Public in New York, a Financial
paper, and in that advocated his Free
Trade views. We recollect also that a
few years ago he assailed the credit
of Kansas, but after THE COMMONWEALTH
showed his mistakes he apOlOgized
handsomely.
Well this Colonel GrOsvenor delivered
a ProtectiOnist lecture, a few days ago,
before the Union League Union Club, Of
Philadelphia, in which he expressed the
grounds Of his conversion to the Protec-
ton school. He said:
To some of you may have been
known fifteen years ago as an earnest OPP
pOnent of the protective theory. L shall
state tonight some Of the reasons Why 1
now most earnestly oppose a change of
system. In brief, I shall show that the
enormous growth of industries. IN direc-
tions determined by the Republican pol
icy, has made it no longer rational to
q
that wanted to buy for my boy fifteen
years ago he cannot wear. 1 do not pro-
pose to cut the boy to fit the coat. The
condition Of the country and its indus
tries have wholly changed; what might
have been done once is no longer safe, or
even possible. Capital by the thousand
million has been invested; to disturb it
would be ruin. Labor by the
numbered thousand hands has
been organized; to disorganize it would
be revolution. Hence, intelligent OppO-
sitiOn on the score Of theory is as dead
as Julius Caesar. But the political as
saults upon the present system are not
intelligent. They are ignorant, blunder
ing, and incapable; In the hands of such
men, with whatever theories, the Nation
would be wrecked. They seem not to
know that American industries require
some defense which British industries
have not. If L am able to comprehend
their aims, they would set up for this
country not an American but British
system. Now, have in times past urged
that the tariff was not the best possible !
for this country, but 1 have never been
in favor of adopting a policy for the
benefit Of some other country. L
love my wife better than 1 love any /
other mans wife, and my country better !
than love Great Britain. Finally, un-
like the BOurbOns, l hope l am able |
to learn something in fifteen years. |
Many things which I have doubted or
disbelieved have been demonstrated be- !
fore my eyes. 1t is not the part Of man /
hood to shut the eyes to truth. 1 have /
never been one of those who believe !
that by much thinking they can spin out |
of themselves an infallible theory. That |
sort of political economy has ever had |
my profound contempt. 1 have tried to |
be an honest student of facts, and when |
the facts call for new conclusions 1 am /
not afraid to form them. I pity the man /
that can learn no new thing from this |
miracle-WOrking nineteenth century. 1 |
pity the man VINO can learn nothing |
from 81, 0G0,00 live Americans, as they !
work new wonders every day. My own /
opinions have in many respects been
changed by the results realized during /
the past ten years, and especially by the /
increasing rewards Of industry here.
The Chicago Inter Ocean says Of the
above:
1t was indicative of the scientific spirit !
in which Col. GrOsvenOr labored that |
while he was a free-trader his work |
"Does Protection Protect" indicated by |
the interrogative form given to it that he
was inQuiring, not dOgmatizing. From
asking a question Col. GrosVenOr has ad-
vanced to answering it. eyes! protection
does protect"
We reproduce this now to point a
moral. 1t is that Kansas should elect a
Republican Legislature this year, so as
to send q man to the United States Sen
ate in favor of the policy of protec-
ton. 1t should send as members men
who can and viii go into a Republican
caucus to select a candidate for the Sen
ate, and then abide by its decision. Is
there a single Republican so foolish as to
suppose that because a Republican is
elected to the Legislature mainly by OPP
position votes, that he will not go into
an opposition caucus, and into a Re
with these so called Independents, elect
ed mainly by Democratic votes, have a
majority of the Legislature, they will
act together, and then good bye to a
Republican United States Senator.