Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-16


goods are imported, and it follows that if
foreign goods are imported the pauper labor
Of Europe is brought into direct competition
with the labor of America.
All the arguments ever used by the free
traders cannot successfully controvert the
proposition that tariff for revenue means
the encouragement of foreign imports. be-
cause without imports there can be no revenue.
Hence the person in favor of tariff for
revenue only is to all intents and purposes a
free trader. The free trader gives the prefer
ence to the goods manufactured by pauper
labor, because they are cheaper than Amer
lean manufactured goods.
the free trader desires to have the same
advantage in buying cheap goods as if he
resi- led in Europe. Nevertheless he desires
to remain in America. but is unwilling to
contribute towards the growth and prosperity
Of the country.
For acme years previous to 1861, including
the panic of 1857. the government was con
Quoted on free trade principles, but in 1861
the protective system was adopted, since when
free trade has been but theory in the United
States
This theory has been fostered in America
by those of our writers on political economy
who blindly follow British writers on the
alton Of both countries.
British writers on political economy have
been tireless in their efforts to convince the
people of this country that free trade would
be beneficial alike to England and America
Those British writers are able and their views
are entitled To respectful consideration. But
they write from an interested standpoint.
They are interested in sustaining British in
terests, which. as British subjects they have
the right and ought to do. Nevertheless. they
have undoubtedly made deep impression
not on the popular mind of America-but on
many Of our college professors and writers
on political economy.
Our free trade writers on political ecOno
my do not take into consideration the small
area of England, the density of its pOpula
ton, the short distances that raw material
must be transported, the proximity OF its
manufactures to ocean navigation and the
great wealth accumulated there during cen
turtles. All these things taken in connection
with the low rate of wages. enables the gigan
tic manufacturers of Great Britain to com
pete successfully with the manufacturers of
the world, so that even Germany. France
and Russia have adopted the protective sys
tenn
The British system if adopted in place of
our present American system, will bring dis
aster to our American manufacturers, suffer
ing to large bodies of our people, and will
impoversh the entire country Wages will
be reduced to the starvation point Even
then we cannot compete with England. and
the result will be that our factories, mills
mines and workshops will become idle and
whole districts will be depopulated
All that the free traders have to offer is a
theory.
We are asked to put theory into practice.
the very discussion of which. before the peo-
pie and in Congress has alarmed manufac-
turers ond is one of the chief causes of the
depression in business. Under the American
system of protection the country has greatly
prospertd
Wages have been and are far higher than
in free trade England.
Our free trade friends say that it makes no
difference whether wages are high OF low,
that 1t is the purchasing power of wages tina.
must be taken into consideration
This is verv fine in theory, but as matter
of fact we all know that when wages are high
labor is scarce, and when wages are low a
great many laborers cannot find employment
at all.
Hence the laborer who understands his
own interests better than the average free
trader can tell him, always prefers to see
high wages.
Free traders claim that protection stimu,
lates production and creates surplus OF
products Their cure for this evil is to still
further increase the surplus by flooding the
country with foreign goods.
Is not the cure worse than the disease?
As matter of fact we know that free
trade England is afflicted with over produc,
| ton to a greater extent than protective
, America.
| Much as we may condemn the doctrines of
free trade we must concede to the Michigan
democracy that they have the courage OF
| their convictions.
On the contrary the Ohio democracy have
attempted t. straddle the question and with
the usual success of straddlers.
| The Ohio democratic platform declares ir
| favor of a tariff for revenue so adjusted in it,
application as to encourage industries al
| home.
| A tariff for revenue contemplates the i'm
! portation of foreign goods
How, therefore, can industries at home
be encouraged under the Ohio platform?
This Ohio platform is Janus faced.
1t has already received two different
constructions from the Ohio democratic
members of congress in the house of repre-
| sentdtiNeS
The republican platform uuequivoca
declares in favor of protection to American
industry.
Its candi late for the Presidency is pro
tectionist
! 1t therefore becomes the duty of all in
favor of excluding the products of pauper
labor of Europe from this country. to support
the republican party.
| |. therefore, in the future will support the
republican party. and intend TO vote fol
Blaine and Logan.
| In giving my adhesion to the republican
party, l am 0ratfied to be able to give ar
unqualified support to its nominees for presi
dent and vice president James &. Blaine i.
in favor of American industry. He is opposed
to Chinese immigration, he is a man of the
people. His nomination was not the result O
| trades or intrigues Of any kind but the un.
erring instinct of the people selected him a:
their standard bearer.
| He was the trusted friend and chief adviser
of the lamented Garfield.
| Calumny cannot injure such a man with the
people.
II the free traders or advocates OF the Brit
ish system are so confident of the success o.
| their theories, let us have fair discussion OF
principles and leave personal abuse of candi
dates aside W.P. HEALY.
Marquette. June %. 1884.