Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-15
MR.. KASsON on PROTECTION.

| hon. JOIN n. haSsOn delivered in Brook
Ign, last week, very able and interesting
address on the subject of Protection, which
is deserving OF wide perusal. Opening by
pointing out the facts that system appica-
bic to Great Britain would not be applicable
to this country, that we can not consult
books for the welfare and prosperity Of
our country, but the farmer, the manufac
turer, the people at large, aud that the
safest rule for craftsmanship to adopt in any
country is that which looks to the present
condition of the country, and that which is
developed by the material facts, Mr.. Kasson
briefly considered the history of tariff legis.
lation IN this country.
| The fathers" be said, 'began with a
tariff Tor protection-a very light one TO be-
gin wlth-6 to per cent dd taDyem-aud
Kept increasing il gradually. 1t was uniformly
protective tariff and an increasing tariff
unit 1888, when it became necessary to
diminish the receipts of the Treasury. Then
II was that Mr.. Clay, yielding to the pres.
sure OF both sides, introduced his bill for a
sliding scale which was to expire in 1912
The moment the duties began to be re-
duced an excess of foreign goods was rushed
IN, and workmen were thrown out of employ
ment all over the country. This resulted in
me panic OF 1887, which continued until
| lo4O. In 1912 protective tariff was again
| adopted, industry relieved, labor found
temperament, and the country was again
| prosperous. The disaster Of 1857 was brought
| about by the reduced tariff Of 1916. and
ruin followed almost every other interest in
America Int The protective tariffs of 1860 to
| 1850 were made very high, too higl in
TACT, and ought to have been reduced,
which 1t was last yaar. For twenty-five
years we have been under this system of pro-
lection. This system of robbery, of OPP
preston, OF excessive taxes, of plumber of
the poor, as the free traders say. Under
| this System the country has lived for twenty
| TWO years. If this be robbery, injustice, a
system of plumber, am unable to reconcile
the history OF our country with these charges.
Ii 1t were so should it not have retarded our
population and impeded our material de-
velopmcnty Our country has steadily in
creased in population since the protective
tarlfl of 1850. Does the fact of there being
90, 600, 900 of people in the United States TO.
day accord with the theory that this is a
country where the poor are plundered by an
oppressive taxation r
Mr.. Kasson then reclted some statistics
showing the marvellous growth of the United
States. In 1860 the farms of the United
States were valued al three thousand million
dollars. In 1880 they were valued a, seven
thousand millions The agricultural pro
ducts In 1860 were valued at fourteen hum
drod millions, and in 1890 the same were
valued at twenty-five hundred millions. In
manufactures in 1860, the values were eight
cen hundred millions, and in $780, five thou
sand three hundred millions. In 1860, there
were fourteen millions of tons OF coal, and
in 1880 there were seventy.one millions of
tons.
The 1ree-traders tell u.s." continued Mr..
Mason, that unless we buy in markets
abroad we cannot soil there. | find that our
exports nave increased enormously under a
protective tariff in one year alone over one
hundred millions. The free-traders saw that
all the duty imposed on the articles imported
is added to the price Of the articles ia the
United States. Hardly ten articles can be
pointed out among those consumed in the
Y nlted States where the prices are not lower
man lheY were before the high protective
tarlI; one half OF our entire consumption
Inc manufacture has spread over five Stat es
in the Union, and there has been an average
reduction in silks of % per cent, and in
some instances one-thrd, and In certain
branches The French manufacture was sur
passed. The prices of cotton and
nannels have fallen since the duty was put
on WOOL is cheaper, and the manufacturers
are complaining today that wool is so
cheap. 1t is only blind devotees to free trade
as 1t exists in books, who fail to see the
country's enrichment under O protective
tarlH. Your own merchants can tell you
mat nearly every article we import Is to-day
cheaper than it was before the tariff. The
reduction OF prices is affected by increased
competition. 1t is law OF trade. Protec- |
tlon gives Americans confidence that in the
future they will have security against cbean
foreign labor. Competition and production
IN America force the prices down in England |
That in turn has forced down the price of |
the American article. The American market |
Is The best on which the sun shines, and the |
best That can be found upon this round globe. |
Az Europe is struggling to get possession. |
III they md that our enterprises are stagnant |
the keen English merchant and manufacturer
will throw his surplus upon our market,
force down The prices and expel our goods,
ana then raise his prices, and we foot the bill |
VI lIcc lTuuC.
we cannot afford to let foreign countries
take possession OF our markets so that We
cannot produce supplies for our own people.
we must have this to prevent our humilia
tion before the civilized world and preserve
our flag. Wages are largely higher in
America than abroad, If you deprive the
industries OF the country of adequate pro-
leclioD, one OF two results must follow
ellhtr the cost OF producing your goods has
got 10 DC lowered, or your manufacturers
have got to perish. Labor is placed at not
less than ~ per cent of the value Of an arti-
Gle When you strike at labor you, of
course, reduce the price of labor, ard that is
what free-traders are striving for Either of
'hese results destroys national independence
ana individual independence. 1t is the pol
icy OF our Government to treat labor IN q
inherent way than is done in free trade
countries. These laborers are part of our
government, and they wear the same crown
with us. No greater mistake could be made
N public policy than that which ignores the
interests OF the great laboriug classes, that
we may save little on the articles We con-
Iume."
In conclusion Dir. Kasson expressed the
lope that the day will come when we shall
each the cannon result of maintain ng all
rational enterprises, OF keeping our wealth
1t home, of improving the condition OF all
'lasses OF our community, and Of making
his country the model government, more |
distinguished in peace than in war-one that
las solved the great question of labor and ,
aptal.
An ABrSE TO CORRECTED.
A o iain al,fp