The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-29
MIR. BLAINE AND THE TARIFF.


turns upon this, the chiefest issue of the last
and the present campaign. There is no am
biguity in his utterances, no evasion or dodg-
ing, no ouibbling as to only" and "exclu-
siyely." Mr. Blaine is for the protection OF
American labor and capital; for American
manufacturers and agriculturists. Only one
of his mastery grasp, studying the tariff
question both as historian and statesman,
could have drawn so vivid picture of eco
nomic progress, without antecedent in the
history of nations as the United States pre-
sents under protective tariff since 1860
These results, says Mr.. Blaine, 'are re-
garded by the older nations of the world as
phenomenal That our country should sur
mount the peril and the cost of gigantic
war; and for an entire period of twenty years
make an average gain to its wealth Of one
hundred and twenty-five millions per month,
surpasses the experience of all other nations,
ancient or modern. Even the opponents OF
| the present revenue system do not pretend
that in the whole history of civilization any
parallel can be found to the material prog
ress of the United States since the acces
sion of the Republican party to power"
But Mr.. Blaine does not deal with
this era Of Republican administration as
one Of material prosperity only. Wealth is
not all, nor is it the highest indication of
national grandeur and success. As with his
great prototype, President Garfield, Mr..
Blaine looks to the moral and intellectual as
well as to the physical sources of power. cat
no Time J" he continues, 'in the history Of the
United States has there been such progress in
the moral and philanthropic field. Religious
and charitable institutions, schools, seminaries
and colleges have been founded and endowed
far more generously than at any previous time
in our history Greater and more varied re-
| lief has been extended to human suffering
and the entire progress of the country in
wealth has been accompanied and dignifed by
broadening and elevation of our national
character as people" Mr.. Blaine is too wise
| to attribute the unparalleled and substantial
progress of the last quarter century to any
single statute. That revenue laws must
change to suit the changes and notifications
of trade no student of political economy will
deny. ''The Republican party" says Mr.
Blaine, IFS not contending for the permanency
/ ~ ho4x.-
the two parties does not have reference to a
specific law 1t is far broader and far deeper.
1t involves principle of wide application and
benefcent influence against theory which
we believe to be unsound in conception and
inevitably hurtful in practice. In the many
tariff revisions which have been necessary for
the past twenty three years, or which may
| hereafter become necessary, the Republican
| party has maintained and will maintain the
while our opponents insist upon a revis-
ion which practically destroys that policy"
| In brief, as regards protection. the Republican
party has been both consistent and successful
| in the past, and has no reason for changing its
commercial polity toward foreign nations at
the present time. But there is another aspect
Of free trade and protection, of which little is
or has been said, but which Mr.. Blaine brings
| into startling prominence The United States
is Nation in itself, possessing within its own
boundaries all that is essential to national life
and prosperity We have both free trade and
protection protection abroad, and free trade
at home. After the mastery lecture on agri-
culture and the tariff, in which Mr.. Blaine
shows how the financial and revenue system
enacted since the Republican party came into
power has established and constantly expand
ed the home market" he says:
"Such facts as these, touching the growth
! and consumption Of cereals at home, give us
some slight conception Of the vastness of the
internal commerce Of the United States They
suggest also, that, in addition to the advan-
tages which the American people enjoy from
protection against foreign competition, they
enjoy the advantages of absolute free trade
over a larger area and with greater popula
! ton, than any other nation. The internal
commerce Of our thirty eight States and nine
Territories is carried on without let or him
drance, without tax, detention, or govern
mental interference of any kind whatever.
/ Itspreads freely over an area of three and a
half million square miles almost equal in ex-
tent, to the whole continent Of Europe Its
profits are enjoyed to-day by fifty-six millions
of American freemen, and from this enjoy
ment no monopoly is created. According TO
Alexander Hamilton, when he discussed the
same subject in 1870, the internal COMPETE
ton which takes place does away with every
thing like monopoly, and by degrees reduces
prices Of articles to the minimum of reason
able profit on the capital employed. -
Whoever will read Mr.. Blaines argument
for the tariff system of the Republican party