The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-19
HIGH TARIFF.

to be an answer by "Rcyrnuu OMly,"
to an article written by me on The tar
if. will not resort to the argument
of the small boys debating society,
and say "there is little in the article to
be answered" but leave that to be de-
terminod by others. He uses the ster-
eotyped argument of free traders, that
a hat could be sold for fifty cents less
with free trade than with a protective
tariff, but fails to tell his readers that
no such thing would be for the reason
that Just so soon rs his free trade doc
trine prevails the European manufac-
turer would have no competition,
but would sell at his own price, and
instead OF the hat selling for one dollar
it would sell for two, making rich not
our own people, but foreign manu-
facturer. He says projections unjust,
says it Unjust discriminate in favor of
one class and against an other" Why
the necessity of this discrimination if
all classes are alike protected? He
forgets that the farmer is pro-
tected.
East Tennessee ought to be manu-
factoring section. We should import
grain and meat instead of exporting
those articles. Why is this not SO?
Our farming lands are growing poor
er each year except in the vicinity of
manufacturing towns. The reason
for this is that we take more off the
soil than we put omit. Fora hundred
years our markets for horses, sheep,
cattle, hogs, flour, bacon, wheat and
corn have been distant. Thus our
farms have been denudcd of their fer
tility to enrich other lands, If we had
manufactures among us, this would
not be. In addition to giving us a
market for our products at home the
farmer could return something to his
farm. Instead of sending off for fer
tilizers, we would have about each
large mandatory quantity of ofal
which would enrich our lands. Our
mountains and hills are full OF iron,
coal and other minerals, which await
development, the world needs our
minerals, the laborcrs are abundant
and anxious to work, capital in the
North and East seeks investment
Why is it then that our hidden re-
sources lie undcveloped?
Capitalists will not invest their mon
ey in an enterprise which may, by 4
change in the policy Of tho Govern
ment ruin them. They know our PEG
| pic cannot work at the low prices
which the laborcrs Of Europe receive
for their labor, Our people will con
tinue agricultural pursuits rather
than work at the low wages of Euro
pean laborers Hence it is necessary
to protect our people against the cheaI
labor Of the old world If capitalist
would be assured that they woult
have protection for fifty years, manu-
factories would spring up all over oul
country, our population would in
crease and an era of prosperity would
follow. The fear that this free trad,
doctrine might prevail has hung abou
the necks of Tennessee and has beer
making them poorer each year.
| This same little argumen
about buying hat for fifty cents less
with free trade than with protection
has been rung in the ears OF the PEG
pie by men who are influenced b,
English arguments and English mon
ey. / do not say that Revenue Only
was directly influenced to his presen
course by money, but he is a followe
of those who have doubtless been s.
influenced.
Mr.. Revenue Only" has the ide
) that no one is benefited by protection
but the manufacturer. Johnson Cit
, has a manufactoty in its infancy
Would the farmers near there have j
taken away? Are the laborers ther
tired of it? Do your merchants thin
it nuisance? Do the men who hay
found a market for their bark want
wiped out? Are your tax payers tire
of it? Does any one want it ruined
Would your people object to havin
other industries represented? Woul
they object to cotton mill at you
place?
; Would shey lie sorry to see som
; iron industry bi'ilt upthere?
: II they wouhi, let them favor frt
: trade, its haloid influence will crus
;, out all such enterprises.
PROTECTION.
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