West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-18
KINGWOOD, JANUARY,ls, 1884.
Journars Quastlons Answered.

tion. We are in favor Of revenue
reform. Further it asks if we are
in favor OF Free-trsde or Protection.
In answer will say, neither. Our
contemporary then very triumphant
ly asks if man can be neither a
Free trader nor Protectionist, and
then as triumpbantly asserts that
There can be no middle ground. -
This is equivalent to saying tina; there
is no middle ground between con-
clifton Of thinga produced by laying
upon aud collecting duties or imports
from all, or very many OF the articles
imported from foreign countries into
the United States, and condition
OF things that would be brought
about by removing all duties and
permitting all importations from a
broad TO be thrown upon our mar
kete flee.
The terms Free trade aud Pro
lection are somewhat ambiguous, we
admit, but they are beth sought to
be obscureG and their real meaning
perverted or destroyed by designing
and sectional politicians Protect
ion, in the political dictionary. is
rather difficult Of an exact difinitlon.
and hence, serves politicians a most
excellent purpose. 1t is made to ac-
count Tor al. the prosperity end ma
terial progress of the country the
Iaoorers wages,the farmers mark cts.
manufacturers, mining, agriculture,
arts, aud sciences, ~ word. every
interest and every industry lie quick
ened and sustained by Protection.
On the other hand without it, everv
interest and industry lang uishes,
pines, dies. The farmer has no mar
ket. his surplus products rot in the
granery the artisan and laborer be-
come trsDps and outcasts the mer-
chant marine rots on the docks the
Jorge, the hammer,the rolls, the spin
die, the gin, the 'cards, all become
silent as the grave. Nothing es-
cspes the general and fearful dee
truction, except the faithful partisan
press which would still continue to
picture to its sdherepts their terrible
condition, and point them, good
Samaritan like, to the great panacea
for all their ills Protection, PRO
lection, PROTECTION.
FTee-trade, in the same dictionary
might be defined as the exact OPP
poslte OF protection, as above por-
trayed, but, for the present, In an
swering the interrogatory Of our
down-street contemporary, "can
man be neither a Flee-trader nor
ProtectioDist ?" And in discussing
his degmatism, there is no middle
ground, it will best suffice to deal
with the literal definitions of these
terms. 10 the first place let US say
that man can hold positive, intel
Iigent views on the subject Of our
commercial relations and internal
policy without being a Protectionist
or Free-tr1der. Pretectionist, lone
who fsvors protection by lav Of some
branch or branches Of manufacture
or some production. Free-trsde,
trade or commerce free from re-
slrictions free interchange Of COM
modiliesi commercial reciprocity"
Free-trsder then is one who is in ia |
vor Of Free trade.
Now, We assert that it is not only !
possible to stand 90 middle ground" |
between these two extremes, but
that it is patriotic to do 30. We say |
further, and ssy it with pride too, |
that the great Democratic party OF |
the United States, occupies this
middle ground. - There is.no need |
Of Misunderstanding our position
IN this matter, for the position we |
take is not new bor original with !
us. II bss been TOO often and clear. |
ly announced in the halls Of Congress |
and proclaimed from the stump all
over THE lsud Of ours, for the past -.
fifty yeais TO be migunderstood By I
intelligent, unbiased men. but
tbst it bas, all the while, been per
verted and UNINTERRUPTED, as j.. is
to-day by pasty, which during
che mast orc hrrdreJ ,..,. b.. 49,