The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-07
THE PROTECTIVE PRINCIPLE,

THE PROTECTIVE PRINCIPLE,
The Republican party believes that pro-
tective tariff is needful to the continued pros
perity of the country. If free trade means
anything, it means opportunity to buy in the
cheapest markets of the world. This is as fair
statement as can be made by even free
traders. Protectionists hold that under pres
ent conditions American manufacturers can
not compete with those who have been estab-
lished for centuries, and who have popula-
ton to draw operatives from that have no
choice between field and factory. In the
older countries there are literally hundreds Of
| thousands of men, women and children who
cannot find land to cultivate did they so de-
sire. In America the situation is not so
cramped. and there are few mechanics who
by good management, cannot go to the fields
and there dig out living. This advantage of
choice fixes a limit of wages, below which the
American operative will not consent to work
| The effect of free trade would be to bring
these classes in our own country into direct
competition with those in countries that afford
no choice but to work for whatever wages
mill-owners will consent to pay the only lin
itation being barely enough to afford the
meanest subsistence. To escape these rigor-
Gus conditions the operatives of other coun-
tries have been and are still coming to this
by hundreds of thousands
From this fact it ought to be seen that we
cannot yet compete in open field under such
conditions But the free-trader insists that
we shall, and to enjoy the slightly lower
prices offered by foreign countries, is willing
that the inevitable should ensue, and that
shop to the farm. A few minutes consdera-
ton ought to show the folly Of such meas
ure. According to the figures Of the last cen
sus the manufactures of Indiana are carried
on with an invested capital of 500, 742, 962,
every dollar of which is taxed in Indiana by
the government, the State and county. 1t
helps bear the burdens of the people. In
these manufactories-11 1913 in number-are
employed 62072 men and 1886 women and
children. The total amount paid in wages is
$21, 900, $685. nearly every dollar of which is
paid out again in Indiana. The annual value
of products is $14S, O06, All, the profit on
which goes to Idianians, and is generally in
vested in Indiana. Recapitulating, we have
$66 900, 900 invested; 70, 900 people employed,
500, 600, 900 in wages and $148 900, 900 in value
of annual products. Let free trade be adopted,
and large per cent. of the seventy thousand
mechanics can turn farmers, to help swell the
surplus, already embarrassingly large, and as
sist in decreasing the price of wheat, and corn,
and beef, and hogs Instead of having $685.
coo, 900 capital invested in Indiana much more
would be invested in Manchester and Birming
| ham, and better returns would be given to that
already in those cities. Instead of helping
pay our taxes, it would pay tribute to Eng
land. The 500, 900, 900 that we have annually
paid to men in Indiana would go to England,
and every dollar of profit made off of us would
be invested there.
Protectionists hold further, that behind the
barrier of protection, competition between
American manufacturers will be so encour
aged that the lowest possible prices will even
tually be reached. Already in many branches
we are as low as the lowest as proved by the
fact that our products are sold in all the open
markets of the world. American cutlery is
on sale in the shops Of Sheffield. American
locomotives, farm machinery and engines are
sold in all parts of the world, and the day
is not far distant when American
silks will be placed on the shelves of the shops
in Paris. In nearly every branch of manu-
facture our goods are the equal of the best,
and it is only question of time when the
competition encouraged by our protective
tariff will enable us to sell as cheaply as can
any people. Already the cotton mills of Mas
sachusetts have been undersold by those of
eventually the bottom price will be reached.
Manufactured articles of every kind are
cheaper than they were ton years ago, and in
many branches cheaper than ever before
known, and the tendency is downward still.
What more can be askedG The experiment is
working exactly as its friends expected and
promised. Its perfect success has long been
assured.
The day has not yet come to remove the
tariff. That will be brought about by natural