The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-20
TARIFF IN THE SOUTH.

What It Is Doing for Industry and In Devel-
opipg the Country.
Special to the indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Judge William d.
Kelley, of the Philadelphia district. father of
the House of Representatives" author of the
present tariff laws, the leading protectionist in
the lower House of Congress. and the foremost
authority on tariff matters, has just received the
following letter, which shows what tariff pro-
lection is doing for the industries of the South
and the development of that country:
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. IL, 1883.
Hon. William d Kelley, House of Representatives,
Washington, D. o.:
Ny Dear Sir-Your telegram of yesterday
reached me at Knoxville just as l was leaving
for Louisville. and / at once telegraphed TO use
the letter of the 9th if il was worth using. Re-
Election causes me to doubt whether SO hasty a
note is worth the ink it will take to print it.
1.-The great contest-which has steadily gone
since the Missouri Com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the
national policy of home development on the one
side, and the colonial policy of exchanging the
raw products of agriculture for foreign manu-
features the other SIDE can never be decided
by letters. or speeches, or party platforms, or
general elections Not even legislation, the
still higher arbitrament of arms, settle an
economic question of such magnitude. Standing
alone all these forces can produce nothing more
stable than record written upon sand-except-
ing, always, the costs and losses of the struggle
which still goes OF.
1.-The national cause has advanced because
behind it's skirmish line of public discussion,
printers ink, legislation, and armed hosts has
marched a supporting column of the invincible
fcrces Of modern progress-steam engines and
machinery, the railroad, the mill the factory,
The furnace, and the mine. organizing the divis-
ion of labor and the profitable exchange of its
products, and permanently occupying and hold
ing the ground won. And this is the only force
that can hold the ground
Every investment which has been or shall
be made OF capital. or skill, or labor which has
produced in our country In excess of the needs
of the producer one thing needed for the
fort or welfare of our people, and which could be
probably exchanged for another thing needed or
10 facilitate the exchange of such products has
been a permanent force to hold and occupy
ground won for the national cause. Every in-
vestment to produce thing however valuable
In kind, in excess of ability to proftably ex.
change it, helps the colonial policy-which may
be summed up rs policy of hunting the world
in vain quest of market-and weakens the
valne of the general product by reducing it to
the value of the unemployed surplus.
"The tramp shiDs and tramp cargoes OF Eng
land. hunting every nook and corner OF the
earth for market for her surplus illustrates
better than any words can do the colonial policy
on the one side.
.The investment of capital from every part
OF civilized world. and notably from England.
in Americac railways, mills mines and fur
naces, illustrates the value and advantage of
compact national development The other
ride Profit Is the first law of trade, and
that English capital seeks investment in Amer
lean enterprises is a better proof OF what they
really think Of our national policy than the ut
'.What we build at home we are sure Of and
rs 90 per cent Of our trade is based upon il,
and is profitable. while the remaining 10 per
cent is uncertain and disturbing element,
the wisdom of upholding the 80 per cent and
endeavoring 10 work the other 10 per cent. into
it would seem to need no argument
"Ard yet the colonial idea is strongly rooted
and has a large following in three portions of
our country, based on local causes. conditions
and folly. In certain commercial circles in
Eastern cities in certain agricultural sections of
NOrfh wa IN hot of wh ich raj
to be growing, judging from the noise made. and
in the South. where il is unquestionably passing
away. Nor the causes hard to find. They
lie upon the surface
merchants. too with here and there a manufaet-
turer, or ex-manufacturer. whose profits have
been uncomfortably lessened by competition,
and who has become an importer, would be glad
10 handle the food of slaughter sales which a
lower tariff tariff If they could get to it,
would throw upon our markets. And IL such
policy should transform the West into an Eng
lien colony, practically, by destroying American
man ufactures and tue home market the West
has for 30 per cent. of her product, all the better
30 Tar as these importing gentlemen con-
cerned, they think. 1t is as palpsbls and as
foolish and wicked trap 80 ever was set
but there Is nothing new about il. Il is an
old scheme. 1t has been tried before and fought
Tor with bravery and persistence that is today
something for Americans to be proud of Butit
made a heap of trouble then, as II would now,
failed then, as il Will now. for freedom and the
inven tions of the nineteenth century have oecu-
pied the ground.
1.-THE South went crazy on this same scheme
In 1861 and organized the Southern Confectionery
on the basis Of free trade and slave labor-ths
only system OF labor on which free trade ever
can be carried out In America. They go together,
and the one Is bound TO fail without the other,
and failed with il when tried by who
worlds history And leaving out the wicked
ness OF IL. and looking upon u . cold blooded