The Portland daily press., 1888-07-21

over production In any country and Eng
land had 10th before we had either. in any
number -
II the multiplication Of industries during
the era Of protection has brought about such
domestic conception as to materially reduce
the cost of every article Of living save rents
IL wages are higher now than they were at
the close Of the last free-trade era
III the American citizen Is better PAID, Det-
ter clad, better educated, and (unless q free-
traderl more contented than any other on the
face Of the globe
II the tide Of emigration on the part Of those
who are seeking TO better their condition in
life is away from free trade countries to pro-
lection America
III the American workman not only earns
more and spends more but also puts more
money in savings institutions than any other
class Of working people
IL business Is fairly good and we are hold
ing our own in every branch Of trade and
industry except our unprotected ocean carry
ing trade
growth and development as In the past
Why, in the name Of common sense and or
dinary prudence, should we aim deadly
blow at the same protective system which
has served us so we'll =, II. -,
When II is purely a matter Oh choice ana
not Of necessity in doing So
When the surplus revenue can be more
easily and quickly reduced by the abolition
of the internal revenue war taxes, wholly or
In part - 4,
needed, can be had by abolishlng or reduc-
ing the only remaining duty on great neces-
sary of life, sugar
When further reductions of the revenue
can be had by paying the national debt
funds for national aid TO education, by
needed appropriations for. coast and harDor
defenees, by wise appropriations Tor nation
al works, which shall be Of national Deneht-
When further reductions OF the revenue
can be had by increasing inadequate duties
to the point Of protection, and by granting
bounties for the revival OF our merchant ma
rine-
Unless one is working under the cloak Of
tariff reform to further private interests as
principal or agent, by causing large Increase
Imports, and Is. therefore. TO the extent he
| claims to be seeking the public good, knav
| ish or
Unless one believes that protection has
| been SO harmful to this country in the past
| and bodies such evil for the future that 1t
| needs an exterminating blow before any
| thing else, in which case he is fairly entitled
| to consideration as superlatively foolish.
Summed up in one sentence, our lndlct-
ment against the Mills bill, the Presidents
message, and all movements in sympathy
| Herewith, is this: III our country has done
exceedingly well in the past, Is doing well at
present, and has fairly good outlook, why
strike at the fiscal system under which so
much prosperity has been attained, when lt
| is not only necessary to go out Of the way TO
| do so, but also to retard oGher and desirable
| legislation, unless one has private aims TO
| further by so doing, or is lacking In good
| judgment and prudence?
All of which goes to show that the tremen-
| dous burden of proof resting upon the free
| trade assailants Of the status quo to show
| that we have prospered In spite Of protection
I.f.o kaff off xrrft
| it, will make them very weary before the
campaign Of 1888 is half over.