The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-10-05
Friday. Oct. 5, 1883.
The Two Policiss.

The following extract from Con-
gresham Reeds speech defines the
tariff policies Of the Republican and
Democratic parties, as presented by
one of the best equipped popular
speakers on the Rer ublican side. The
figures given demonstrate the fal.
lacy that is held by some that the
duty is added to the price of home
manufactured goods. The figures
prove the theory is impossible in
fact. and like a great many when
brought TO crucial test prove wholly
misleading. On articles not manu-
featured in this country the price is
higher than if they meet competition
from manufacturers here, for o very
simple reason. The foreigner then
can set his own price-or rather the
importer of such articles.
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH.
What is a free trade doctrine? What is
the seyerest attack that has ever been made
upon the protective system? II is the state
men: that it so operates that whoever buys
an imported article pays precisely the sum
of the duty in addition TO the price, and
that he pays like enhanced price for every
article of protected domestic industry. Is
there any free trader on earth who brings a
more railing accusation against protection
than that? Is there any free trader, from
Henry George up, who can say nything
more severe against the doctrine we defend?
Not one bit of it. If that is true il leads 10
consequences of the most serious character
for if it is so, for every dollar that goes into
the United States Treasury five other dol
lars 60 into the pockets of bloated manu-
facturers, and every year, iuasmuch as we
manufacture $500, OOO, 900 of protected
articles, at least 100000 900 60 into the
hands of the manufacturers, and are abso-
lutely lost to this nation. Am I exagge,at.
ing? had been discussing this before Mr.
Thurman woke from his retirement; but
standing the other day at Port Huron, on
the Canadian border, very appropriate
place, he announced that for every dollar
that the Treasury got the manufacturers gel
five, and that this country was losing
81 ,0oO,0OO,O0O every year, precisely what l
had said, so that had not merely the argu.
ment, but the authority of the Oldest Roman
in the Democratic party to back me up.
That is what that accusation against pro-
lection means. And who uttered it? Why,
the President of the United States in his
message. l know he says afterward: "That
is not free trade" but what difference does
that make? Suppose a man were to make a
Photograph ola living COW, and were 10
hang il up on the wall and write under
meath it: "This is not cow!" would it pre-.
vent the original, under favorable circum-
stances, from giving milk? And yet there
is absolutely nothing else TO this question
and defense except the asser ton that he
does not mean what he says.
Let US analyze it. am going to take
Judge Thurman's figures, and think he is
old enough to be believed on these points.
If he is right as to his premises and if the
President is right, if his premises are right,
his facts are understated Now, S, O00, 0OO,-
600 year is good deal of money, 10
you realize how big sum it is? My city,
which used to be at any rate, the RIVAL of
Boston, could be lost in one corner of it.
But it is 81 900, 000, 900 every year. A good
Democrat-that is, don't Use the term
good" absolutely, you see. 1 say a good
Democrat-by the name of Townshend, of
Illinois, one of the lights of Democracy, has
figured that up from 1860 to 1882 and he
figures il and he is right if the President is
right, at l5,O36,OO6 900. You see he is
very accurate. Add 81 Loco, COO 900 year
since, according to Judge Thurman, and he
is right if the President is right, and you
have sum approximating $4,000. OGO, 600
that is what we haye lost by this system
since the year 1850. Do you know how
much that sum is? Why. the whole State
OF Massachusetts could be lost in that. 1t is
more than the whole United States was
listed for for taxation in the year 1860.
And SO, according to these people, we have
lost the whole United States and must be
sitting out doors to night. That is so, OF
figures lie. 1t is not SO, and the figures lie,
and the statement of principles by the Pres
ident CT the United States is like his state
ment that he enters upon no crusade for free
trade, it is mistake.