Wichita eagle., 1888-07-29
PROTECTION VS.. FREE TRADE.

TO the Editor Of The EAGLE.
The festive Cobden-club free trade
| teacher is abroad in the land. | notice
an effusion from one of those debilitated
Democratic free trade teachers in the
Beacon Of the 24th inst. headed PRO
lection and signed Taxpayer. The
writer of that article is either intention
ally unfair or too grossly ignorant to
comprehend the relation of free govern
ment to monarchial government, and as
a consequence does not realize that our
laws must discriminate in favor of
American citizens If we would maintain
inviolate free institutions and emanci-
pate the laborer from European serfdom.
The object of such perversiOn is evident
~ to mislead, thereby securing addition
al adherents to the free trade theory.
He says that it IS ocular proof that is
wanted of the benefits of protection, Just
as though our history as a nation is not
full of such proof. | invite
his attention to the writings of
Clay, Webster, and even the more
mature thoughts of that scholar and
statesman, Thomas jefferson; also to the
prosperity OF the nation under protection
and comparative free trade. Ocular
proof Is 50 vOlumlnous ana pam that
orbs of vision are not needed. \ blind
man can see 1T.
Tax Payer says. Protection is a
favor that the law extends to one or
more persons, which favor Is not Ell loved
by other citizens " ebster SAYS Pro
lection is the establishment of such
duties on goods imported as Will protect
or cherish domestic industry
1t will be observed that these two great
men do not agree. Tax Payer, to agree
with Mr.. " ebster, should have said
protection, when applied 10 tine United
States, is favor that the law extends to
ali citizens of the United States. which
favor Is not enjoyed by the citizens of
any other government.
Tax Payer saws. If instead of saving
we should protect certain Industries, we
would say that we should subsIdiZe
them. we would convey the meaning of
the thing intended to be done much
more clearly"
Any school boy of twelve years. by
consulting the meaning of the words
subsidy and protection may know that
subsidy cannot be used and convey the
same meaning intended by protection.
The illustration given of community
com posed of a farmer, a shoemaker and
a halter and the application Of tariff as
there represented has no analogy what
ever to the American system OF prOtec
ton and its effect. Nothing but deCep-
ton or gross ignorance could have
prompted the comparison. he would
have Americans believe that their form
of government is no better than any OF
the European forms. He would have
the European believe that his right TO
life. liberty and the possession Of prop
erty are as fully protected as the Aneri-
can.
Let US change Tax Payers illustra-
ton TO one nearer the truth. Suppose
England is a monarchical wooden and
cotton mandatory which costs nothing
TO run It. that southwestern Europe Is q
monarchical mandatory Of salt, cham
pagne and ali other sparkling wines. /
which cost nothing to run It, and that
the United States is republic /
Of g.. 900, COZ Of freemen whose labor
cannot be had for nothing in any
OF the enterprise or vocation OK life, and I
who know that the national prosperity /,
depends largely upon division OF labor. !
SuprCsa an annual tax OF so Is levied /
on each OF those mcparchical factories I
IN order that similar institutions might 4
be built up in the republic, thereby Gre
ating division Of labor and augment I
ing the agents Ia the production OF ma 4
tional wealth. There would not be- al /
intelligent farmer within the borders Of I
the republic that would not say amen TO I
the tax. put it up higher.
If American iaborers would have IN 1
deuendence they must have protection /
Down with the free trade theory.
s. " p
For+ Scoft vii have big ratification l