Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-29
Historic Realities Against False Theo-

Line upon line and precept upon pre-
cept have to be often repeated to counter
act the false teachings of the Free Trad
ers. Perhaps there is no falacy more
continually in use by these theorists than
the assertion that the amount of the i'm
port duty adds Just so much to the con-
sumner Of the domestic article. Though
this Is refuted by multiplicity of facts
and illustrations constantly occurring and
familiar to observing persons, the oppo-
nents of Protection continue to affirm it
as a fundamental truth. 1t was put forth
by Cleveland in his December
message and has been renewed in his let
tiers of acceptance. This must be largely
on the assumption that a lie well stuck TO
IL nearly equal to the truth If there is
one thing clearly and conclusively settled
by experience, it Is that the duties i'm
posed on imported articles operate as
Protection under which domestic produc-
ton Is largely increased, which results in
home competition bringing down the
price to little more than the duty on the
imported article. While, without the pro
tected home production the foreign pro-
ducer is able to control the market and TO
bring up the prices at his will
With our Protective system neither the Eu-
ropean nor the American producers have
absolute control of the American mar
ket. They operate as check on each
other to the advantage of the consumers.
II is therefore false as it is puerile for the
Democratic candidates, editors and stump
orators to continue to maintain that the
price of commodity to the people who
use it is enhanced to the extent of the
duty paid upon it. This bold. persis ent
effort to deceive the public on simple mat
tiers of fact, is no new device of the
demagogue. II was In vogue by the
Democratic Free Traders in the notorious
cheating campaign of Polk and Dallas
forty-four years since. In Henry Clays
speech at Raleigh, n. c., April ID, 1874,
he thus summarily but eflectually demol-
ished his theory
at has been commended that the effect of
sfording legal encouragement to domestic
manufactures is TO enhance the price of COM
n,odities and to impose n tax upon the consum-
er. This argument has berna thousand times
refuted. 1t has been shown, again and again,
that the price of almost ever, article on which
the system of encouragement has etfectually
operated has been reduced 10 the consumer;
and this was the necessary consequence of
that law of supply and demand and that prin-
ciple of competition TO which have before
adverted. 1t was foretod long ago by my
self and other friends of the policy. But il
is in vain that we appeal to facts. Ii is in
vain that we take up article by article, and,
comparing present with former prices, show
the actual and gradual reduction. The free
trader has mounted his hobby and he
is determined TO spur and whip him
on, rough shod, over all facts, OBJ
stacles and impediments that lie in his
way. 1t was the other day heard one of
those free trade orators addressing an audi
ence and depicting, in the most plaintive and
doleful terms. the extreme burdens and OPP
pressive exsctions arising out of the abomi-
nable tariff. Why says he, fellow citizens,
every one of you that wears a shirt is COM
PEELED TO pay six cents yard more for il
than you otherwise would do in order to in
crease the enormous wealth of Northern
capitalists An old man in the crowd,
stability dressed, and with scarcely anything
but shirt on, stopped the eloquent orator
and asked him how that could be; for says
he. Il have good shirt on that cost only five
and half cents per yard, and should like
to know how paid duty of six cents"
The history of the steel rail and its
prices in this country, of American cut
lery, Of agricultural implements and
machinery, and many other articles, afford
equally strong confirmation Of the truth
soably argued and illustrated by the great
Wing leaders in the campaign Of 1874.