San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-26
THE NEED OF PROTECTION.

which obtain among republicans and
democrats, concerning the real sub
stance of that which is so glibly
spoken of as protection, reveals a de-
cidedly antagonistic sentiment as
actually existing. Reduced to its
simplest form and apprehended in
it's real essence it means all the differ
ence between money and men; be-
tween revenue and manhood; be-
tween labor as a commodity, and the
laborer as an integral part of the
government The democratic idea is
purely economic, from financial
standpoint, and by no means neces-
sarily correct even from that low op-
servation point. The republican Idea
is purely humanitarian, as far as that
humanitarian idea affects the citizens
of this country. 1t aims to protect all
the citizens of this country In their
commercial and industrial competl-
lions with the citizens of foreign coun-
tries, leaving it to the natural compe-
titions of our American trade, produc-
tions, and manufactures to regulate
prices and prevent eXactlons. Inc
republican party recognizes that the
creative and productive forces of the
world are more than adequate
to supply all the demands
of all sections, and that unless
the governments exercise fostering
care over the industries and labors OF
their citizens, these will be compelled
to enter the lists against all other
countries and scale down to the lowest
prices paid for labor, or received tor
manufactured goods, in any section OF
the world. There being more laborers
than are necessary to supply the de-
mand, the world over, the price OF
labor will be every where forced down
to the starvation point, and labor be-
come badge of servitude and its con-
ditions menace to all culture and to
all educational Improvement. Be
| lieving it to be the duty of all free
governments to place the citizens of
! that government in the best possible
condition for self support. self in
crease. and the improvement of their
condition under the guidance of a
wise frugality and an intelligent in
dustry, the republican party, seeing
the imperative necessity of protect
| ing its labOrers of all classes from the
| competitions of pauper labor else
where existing, has declared for pro-
lection as policy of the government
| irrespective of the increase or decrease
of revenue arising from such policy
actually carried into effect by the
national administration. 1t does not
necessarily or naturally follow from
this that tariff revision is unnecessary.
On the contrary, wise and thorough
revision of the existing tariff sche-
| dulles is imperatively demanded to
answer the ends sought in the prOtec-
ton policies of the republican party.
There is no occasion for any fear that
the republicans of this country will
not revise the existing tariff so soon as
thew again assume control Of the adj
ministratiOn OF national affairs. Their
declarations of pOscy in 1884, when
they had every reason to conclude
that they would retain control of the
government, were decided in favor OF
\ revision of the tariff In 1888, it is
| true. their declarations are in favor OF
protection. Why? Because tariff is
threatened with destruction under the
| hands of democratic free traders, and
the counter declaration must come as
a protective declaration to meet the
threatened danger. The republican
party, in its declarations Of principles
and in its history, has ever stood for
the rights of American citizens at
home and abroad, and their industrial
rights are more endangered today
than at any period of the nations his
tory. The republican party would be
untrue to its spirit, untrue to it's tradi-
tions, untrue to it's history, were it to
turn its back upon the struggling la
Dor of this country, and refuse to
stand in the breach to battle for its
protection against the encroachments
of foreign free traders who care only
for the monetary advantage capital
may reap from the pauperization of la
Dor. The free trade argument of the
greatest good to the greatest number,
; IS too speciOus. China can Outnumber
America fOur-fOld in her population,
but this country cannot afford to
level down three-fOurths, to bring
China labor up One-tOurth in
the scale of industry. The first duty
of this government is to its citizens.
To all of them. The rights of capital
and the rights of labor, properly con-
sidered, are one. Properly adjuste
they cannot conflict. The good of the
producer and the benefit of the con-
= sumer must be harmOnized 50 as to
evoke the greatest possible good tC
each. A proper tariff adjustment will
prevent the manufacturer growing
rich at the expense of the grower OF
t raw material, or the grower of Jaw
material from grinding the face off the
factorymen and absorbing the profits