Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-21
SPEECH BIZ HORACE GREELEY
THE OLD.TIME EDITOR OF THE
NEW YORK TRIBUNE.
Grafton Delivered at New York
February 10, 1913, In the
Tabernacle.

to our national prosperity. Affrmative-Joseph
Blunt, Horace Greeley. Negative-Samuel j..
Tlden, Parke Goodwin.
kf7. President ard Respected auditors: 1t
has devolved on me as junior advocate
for the cause CT protection, to open
the discussion OF this question. l do
this with less diiidence than | should feel
in meeting able opponents and practiced
disputants on almost any other topic, be-
cause / am strongly confident that you,
my hearers, will regard this as q subject
demanding logic rather than rhetoric, the
exhibition and proper treatment OF homely
truths, rather than the indulgence of flights
Of fancy. As sensible as you can be OF my
deficiency as a debater, have chosen to
put my views on paper, In order that
may present them in as concise manner
as possible, and not consume my hour be-
fore commencing my argument. You have
nothing of oratOry 10 lose by this course;
will hope that something may be gained
to my cause in c.earness and force. And
here let me say that while the hours |
have been enabled 10 give to preparation
for this debate have been few indeed, | feel
the less regret IN that my life has been in
some measure a preparation. If there be
any subject to which | have devoted time,
and thought, ard patient study, in spirit
Of anxious desire to learn and follow the
truth, it is this very question of protec-
ton; if have totally Inexperienced its
character and bearings, then am | ignor-
ant, hopelessly ignorant indeed. And,
while may not hope 10 set before you, in
the brief space allotted me, all that is es-
sential to full Understanding of a ques-
ton which spans the whole arch of politi-
cal economy-on which able men have
written volumes without at all exhausting
i'll do entertain sanguine hope that [
shall be able to set before you considera-
tons conclusive TO the candid and I'M
biased mind Of the policy and necessity of
protection. Let us not waste our time on
non-essentials. That unwise and unjust
ueasures have been adopted under the
pretense of protection, | stand not here to
deny; that VS. intended to be protective
have sometimes been injurious in their
tendency, neeG not dispute. The logic
which would thence infer the futility or
the danger Of protective legislation would
Just as easily prove all laws and all policy
mischievous and destructive. Political
economy is one Of the latest born of the
sciences; the very fact that we meet here
this evening to discuss 4 question so fund
amental as this proves it to be yet in its
comparative infancy. The sole favor
shall ask of my opponents, therefore, is
that they will not waste their efforts and
your time in attacking positions that we
do not maintain, and hewing down straw
giants of their own manufacture, but meet
directly the arguments which / shall ad-
vance, and which, for the sake of simplicity
and clearness, viii proceed to put before
you in the form of propositions and their
illustrations, as follows:
PROPOSITION I.
A nation which would be prosperous,
must prosecute various branches of in
dustry, and supply It's vital wants mainly
by the labor Of its own hands.
Cast your eyes where you will over the
A.ce Of the earth, trace back the history
of man and Of nations to the earliest re-
corded periods and l think you will find
this rule uniformly prevailing, that the
nation which is eminently agricultural
and grain-exporting = which depends
mainly or principally on other nations for
It's regular supplies of manufactured fab
rics-has been comparatively poor ma
ton, and ultimately dependent nation.
/ do not say that this is the instant re-
suit of exchanging the rude staples of ag-
riculture for the more delicate fabrics of
art; but | maintain that it IS the inev-
liable tendency. The agricultural nation
falls in debt, becomes impoverished, and
ultimately subject The palaces of "mer-
chant princes" may emblazon its harbors
aud oyershadow its navigable waters
there may be mighty Alexandria, but a
miserable Egypt behind it; fourishing
Odessa or Dantzic, bat a rude, thinly peo-
pied southern Russia or Poland the
-exchangers may flourish and roll in luxury
but the producers famish and die. Indeed
few old and civilized countries become
largely exporters Of grain until they have
lost, or by corruption are prepared to sur
render, their independence; and those
often present the spectacle of the laboreI
starving on the fields he has titled, in the
midst OF their fertility and promise
These appearances rest upon and indicate
law, which shall endeavor hereafter tc
explain. | pass now to my
PROPOSITION II.
There is natural tendency in com.
paratively new country to become and
continue an exporter of grain and other
rude staples and an importer Of manu-
features. l1
think hardly need waste time in de
monstrating this proposition, since it is il
Illustrated and confirmed by universal eI-
perience, and rests on obvious laws. The
new country has abundant and fertile soil
and produces grain with remarkable fa
ciiity; also, meats, timber, ashes and mos
rude and bulky articles. Labor is there
In demand, being required to clear, te
build, to open roads, ETC., and the labor
ers are comparatively few; while, in Older
countries, labor Is abundant and cheap, al
also are capital, machinery and all the
means of the cheap production Of manu-
featured fabrics. ] surely need not waste
words to show that, in the absence of any
counteracting policy, the new country viii
import, and continue to import, largely O
the fabrics of older countries, and to pay
for them, so far az she may, with her ag
ricultural staples. i will endeavor t,
show hereafter that she will continue II
do this long after she has attained con
dition to manufacture them as cheaply fo
herself, even regarding the money COS
alone. But that does not come under tn,
present head The whole history of ou
country, and especially from 1882 to 1890
when we had no tariff and scarcely an,
paper money-proves that, whatever ma,
be the currency on the internal condition
of the new country, it viii continue t.
draw its chief supplies from the old-larg,
or small according to its measure of abilit,
to pay or obtain credit for them; but still
putting duties on imports out of the ques
ton, it will continue 70 buy its manufact
ures abroad, whether in prosperity 0
adversely, imitation or depression.
now advance to my
PROPOSITION III.
1t is injurious to the new country thu
to continue dependent for its supplies G
clothing and manufactured fabrics on tn
old.
AS this is probably the point on whicl
the doctrines of r,rotecf,nn frat came hi