Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-24
The Tariff Question in a Nutshell.

Mr.. George William Curtis, of Harper's
Weekly, truly says that the discussio of the
Tariff question in Congress is so involved
and intricate that it only perple1es the pub.
lie mind. We hold that there is no necess-
ity for discussing the question in such a con-
fused way, and that there are broad under
lying principles which, if kept in the mind,
make the problem perfectly easy and COM
prehensible. We wish our readers to note
how plain workingman, who reads as he
runs, puts the whole Tariff question in so
plain and simple light that it carries more
conviction than whole volume of Congress
ional debates. This condensation of the
Tariff argument into nutshell is made by
Congleton weaver in the Macclesfield eng.
Courier. He says:
Every Trade Unionists should logically be
a Pathfinder (Protectionists) for Fair
Trade is simply an enormous extension of
Trade Unionist principles-it means a union
which will include the whole of the indus
tries of the cOuntry-agriculture as well as
others-and it means union that will draw
the Irish people closer to us, for | have
every reason to believe that the primary OBJ
ject of the Irish party is to obtain Protection
for their industries In conclusion wish to
impress upon workingmen that it is their duty
to study this question for themselves and
think it out. |, for one, have no fear of the
result, and when Englands workers perceive
that Free-Trade policy means long hours and
less money they will hurl down the rotten
idol and adopt the sensible course of seeing
. Co..
ployed, which will enable them to pay half
penny more for their loaf if necessary, thus
bring prosperity to the agricultural popula-
ton, which, in turn will enable them to be-
come better customers for the productions
from the looms
| The tariff Bulletin is right to the point
when it says that this sis the solution of the
whole matter, and the answer to all the
sophistry of the Free Traders. We deny
that the prevalence of Protection requires the
workingman to pay half-penny more for his
loaf, or his hat, or his suit of clothes than he
would under Free Trade. BUTT may readily
be granted that even if he had to do this, the
| argument for Protection would be overwhelm-
ing. For, 81 the clear-headed English work
ingman says, he will have steady employment
and wages bettered to a degree which will
make the additional lf-penny of no conse-
quence. AND the Free Traders plea ad-
dressed to the farmers 10 also as completely
answered in this admirable little condensa-
ton of the Protection idea The more peo-
pie there are to buy food at good prices the
better off will the farmers be, and the better
able to "become customers for the produce
| ton of the looms" This is a truth which,
though it may not yet be apparent to all the
farmers of this country, is rapidly learned by
those who are so fortunate as to have indus
| trial centers located among them"
A prominent Democrat in New York re-
marked to friend the other day: Free
Trade be hanged; we can't afford to let the
voters think that's our issue; we can't afford
to run the campaign on that. Wait until you
see Clevelands letter Of acceptance. That's
what we'll run the campaign on; but it's a
long time coming, and that Free-Trade mes
sage of his has played the mischief with us
already"