Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-25
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.
VIII the People of this Country Tolerate
an Abandonment of the Protec-
ton System.

Only a few weeks more OF discussion
and work and then the people will de-
eide. For veal or woe. they will de-
termine the future history of the coun-
try, perhaps for many years. A large
and scanty success for either party
might indeed leave the issue 20 be fought
out once more on the same lines. de-
cided victory for Mr.. Cleveland and his
policy would throw all industries into
the whirlpool of experimental recon
struction, and for some years at least the
country would be compelled to try pro-
gress towards free trade and to see how
it works. But decisive victory for Mr..
Harrison would probably settle the
policy of the nation for many years to
come, because it would warn politicians
of both parties that the people will not
tolerate an abandonment or undermin-
ing of the protective system.
This state of facts brings home to
voters of every party two questions: Ii
it wise to forsake a policy which has
brought unexampled prosperity for the
sake of untried experiment? Is it not
wise to stop free trade agitation, which
does 1mmeasureable harm every year to
industry, by verdict so decisive that it
will last? These questions will dominate
the last month of the campaign, and a
decision for Mr. Cleveland is inevitably
a decision for experimental change and
for free trade agitation continued in
definitely. A decision for Mr. Harrison
means that certainty shall not be sud-
denly changed for the experiments of
theorists; 1t gives industries firm land to
build upon for four years at least, and,
if sufficiently emphatic and complete,
for many years to come.
These things are obvious, and yet to
practical men they mean a great deal.
For such men do not like TO venture
their millions in the erection of costly
works, which, il case of change of
national policy, might become worthless.
What can be done under the protective
tariff they know; tWenty-seyen years of
experience demonstrate that, even if in
dustry is developed in any direction too
rapidly, it can count with certainty upon
ultimate success and profit if the home
market with it's wonderfully rapid growth
is secured. But they cannot calculate
with certainty that the home market
! will be secured or that it will grow with
equal rapidity, or even that it viii grow
at all, if the nations policy is to be
changed.
That way lies the destructive whirl
pool of utter uncertainty. Possibly
theorists may be mistaken. Changes
supposed to be harmless may surrender
the entire home market to foreigners.
Nobody can be sure; the change in that
direction is a change from certainty tc
uncertainty, and that means arrest Of
DEVELOPMENT. With 60,000,00 Ameri-
cans earning such wages as workers now
earn, and adding every year 1,25O, 600 by
natural increase of population and oOO,
900 by immigration, the home market is
by far the best in all the world. To
hold it for home industries means GER
tain and rapid growth for them. But tc
| surrender part Of it-and always an IN
known part, for the effect Of change
| toward lower duties can never be fore
seen-takes away the only sure founda
ton for every industry.
Those practical men in both partie:
| who feel that continued agitation brings
| disaster have the issue in their hands
| They can stop the agitation if they
please. True, it is impossible to stop Oh
even limit agitation by verdict in favor
of Mr.. Cleveland s policy. For the very
essence of that policy is tentative bu
continued and persistent change TOWARD
| the adoption of free trade theories L
the people say yes" to the Mills bill
| every free trader in the land will ther
have faith that more agitation will make
| further and far greater changes easy. a
vote for Mr.. Cleveland, therefore, is Of
necessity vote for continued free trade
agitation, with the prospect of some un
! known change toward abandonment Of
the home market by new Legislation
every year. But a decisive vote for Gen
Harrison would give the death blow te
free trade hopes, and then the work o.