Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-15
Protection versus Free Trade in Aus.
tralia.

James r. Lowell. the Southern Bour-
bOns and the New York Post and the New
York Times assume to have great wisdom
in teaching fundamental principles Of po-
litical economy and never weary in citing
the example Of England in favor Of their
views. The Citizen, the Irish Republican
newspaper of Chicago, well remarks that
American Free Traders may not refuse to
learn something from the eminent protec-
ton statesman Of other countries. The
J. +. Garvan, distinguished
statesman and economist of New South
Wales, Australia, ought to come to Amer
ica and break lance for Protection this
fall.
The honorable gentleman delivered a
speech at Orange, near Sydney, which is
reported in the Freeman's Journal of that
city, dated March 3, as follows:
He was prote because it was his
sincere conviction that under its wing lay be-
fore US our future success. One century
ago the population Of America was the same
a. ours. today she is the greatest nation on
the face of the globe, and all this lsuccess has
been realized under a national policy Of pro-
lection The inventive genius of the nation
has been nourished by protection. and not by
) per cent al yalorem duty, but in some eases
the tariff has been almost prohibition, up to
ifty per cent Like New South Wales, her
infant Industries were once
.wamped by stronger industries, her
of pmUtny-
ment with the inevitable result of national
misery and distress. Her great statesmen
rose TO the occasion. They demanded re-
form Of the tariff. Trade Frightened i'm
mediateiy, labor and capital flowed in from
the old world, and to-day American manufac-
turers are known all over the world One
hundred per cent duty levied on imported
steel aud iron manufactures has raised the
! iron aud steel industry of America To the
1 front ranks of those of the world, and why
1 should not we, under similar conditions adopt
a similar policy our iron-works are para
/ lived our abundance of raw material is
/ worthless under Free Trade; all that is
wanted is Protection to increase our national
wealth aud develop our great natural resourc-
Is. APPLAUSE Canada for many years
| chung to Free Trade, and did not reject il
until her industries were nearly crippled. In
/ 1879 Canada freed herself from the yoke of
! Free Trade and adopted a national policy of
| protection. The change was miraculous. In
seven years she increased factories by 1872
! her hands employed by IL ,o9S and the yearly
wages paid went to 1920 600, while the
products reached EGG 900, 900 Canada was
| a ght example for New South Wales to
follow 1t was now for the producing classes
to say whether they would have warehouses
or factories; the development of our agricul-
ture or its decay. In the earlier days of this
country he approved of Free Trade; now we
had changed and fresh outlets for labor were
! imperative to absorb the increased supply
cur present laws forced industry away from
the colony. One way alone is open to avoid
the terrible degradation of labor that is the
adoption of a national policy of Protection
In 1870 we produced . "a bushels of maize
per head of the population, in 1887 only 3 81
bushels per head. For three years, 1865
1865, 1880 We produced $1,000 tons of pota
toes for three years, losj, 1886, 1887, only
2s 500 tons were marketed. The area of oul
vineyards in 1877 was 3 ,2l7 acres; in 1887 il
decreased to , ,l3l acres. In 1881 we haC
l,79l acres under tobacco, in 1887 only 20,
acres. In 1870 we produced l4S 900 bushels
of barley, in 1887 1873, 900 bushels. In 1881
We had 2i,slS acres under oats :, in 1887 %,
81 acres. He would ask his hearers to let
no side issues draw them off the track o
| Protection.