The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-06-21

and let that sum, or so much of it as may be
necessary, be paid to the American sugar
planters to equal the rate of duty now upon
the sugar they produce. This will be as much
a duty as if we collected the sos 00C 900 which
we now do. 1t will remedy all the trouble
about the surplus and harm no one. Indeed,
1t VIII do more to stimulate experiments In
making sugar from sorghum and beets as well
as from cane than duty as now imposed. The
sugar interest of France Germany and Italy
has been developed by direct bounties, and
several States of our country have resorted TO
this method with good results and no harm
done to any one. This policy would more than
| anything else quicken the efforts of our people
to invent new processes of manufacture a.
well as to try new materials for the produc-
ton of sugar
And this plan would not be sectional In Its
effects. Sugar is consumed equally in all parts
of our country. 1t is an article of prime neces-
slty III every State and town In the land, and it
| equally affects all classes. The Use of sugar Is
confined to neither poor nor rich. nor work
| man nor employer. 1t is the largest food
charge III every family, and there is no article
of consumption the cheapenng of whose cost
would he so gcneraliy and >ensibly felt. The
reduction of the duty would be very large, the
present tariff being IS per cent, and therefore
he = greater saving TO the people than could be
made upon anything else. Indeed, 1t would
carry more comfort to more American homes
than any change in our revenue laws which
can be made.
And this plan also wou. bc entirely In line
with the protective principle. The industry is
to he protected. 1t is not proposed to protect
il by high duty. because the prime object Of
a protective daty, namely. the growth and eX-
pansion of the industry protected, and the
| competition arising tEerefrom, can not, at
present at least, be secured in the ease of
sugar. The sugar growing territory of our
country is limited, and we produce no more
sugar now than we did thirty years ago. The
bounty will stimulate the eNperimenter and in
ventor, and when be shall have found the
process OF producing an unlimited amount of
sugar III our country at a fair cost. the duty
| may be repealed if it shall then be found to be
desirable to have it done. The repeal of the
sugar duty and protection of the sugar indus
try at the same time. in the manner which |
have stated, is American in its policy. 1t does
not sacrifice any industry to the foreigner, nor
anyone industry to any other Industry OF inter-
est in oar country.
ORR POWER 10 PROTECT LABOR.
The gentleman from Mississippi Mr.. Hook
cr when he argues that I'VE have no power to
protect labor" mistakes the plan and purpose
Of protectoni>tS. We do not seek to protect
one product of our own country against an
other, but all of them that require and deserve
II from foreign competitions. And this has
pruvr'! Successful beyond measure. 1t has
raised the price of aLcr; has mvcn Us Il >plell-
our industries and made lis as independent in
iu>triaily We are politically: it has stimulate
ed the creation vi new industries. caused COM
petition among our own people. and reduced
prices to the consumer below what he hereto
fore has paid fer goods from abroad; it has
developed our resources and given labor to our
Worknlcn and brought to us il prosperity never
before r"al!Zrdh by amy people among the nations
Of the earth.
Under protection we have recovered from
the destructive rava.cS Of great war; have
paid thousands OF millions of Indebtedness and
interest on the SAME: covered our land with
thriving towns. fertile farms. and great cities :;
| and qnadrupcd our national wealth. Under
this policy. ours has become Il land to which
every entrrpri>ing mind looks; to which every
strong arm and bold Erart entleavors to come
to which hundreds Of thousands do come every
year; and from which none 90 away to find
better returns for investment and labor else
where.
FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION TIE ISSUE.
Eut to conclude. let me say that the issue IS
now fairly and clearly made between the great
parties Of the country. the Democratic free
trader and the Republican pYotecioni>t. and l
am clad it is We no more such dodging
Of this question on the part of our Democratic
friends, It. they have hitherto attempted with
such success as their skill obtained by long eN-
pcricnce in that art entitled them to. The
Presidents message. the Mills bin. and the
tarln debate III this House tiaVc done one good
if no other. They have disclosed to the couii-
try that the Democratic policy is free trade
and nothing short of that; and if the present
bill goes not quite to that length. It's advocates
do; that is sustained upon free trade ground
and no other. and that the Democratic party
only awaits convenient opportunity to come
out Of its already broken shell into as fully
tedged A champion of free trade. pure and
simple. ;> the most ardent of the leaders or the
| most radical member Of the tohoen Club, to
which it has contributed 50 many adhcrontS in
this country. could desire