The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-08-24
TENDENCY TOWARDS PROTECTION.
british Colonies Thoroughly Answer the
Theorists.

british Colonies Thoroughly Answer the
Theorists.
The tendency of the times, outside Of
tho Democratic party in America, is to-
ward protection. Even tho colonial de.
Tendencies of Great Britain are strongly
agitating the question of the advisability
of protecting their home industries, and
the parliament of New Zealand has actu-
ally adopted stringent protective tariff.
The case of New Zealand is highly sug-
gestive. The free traders made O bitter
fight, but were eventually worsted, after
number of divisions in parliament. This
tight was between members of one COM
mon country, and not between members of
rival governments. The idea of upbuild-
ing the manufactures of Birmingham and
Manchester to the detriment of our own,
seems to have found an everlasting abid-
ing place in the breast of the Democratic
party, Notwithstanding the fact that Eng
lishmen are not our countrymen, are
under no obligations whatever to assist
us in time Of war or invasion, and are act
uated solely by motives of personal aggran-
dizement, not altogether unnatural on
their part. The only unnatural thing
about 1T is the persistency with which the
Democrats advocate doctrine, the adop-
ton of which by our government would
stop the wheels of progress and bring
about an industrial depression from which
century of time would hardly be suffi-
cient to recover.
The fact that another British colony has
seen fit to adopt the doctrine of protec-
ton, while portion of our countrymen
are endeavoring to bring about a condi-
ton under which the work of our labor
ing men shall be done abroad, is very in.
structive.
1t was proved by the New Zealand
premier to the satisfaction of parliament
that protection made it possible to manu-
facture blankets and other articles at
less cost than they could be imported,
while the free traders contended that the
prosperity of their country would be pro-
NOTED by raising wool, exporting it to
England, get it manufactured there and
bring it back in that shape, insurance and
freight being paid both ways. Not only
is tho expense of transportation elimi-
mated, but employment is furnished to
homo labor by making its blankets ut
homo. To sum it up, they would export
hide for six pen's end buy back the tail
for crown.
These free trade theories are mass Of
contradictions and absurdities, and their
advocacy in this country by the Demo
cratic party conclusively shows that their
knowledge Of fiscal science is very meager
and that their genius does not run in that
direction. Their stock in trade consists
of generalities that do not glitter or
dazzle the minds of the thinking portion
of our countrymen.
Heretofore the principle of tariff for
revenue only governed the fiscal opera
tons of New Zealand. Their total reve-
nue. for the year ending March 81, 1887,
was 1881 AS, of which the custom
house furnished only about one-third of
that amount. It has been their earnest
endeavor. to grow rich and populous, and
they held out fattering inducements to
omigrants. Large debts were accumu-
lated In the construction and equipment
of railroads, for tie accommodation of in.
Corners, until in 1885, with a population
of only 57S, 482, it had piled upo' 1851
992, 765 Of indebtedness With not quite
double the population of Buffalo it had
succeeded in impoverishing its people by
clinging to the suicidal policy of free
trade and allowing unchecked competition
with it's home industries. People could
find no remunerative employment, and it
was a realization Of tho necessity of pro-
tcCJlou sudJ pTOuuCeQ bue uRlUaUlOu anu
adoption of its principles Before, the
only employment for. her people was
laboring in the open field; now a radical
change will be made by providing manu-
featuring work.
Those colonies of Great Britain who rely
on protection for the development of their
resources, do not receive the denunciation
which British free traders cast upon this
country.
No English colony has produced Cleve.
land working to eradicate native indus
tries, for the benefit of the mother coun-
try.
But few years and New South Wales,
Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria will
follow Canada and New Zealand and have
a strong protective tariff France, Russia
and Germany and other principal Euro
pean countries are fast becoming convinced
Of the absolute necessity of protection.
President Cleveland Is thorough con-
vert to the system Of international ex-
changes promulgated by Adam Smith, and
advocated by the Golden club, and al
though it means q prostitution of our
industries, tho Democratic press and
party applaud and diligently labor to OBJ
tain its adoption, but the patriotism Of
the people Is q bar to the attainment Of
their expectations. Buffalo News.