The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-09-15

Men first take up the best land, then the next
lbs., end the difference of productiyeness fixes
re Irsccof rent of the best land. This theory
stu Delights the writer on what is called politi-
cal economy but the careful observer III this
country and critical observers like the Duke of
Argyle in the old world, know that ne best land
is not taken first, and Il trip to Colorado Will
lraFe it beyond a peradventure. Nautilus
theory Of pc ula ion seems a mathematical
prophecy that ths whole world viii soon become
ike sadmore in the wilderness The political
q suolnist still loves the theory, ev IL while ne
&erie-5 es that other causes are Mt work which
seem likely to postpone beyond all human con
ce that day Of deso!ation 50 concIusively
proven 10 lee at our very doors.
But II the theorizing of individuals goes so
often wrong, there is something which mucl
uteuer goes right. nd that is the instinct of the
human race The President Of the United
states may say that the people pay not only the
dpties gu all imported goods but the like in
hanceuleat Of price ION all domestic goods
thereby Iroaaiming that protection costs us
Thousand millions Year; but rich and pros
porous people with country covered with rail
roads as vii network, country thriving wi h
farms aria orchards, flowing Ewith milk and
hgrsy.' resonant with looms and steam ham
laefs pug lighted with furnace ,4res, know in
fnJtelF better and-will sshow thsc- lnowledge
when tile supreme hour comes 10 decide be-
tween tine short sghtedness of one man and the
policy of a whole nation. Mr.. Mills, surrounded
Hy MS shouting cCmpeers on his side OF tho
House, may pr claim in the exuberance of his
WY acquired knowledge that in order
Y get -bZWheoJ OF revenue nom manu-
factreUs OF iron Hpd steel and wooden and
cotton goods, tlra people hayetG pay S5O10o0,0 %.
20 so n0t.nU9. but the ferv people who safd'
10 pas these vast sums. and who hare never
rfa Edward Atkinson Ricardo, even Adam
smith viii show in due time that they have
eses that ire keener eyes than Mr.. Mills and
e cd sense which shows that people swimming
lke ours. buoyaut on the top wave of prosperity.
7not do 1t with any such milestone slung to
their ueCks After all has been said, or can be
said, the crucial test of a theory of prosperity is
The result You find in actual life, and the great
negative OF Tree trade is the prosperity of the
R e. % n HraGn
lection have gone hand IN hand. l have, how
eyer, heard a number of Southern gentiem n,
proud OF their Latin declare that that was the
old tnlacy of Post h @ propter hoe, an express
sion which seemed 10 convey to them II world
81 consolation but which only means that if the
wagon Is behind tho horse, that does not
prove that he pulls it, That is entirely true
my southern friend; but if the horse was not
"3Is attached 70 the wagon but WIS kicking it
with poth heels / should hardly expect to see
them coming along together on uphill road
such as We had during and after the That
prosperity and protection exist together does
Ht prove that protection causes prosperity !;
l3t u the Presidents theory and Mr.. Mills
theory tttat p-ote elton costs prosperity a thou
sHuI Mi lion dollars n year be true it would
s.eia that, insteud OF going hand in hand, they
would hurdly Be within speaking distance of
ta'h other. The probiem is how can country
tfaone rich without parallel in history, which
l-1lrsed BY system costing thousand mill
Aaus year, The ans-Ye is that il cannot. But
t-s country is becoming rich yisibly to the naked
ei therefore the thousand million theory
a.ust he false
he friends of the President looking at the
t'rtaau elections and seaiu. also othsr like NTgus
iHH heavens, have now become alarmed; and
i. Mills himself. after having delivered four
Wears H-A pointed declaration in favor OF free
#4ata calling it by its yesy name, and Just after
5s'i-- hHen examined personally by Henry
t1'oEEe ami pr nouncei II ee trade from the base
#a hrs been constrained TO so to New York
haN declare that mo Democrat wishes free
5E.ie The newspapers Of his party also are
h'" fun Of disclaimers They take refuge in
5Ha doctrine OF percentages, and declare that 1t
= cruel 10 charge them with free trade when
~ MY take of pr cent. and leave forty
ms doctrine of percentage is a mere luggle
WIN figures as / Will show, 1t has had great
A"-He Tor both parties have used it. IL was
eseuted carly in the debate and the Democrat
p IEure- We're taken by their opponents, be
sNEse the then Democratic doctrine, announcced
tE aI their speeches. was that protection force l
.Le people to pay "A thousand millions to manu-
"a arcts IN order 10 give the Treasury Il hun
4frI rGsiiOns of revenue. and was. therefore, n
sfsrlo el robbery. To which the quick and
uncomfortable answer came, II This be rob
.tTN why do You still sanction what YOU say is
& Fcr cent. OF "rob5ery2' This percentage,
therefore seems 10 have the sanction of both
PARTIES whereas il is only the assertion OF one.
Na" how ever since the Presidents friends are
GIVING 10 claim that their retention of 40 per
ssA. shows them TO be the real original friends
Iso eet.on, il is time to call attention TO the
lNtsscN. and 10 show how this percentage doc
y .te Is BY mayed. 1t Is time 70 show what they
sA-t me ely per cent, reduction really Is.
SHlae articles We much OF. OF others use
ferg little. In this new doctrine Of percentages,
quantity plays no part. ranuic acid az 1917 per
seHi # which We use ounces. counts as much
#S metals a. = per cent, of which use thou
.-ls q t.as, We import 500 OF the acid ana
-'te4HA worth Of the metals. Anybody can
-t7 the Jolly of adding these percentages
.asether and saying that the average
protection on fannie acid and the metals is III
leg cent. And yet Just in that way is this slight
g.-ha9d percentage doctrine unanswered. 4
tier teSt Is in tn very figures which Mr.. Mills
tl1hset furnishes III his last speech, July n, in
Tie table Gt the end. The total duties collected
III. 81 he articles named in his bill We're
..4 .ri.AS III The amount Of duties RENTED
t- ms hli Is so 591 .ti6 ~ or more than y per
sent E1cn the statement does not show the ex-
.,hl q the disaster, for it shows only aver
.-r after al Some articles are cut much more
&ai = j .r cent, and the whole free list, from
.I7 NJrF nature, * stripped 20 the extent Of 100
.0E CONS. How severe Is the attack on our in
t-stries he len ii Of the rye-minute debate on
#@ lfeIl~-which extended over weeks full of
,eLA long days-Is the best witness For most Of
me tstne was occupied ON the Republican side,
-4t :. Vas occupied not in speeches for delay,
-tt Aatarally, and for the most part, IN eNplUna-
rs Of the Injury each item would iniict upon
A.v Industries OF the country.
Aet TINS bill dangerous as IL is has in il .ise
s.ts oi -tu greater danger. II it should .e-
me 8 Jaw II VS. 'ae in sense a settlemeu
re question. iLls country has had sue
alll ana remarkable growth that this is not ii
y TIME that the Treasur, has been filled u
s[LoWins. The tariff OF 1888, although framed
tis IN ftse OF protection. did not have the
s-li@i a2d exact scrutiny which it ought 70
hsl ana has therefore injured the indus
~ ri the country in more WAYS than one.
.Ae@ y was passed the Republicans had byt
IL. 81 iLEee majority. and would not have IN
-eAtA 20 pass such q measure had not h
Sss44e q tie surplus been SO urgent and the
Hanger nom the nexr House with seventy IaTo@
N-.A-le majority so great
-e lelaali today for what is called tariff re
ISIS u the popular mind or the surplus
u ms - II ~. When we have disposed
$50 I've years ana probably in less than two