Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-08-22

public mind against the very idea of pro-
lection. Not only is the policy as COM
monty understood subjected to misrepre-
sentation, but the word itself ;s held up
to derision. Protection is frequently used
as synonymous with extortion, and in
many instances protective legislation is
denounced as robbery. The result of this
must be that when, if ever, protection to
manufactures is broken down, its assail
ants, if consistent, will next attack some
other of the several forms of protection.
The exclusive right extended by patent
laws to the inventor who has devised the
machinery for manufacturing is more
radical protection than is accorded by any
schedule of existing tariff laws. The IN
veuter is absolutely shielded from compe-
tition during the life of his patent, and
even beyond that period provision is made
for its extension. This protection is not
even confined to American citizens, but
is extended to aliens as well. The writer
of book, the composer of song, the pro-
prietor of trademark, the designer of a
picture, are accorded a monopoly of use
and sale in which they are protected by
all the power of law enforced by the ma
chinery of the federal courts. Not only
is protection thus extended to the inven-
tor, designer and author, but to whomso-
ever he may choose to invest with bis
prerogatlve, the protection is transferable,
and can be made matter of merchandise.
These are forms of protection that 10 ad-
vocate of "unfettered trade" can consist
emily support.
There is another aspect of protection
which appeals directly to large and in
fuential class of our citizens. Scarcely a
, village in the country permits peddler
or other itinerant trader to prosecute bust
ness within its limits without first paying
for such privilege. Any other policy
would be injustice to resident tradesmen
whose property is taxed for the support
of municipal government. The free trad
er, who demands that foreigners shall be
permitted to bring their wares into the
markets of the United States without
tariff, will be forced to claim for his fell
low countrymen the privilege to sell with
out tax wherever he can find customers.
The theorists, who now so loudly inveigh
against what they term the privileged
classes" and SO roundly denounce the
policy of protection, will be forced by the
inevitable logic of consistency to attack
the existing protection to inventors, au-
thors, designers, and eventually all mu-
nicipal regulations imposing taxes for
privileges of trade. With them consist
ency now waits or expediency, in the hone
of finding present allies among the future
victims of their unpatriotie policy. No
sooner will they have secured the surren-
der of one tenet of the protective policy
under which our country has made its
phenomenal progress, than their attacks
may be looked for at some other point
To stop short of this will be to incur the
ignominy of demanding in the interest OF
foreigners privileges of trade they are un-
willing to accord to their own fellow-citi-
zens.
The only safe course is to overwhelm
the plot:ers and their un-American
schemes with such a majority as will
demonstrate the futility of further efforts
in behalf Of free foreign trade, and the
train of evils certain to follow in its wake.