The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-04
more than dve-fold. Now 500 900 900

more than tive-fold. Now $lOOO 900
annually and more can be dropped from
this vast sum. This should be boon to
q tsx.ridden people; but strange doctrines
are preached from high sources. Instead
of cheaper sugar, lumber, clothing and
other necessaries of life, relief Is g. be
offered In cheap whisky and tobacco
This ludicrous proposition proves u be
made In earnest, and unless vigorously op.
posed II may succeed. Manufacturers 90
not wish so pander 10 evil, but they seek
10 find some excuse and necessity 10 keep
the high tariff intact throughout. The
breaking Of one link In the grand tariff
chain Is feared. lest II may dissolve the
tariff confederscy. The new pretensions
set up may best be seen by brief histori,
cal reference.
The first notable move for a protective
tariff was after the war Of 1912 That war
had forced into existence manufacturing
enterprises with small capital and less
skill. Henry Clay led the move to give
them temporary protection. His own
words are given In this late biography
written by Carl Schurz, Mr. Clay made q
series Of speeches throughout the country
just previous to his nomination for the
presidency In 1874. OF these uttersnces
Dir. Schurtz writes: HE expressed him
self generously upon all the old whig
principals and measures, repeating his
views of the protective tariff as tempo
rary arrangement which the infant indus
tries rapidly growing up to manhood
would not much longer require"
The pr ,sent high protective tariff had
patriotic beginning. The great demands
of the treasury during the late war led to
imposing direct taxes on goods Of our own
manufacturers. multaneOusly the pres
ent high tariff was imposed rs compensa.
ton. After the close of the war the direct
taxes on manufactures were fortunate
enough TO retain the war tariff This gives
the treasury more money than Is needed.
The lowering of national taxes should be a
blessing. The removal Of the extra war
tariff Is . natural sequence, and would
greatly relieve consumers. But the orig.
nal doctrine Of protection TO infant indus
tries Is now TO be superseded. Perpetual
protection, and the higher the better, is the
new dOgms. The iron and steel interests
are the center of vast tariff cOnfederacy
seeking the Endorsement of the country TO
this dot inc. Its effect upon agriculture Is
already seen In the census statistics now
given. will here give one more, bring.
Ing the fact nearer home. Before the
enactment Of the present high tariff the
State of Illinois was fast gaining upon
Massachusetts In wealth, as may we'll be
supposed, from natural causes. Since the
war tarif enactment the case Is reversed.
1860 the per capita wealth Of Massachu-
90 hat of
In 1880 Massachusetts, had increased her
reached but 81 ,O05. While Illinois, with
her great natural advantages, he'd doubled,
Massachusetts, with her sterile soil and
rocks, . vanced $50 per cent Massachu-
setts claims that Illinois shall pay for her
goods . price sufficiently high to make up
the difference of wages between this cOun.
try and Europe. Let me inquire who Is
TO pay to Illinois farmers the difference
between farm wages here and farm wages
In the old worlds If We should grant the
claim of Massachusetts TO help her pay
her laborers, 20 per cent. tariff will amply
cover the case, a. that Is about the amount
that the cost Of labor bears TO the price OF
the manufactured goods. The other 20
and more per cent. exacted by the present
tariff Is, perhaps, 10 furnish the money
they send West and invest ON mortgages on
our FIR rs,
Our manufacturing friends are prolific
In theories 10 persuade US to continue the
system. Their pOliteness IL most remark
able. II Is said that uniform p0liteness Is
a species Of godliness. II may not make q
man 8 sint, but II will make him lovely
sinner
protection Is for our good" they tell US.
I'VE want II also for the good OF our work.
men" ut makes goods higher, but then
We pay 1t in the better wages. at max 90
goods lower, 80 the farmer gets benefit"
"The foreigner pays the duty" IF you
do not wish to pay the duty, buy goods
at home" This tumble, when seen to.
gether, needs no reply. One matter may
be ventilated. Let II be illustrated on
lnmber But few tess OF Thousands go
into the national treasury on imported lum.
Der, but millions 20 into the pockets of the
lumber lords by being protected from Can.
sdian competition. The power OF the lum.
Der lOrls was seen In the rebuilding of
Chicago after the fire. Though Chicago
politics was protection" In practice she
became free trader" for year. Congress
granted their request on all things except
lumber--the thing, of all others, most
needed and most just 70 be placed on the
free lis. The lumber kings were too
much IOr Chicago, and 30 their tariff ex-
actions with their trust com binations re-
main 70 tax the West millions and hurry
the destruction of our forests The SILVER.
ing pioneers Of Dakota and Minnesota,
struggling with small means TO shelter
their wives and children from the fierce
storms must continue 70 pay the bounty
" no knows how many of that thousand or
more who sunk In the snow for winding
sheet we're lost for want Of supply of lum-
Der, coal, blankets and clothingy
Farmers must study public matters from
thier own standpoint They must make
them paramount TO all other questions,
long enough at least TO arrest the downward
slide. Duty, public interest, patriotism
and Christianity demand It, Let agitation,
education and organization proceed.
Since the Chicago convention made Its
free whisky-monopoly tax platform Sena-
tor Whiting has declared for Cleveland and
Thurman, and will take the stump for
them