Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-26
Shipbuilding and Protec.
ton.
tOregonian. December l6. lss0. !

The fact is this destructive policy is
maintained as part OF the whole scheme
of protection, which rules our laws for
the benefit OF the great eastern manu-
factufers. Conscious that the whole sys-
tenn would fall if the false foundations
on which it stands were exposed, they
band together and refuse to allow il to
be attacked in any part. We want to
sell to Great Britain, but our tariff pro-
hibits Great Britain from selling to us.
The laws cannot compel our citizens to
hui'd shins at losing rates, but they can
and do Ioicc II tn pay enormously high
prices for nearly all naLu..i, turnd goods
This is the direct and sole object OF a
protective tariff. In other words, a pro-
tective tariff is a tax levied ON imported
goods with the design to raise the price
OF home commodities. Protection is set
up as a barrier to trade. Its object is to
make goods dear. True, it processes
that its object is to favor home labor.
But it defeats itself, because its conse-
quences reappear in the higher prices OF
all commodities which the workman, as
well as all others, must consume. In
the long run, in the general scheme of
things, the policy does not benefit our
own laborers, for the more We buy OF
foreigners the more we must produce by
home labor to pay for it. Free inter
change Of commodities is the policy to
stimulate home labor. 1t is true, of
course, that protective tariff may slim
ulate y certain branch OF manufacture,
and may even increase for time the
wages of labor in it. But is there
any real gain in concentrating capital
and labor in one employment by arti-
fetal stimulants and Withdrawing from
others? Our protective system has, be-
yond doubt. stimulated certain manu-
features; but it is equally certain that it
has destroyed others. Thus it has en-
abled eleven mills to monopolize the
manufacture of steel rails at high prices
and great profits, but it has annihilated
ship building and the profits of ocean
commerce. While one industry is slim
ulated by this system another is de-
pressed. That is to say, all that any in
terest or any class gains by protection is
gained always at the expense of some
other interest or class. Every wave of
the ocean has depression behind it.
The prosperity OF the west and south
depends on their selling their products
to Great Britain. We do not take her
goods because our tariff prohibits them,
but force her to pay the balance in cash.
vi what advantage is this to us when we
are Obliged at once to pay out that cash
Tor goods ut higher prices than those at
which We should be enabled to buy them
direct OF the customer who takes our
products? Another thing. Our policy
makes it distinctly to the interest of
Great Britain to encourage direct deal
ing with other agricultural countries.
The prosperity We now enjoy is the re-
suit chiefly of exporting the surplus of
our crops. What would be the effect
upon that prosperity if Great Britain
should levy such duty on American
breadstuffs as would make it profitable
to develop the agricultural resources of
Australia and the railway system of Rus
STA? Our largest customer will not
always pay her balance in cash, nor is it
our interest that she should do SO. She
wants our products and we want hers.
But the protectionist sits as toll gatherer
at the gate, and for his own profit pro-
hibits the exchange of products. OF
course we are obliged to submit as we of
the agricultural states have small power
In the national Congress. But at least
we can let it be known that we are not
so gullible as to accept without protest,
and as ii we were perfectly satisfied
herewith, the sophisns and the result
ing injustice and loss OF the policy of
protection.