The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-03-17
PROTEOTIONISTS LOSING HOPE.


'f''N' -NN"'
Ii any evidence were needed ct the
desperate weakness OF the protective
tariff advocates, that evidence could be
found iu the inability of their organs 10
discuss uie situation of to-day without
| makiug tie most serious plumbers aud
damaging admissions. This, though,
i the most nalGral thing in the world,
IOr the greatest genius would fiHd ii IA
hand task to find live arguments in
support of dead issues or 10 produce
proof of the necessity of laws which
have long ago fulfilled their work, have
even passed the period of their useful
ness. aud have become completely and
absolutely harmful. High tariff az u
war measure might be justified, but II
is impossible to find excuse or reason
beyond the greed and seltishness of IL
lew men for its existence in time OF
peace. The prOtectiOnist organs are
beginning, one by one, to realize this,
and III their desperation are becoming
more truthful if nothing else. AT least
their trnthfulness extends as far as
admitting the possibility, and some
times even the probability, of their pet
system being Overthrown by the good
sense of the people. When the demo
cratic papers assert that tariff reforIu
ideas are spreading and that the ball
set in motion by Mr.. Cleveland is
growing and gaining momentum IA II
rolls, the republicans smile and say it
is all fanfare and buster for effect.
This is quite natural and was to be
expected, but what will the gentleman
cay to what follows from staId old
Philadelphia, the heart and lungs of
iron-riveted protection Pennsylvania?
The Evening Telegraph, Il high pro-
ieCtive republican paper of that city
begins an article with the contention
that free trade ideas arc not spreading
to any alarming extent, and before il
gets half through makes this startling
admission:
"Again, it is to be conceded that the
high tarlt policy is no longer so strong
or commonly espoused in New England,
the site of vast manufacturing interests,
as il WAS only u few years ago. The
capitalists of that part OF the country
have been tempted by the offer of free
raw materials, which, il they eau get,
will give them, they fancy, markets
which are now closed to them. They
are 40 longer putting the stress upon
their employees TO vote the republican
nigh protection ticket but are rather
teaching that the policy of reduced
duties and an extended free list will
improve the condition of the working
a New England, before this bait
OF free raw material was offered, was
as staunch for protection as Pennsyk
Vania itself; but it can no longer be
relied upon To stand bv this state in the
fight for the tariff.
The admissions made in the above
extract are of themselves sufficient to
condemn protection root and branch in
the minds Of all thinking men. Ii says
that New England, the site of vast
manufacturing interests, 10 longer
tayors protection, as formerly, and
assigns as u reason that the removal of
restrictions on the importation Of raw
materials from other countries will, in
the opinion of the manufacturers result
in extending our trade with them and
increasing Il exports. All this is
sound democratic argument and il
unquestionably true, and the News is
delighted TO hear from such an un-
questionable authority as the telegram
that the words that nave for SO many
years fallen on the rocks and waste
places have at length found Judgment
on rich soil, taken roo aud bid fair to
bring forth IN abundance of fruit.
But there is n point that should not
he overlooked in the above confession.
Ii Is not directly connected with pro-
lection or free trade, but loses none of
its interest or Importance for that.
The republicans have been notorious
for their pretended interest in the
southern negro, and on more than one
occasion the power of the government
has been invoked TO secure him fair
play and a free expression of his polit-
zeal opinion at the ballot-bOx. Indeed
at the present moment q distinguished
citizen of protected New England has
q bill before congress having for its
object the protection of the negro's
political rights. And yet the Tele-
graph explains the growth of free
trade ideas in New England by SAYING:
''They (the capitalists) are no longer
putting the stress upon their employees
to vote the republican high protection
ticket" So that was the way il was
done, was il? The will of the people
of New England expressed by a few
men with long purses and power
enough 10 discharge workmen who did
not vote 10 suit them. The republicans
claim the credit of abolishing slavery
In the south; shalt it he lett TO the
democrats 10 abolish it in the north?
1t seems SO.