Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-06-07
TARIFF ISSUE BOILED DOWN.

Commercial Bulletin.
If, as every well-posted man viii al
low, the progress of this country in the
present era of Protection has been mar
velouS and stands unparalleled in the
worlds history
If the policy of Protection rules at the
present time in all nations of the earth
with but two OF three exceptions. and
is everywhere gaining in favor rather
than losing, even i'll England
If the products of our manufacture
have grown SD tremendously in this era
of Protection that We are now the fore
most manufacturing nation on earth
If strikes and trade combines eventu-
ally arise as products of severe competi-
tion and overproduction in any country,
and England had beth before we had
either, in any number
If the multiplication of industries dur
ing the era of Protection has brought
about such domestic competition us to
materially reduce the cost of every arti-
Gle of living save rents
If wages are higher now than they
were at the close of the last free trade
era
If the American citizen is better paid
better clad, better educated, and (unleSs
he is Il free-traderl more eontented than
any other on the face of the globe
If the tide of emigration on part of
those who are seeking to better their
condition in life is away from free trade
tria n IDrofacti,r,
If the American workman not only
earns more, and spends more, but also
puts more money in savings institutions,
than any other class of working people
If business is fairly good and we are
holding our own in every branch of trade
and industry except our unprotected
ocean carrying trade
If the future outlook is for continued
growth and development as in the past,
Why, in the name Of common sense
and ordinary prudence, should we aim a
deadly blow at this same protective sys-
TEN which has served us so well,
When it is purely matter of choice
and not of necessity in doing SO
When the surplus revenue can be
more easily and quickly reduced by the
abolition of the internal revenue war
taxes. wholly or in part
When further reduction of the reye-
nue., if needed, can be had by abolishing
or reducing the only remaining duty on
great necessary of life, sugar.
When further reductions of the reve-
nue. can be had by paying the national !
debt through bond purchases, by appro-
priating funds for national aid to edu- |
cation, by needed appropriations for
coast and harbOr defenses, by wise ap-
preparations for national works, which |
shall be of national benefit
When further reductions of the reve-
nue. can be had by increasing inadequate |
duties to the point of protection, and by
granting bounties for the revival of our |
merchant marine
Unless one is working under the cloak |
of tariff reform to further private inter-
estS, as principal or agent, by causing
large increase in imports aGl is, there |
fore, to the extent he claims to be seek
ing the public good. knavish, or
Unless one believes that protection |
has been so harmful to this country in |
the past and bodies such evil for the fu-
ture, that it needs an exterminating blow |
before anything else is done, in which /
case he is fairly entitled to cOnsidera-
ton as sUperlatively foolish.
Summed up in one sentence, our in
dictment against the Mills bill, the |
Presidents message, and all movements
In sympathy Herewith, is this: If our
country has done exceedingly well in
the past, is doing well at present, and
has fairly good outlook, why strike at
the fical system under which SO much
prosperity has been attained, when it is
not only necessary to go out Of the way
to do so, but also to retard other and de-
sirable legislation, unless one has pri-
vate aims to further by so doing, or is
lacking in good judgement and pru-
dence?
All of which goes to show that the
burden of proof resting up
on the free trade assailants of the status
quo to show that we have prospered in
spite of protection and that we would |
be all better off without it, will make
them very weary before the campaign |
of 1888 is half over.