The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-11
A SECOND INDEPENDENCE.

To-day we celebrate the hundredth
anniversary of the second Declaration
of Independence. The first Declaration
Of Independence cut the American
people loose from the political power
of Europe which had reached beyond
the Atlantic Ocean and endeavored to
control the actions of people seeking
broader horizon of action, more abun-
dant opportunities and happier homes
in the vast continent of North America.
The second Declaration ofIndependence
followed thirteen years after the first,
and signed by George Washington Presi-
dent of the United States, on theFourth
of July, 1888, cut the American people
loose from the industrial power of that
same European country, and inspired
an instructive, ingenious, inventive and
enterprising people with the hope of
some day !becoming a manufacturing
and commercial as well as an agricultu-
raj nation.
The first Declaration of Independence
changed our form of government from
monarchy to a republic; the second
changed us from an agricultural depend
ency to an industrial entity, capable of
providing for the wants of our own
population. The first Declaration of
Independence abolished the rule of the
aristOcracy; the second wiped out the
English manufacturer as an actual factor
in our body polite. The first Dec ara
ton of Independence was the precursor
of the idea of Union itself; the second
was the precursor of the idea of protec-
tion to native industry and home labor.
The first Declaration of Independence
prevented England from declaring all
our blast furnaces, mills and shops nui-
sances, and ordering the same to be
abated; the second enabled us to de-
velop these and kindred industries until
to-day, the annual. product of our indus
tries equals that of theiUnited Kingdom
itself.
The first Declaration of Independence
proved the most advanced political idea
of modern times, and, if we may judge
from results, the second has proved the
most advanced economic idea of mod
ern times. The first Declaration of In
dependence insured the stability of our
political institutions; the second, the
stability and continuance OF our indus
tries and encouragement of our labor.
The first made us nation in name, the
second in fact. The first unbound our
political letters, the second rescued our
country from poverty, disgrace and
ruin.
Partly in consequence of the fee ing
against England, partly because of the
wretched condition of the working
people and the unsatisfactory condition
of the customs duties and partly because
it became apparent that we must do
something in manufacturing, the people
began the agitation of the protection
idea. The result was the birth of a dis
tinctive idea, and law was enacted
with two purposes, one the raising of
revenue, the other the protection of
American industries. The abandon
ment of the confederation meant the
abandonment of the wre.ched system of
| be no political strength under the
trial strength under the existing systems
of taxation. Customs duties were levied
according to the supposed needs of the
community. New York, for instance,
would protect with customs duty
what Virginia would admit free.
Massachusetts would encourage the
importation of commodities which
South Carolina would protect with a
high rate of duty. Articles which New
Jersey and Connecticut would exclude
from their ports by heavy tonnage duties
entered New York with scarcely any
charges whatever. Under this wretched
system, industries languished, and the
mechanic was barely able to keep his
family from starving, and the gold of
the country was rapidly taking flight TO
England.
With the idea of the union of states
naturally came the idea of uniform pro-
lection and uniform system of import
duties. Protection, it will thus be seen,
had its birth in the patriotism of the
American people. 1t was nutured by
the variety of of our natural resources,
rocked in the cradle of a mighty cOnti-
nent, strengthened from time to time by
the need of diversified employment to a
growing population, and in spite of
some misfortunes was brought into a
glorious and VIGOROUS condition by the
necessities of civil war. From the
day George Washington signed the first
tariff bill, 100 years ago, to the present
time the idea of protection has stood the
passionate attacks of its enemies. 1t
never was abandoned, and never will
be, the Press hopes, while the republic
lasts. 1t is ingrafted into our system
until it has become the cause of the
country. 1t was founded, as we have
shown, in the interests and affections of
the people. 1t is as native as the gran
ite deeply embosomed in our noun
tains- So long as we have strictly ad-
hered to this idea, we have had an in
dustrial system of workers, fair wages,
comfortable homes and contentment
When we had departed from it, a fruit
full spring of suffering, such as that in
1857, has followed which was not to be
obscured by the mist of free trade
theories.
This is the principal lesson of the day
we celebrate.-N. Y Press. July, 4h.