The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-04-12
MoTIcETo SUBSCRIBERS
Friday. April IL, 1850.
Government Assistance VS.. Govern
ment Protection.

Government Assistance VS.. Govern
ment Protection.
Heretofore, the great market for New
England manufacturing products has
been the bonndless, the prolific, the all
absorbing West. 1t sent to New Eng
land by the cheap long-haul-the pro-
duet of its virgin lands to feed the labor
of the Eastern mill, and it received in
return by the West bound cheaper
long haul, the product of the cheaply
fed New England labor in the factories
and workshops of crowded, prosper
Gus, busy people.
The long and short-haul clause will
gradually but surely put an end to
these conditions. The doctrine of a
freight rate based on rate per ton per
mile, has found firm and lasting
lodgment in the mind of the American
legislator, from which it can never be
separated The next apportionment,
now very close at hand. will give West
and South, both of which sections are
thirsting for new manufacturing en-
terprises, an overwhelming FREEDOM
nance in Congress, and they will lose
no time in driving home the wedge,
the thin edge Of which they inserted
in the forced passage of the Inter State
Commerce act two years ago.
The West and the South will be-
come, under such a law, the consumers
of their own manufactures, and they
will feed their labor from the products
of their fields, at their factory doors.
New England, to preserve her indus
trial supremacy, must seek other mar
kets and other outlets for her surplus
products. Her industrial future is
wrapped up in the problem of sue
cessful competition for foreign trade
with foreign manufacturers as compel
itors.
The above extract from an article
published in the Financier, on the Inter.
State Commerce law and the results it
is helping to bring about, serves, in
connection with other facts, to demon
strate the DRIFT that leading political
questions are likely to take soon. In
fact the first faint ripple of the tide
may already be discerned.
The rapid development of cotton
and iron manufacturing in the South
and Southwest is beginning to work
the same revolution there that was
wrought in New England in the early
part of the present century. We dare
say that large number of our readers
are not aware that New England was
formerly a violent free trade section,
or what is. familiarity termed 'free
trade" One of the strongest arguments
made on.that side ofthe Tariff question
was made by Daniel Webster in the
House of Representatives on the LIST
and I'd of April 1924. New England
was not much of manufacturing sec
ton but was more extensively engaged
in the shipping business than any
other part of the country. Commerce
and shipping were then her chief
sources of employment and wealth.
After Webster had changed his policy
and become a protectionist he was
criticised and charged with inconsist-
ency. In speech delivered in the Sen
ate in 1916 he gave his reasons for the
change and also the cause of the
change of sentiment in the New Eng
land States. Mr.. Webster contended
that Pennsylvania and New York had
placed the country on protection
policy and New England was forced
to accept the situation and make man.
ufacturing her leading business. In
BRIEF New England's principal indus
try changed from commerce to manu-
featuring and her politics changed with
her business. The manufacturing in
dustryof this country is drifting to the
South and West. and the policy of pro-
lection will go with the business. But
what of the Northern and Eastern
States? They cannot abandon manu-.
featuring and return wholly to COM
mefcial pursuits again, but they can
do more. They can do as Great Brit
ain does, combine manufacturing and
commerce. The Southern and Western
iron and cotton manufacturers will,
ere long, crowd them out of the home
market, and preparations are now
making to shift the policy of the Re-
publican party to provide remedy for
this result. A strong movement is
forming to establish subsidized lines of
steam ships to South America and 9th.
er countries. An 1sthmus Canal will
be commenced and completed in few
years. An outlet and foreign markets
must be found for our surplus manu-
features for New England's interest
and that of Pennsylvania and New
York. Neutrality in the Samoa Islands
Is to be maintained at all hazards.
They viii be necessary in our future
commerce on the Pacific.
But if our manufacturers cannot
compete successfully In our home mar
kets against foreigners. especially
against England. how win they in for
eign marketsg That they will do SO