The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-27
rnEsr BROADER CONTENTION.

The PesT-ISTfLtgs1ai, - has fairly stAssd
sssa "a 4rssg answered the fundamental
doctrine Of the free trade Democracy. hat
government shoaid not interfere vita TIE
righs Of each citizen 20 Day whore he can
t2y cheapest ard sell where be can sell
dearest IL hes been shogn that thls Is &
narroa and selfish doctrine. and that broad
states gn&asssip lOoEs beyond the abstract
right II TIE individual 70 consider the
wider aub5es.s OF tne community welfare.
Bat tisis the Zee trade Democrat gneets
with Il second and 5soa8sr contention, that
lhe government IN dealing with ths inter
sets 81 Tbs community saau he controlled
BY tbs principle ot consulting the
greatest good for the greatest
number, and this. be claims, would be
fatal to the American protective system.
This position be attempts 10 maintain bv
citing the fact that ia respect TO each pre-
tecied industry. considered separately tae
number 81 consumers exceeds the number
oi producers, and therefore the number not
protected in respect 10 each industry ox-
leeds the number protected This, be
claims. - protecting tie many for tie ben
rfit oi tbs lea, which no right minded citi-
zen can defend or approve.
The free trade psnioe rat-and all true
Democrats are tree tFaeers-might 20 still
further. It has been shown In these col
umns, on the authority Of Official statistics.
that less than one-third of the people OF
this country are engaged in actual produc-
ton. From years end TO years end less
than one-third Of them actually produce
anything whatever
Therefore. II this free trade contention
be true, The entire scheme OF protecting
American production. considered As
whole. is for the benefit of less than one
third At the expense OF more than two
thirds.
The Republican answer 10 this il, that 4
IL 10 the interest OF each citizen that all
should prosper. Thence follows the unas-
sailable assertion that no one in the eotin-
try could prosper~-iew would survive--if
there were no production. Hence follows.
that production would cease or be seriously
eurtailesi II IL should cease Ia be profitable
Aud hence that IL is an advantage 10 the
swo-thirds that the prosperity of the one
third Is fostered. And hence that the pro-
lection of the few has not been at the ex-
pense of the many.
But, as matter OF fact. If limits of space
would permit IL might LEA shown that even
In proportion 20 numbers the non .produe.
ing iwo-thirds derive fully their fair share
Of the benefits resulting from the protection
Of the producing third
Not only as consumers are they inter.
ested. The non-producing two.thirds are
largely made up Of those who huy sell
transport and otherwise assist In distribnt.
ing the products Of the one third. Mani.
testify their occupation depends on the
activity Of The producers. Maniles.ly their
profitable occupation depends on presluc.
ton heiag made profitable and therefore
extensive, OF almost any nameable pro.
autf, followed from the time OF original
pfodAe ti3u 30 she time OF ultimate use bv
Tar The larger shares good deal more than
an average o. two-thirds-of Us value AZ.
efuss to the non producer.
And that which al stlrerfeial gl.rr.
seemed Ike protecting the few al the ex.
pcnsc oi the many. WAS a benefit a. al 8,
the expense OF nobody.
Aad thus all OF the SopA.striss og -.
free-trSders vanish when subjected 10 The
crucial tests Of analysis ard reason.