New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-17
4 POLICY NATIONAL. NOT SELFISH

I'm the slow growth of Nation, all parts anu
all Industries cannot advance with equal step
Some must unavoidaby pluck the first fruits
of any benefcent National policy. The Eastern
States were in position to get the lions share OIL
benefit from protection at the outset, but no"
Western and Southern producers begin to snare
the bountiful results, and there are 1ouhd SONG
Eastern men who deplOre that state OF thlhgS'
Here is an Eastern furnace, built by protection,
but now abandoned by reason OF the cheaper
production in Alabama d" if that is protection"
say some q let us have less of it." But 1t is a
pretty time to object, after pocketing the larg-
est share of the advantages for twenty years
Here is An Eastern textile mill, which Western
or Southern competition renders no longer
proftable Lower the tariff, so that no more
mills shall be erected ?" Hardly; protection
was never intended for the exclusive beneht OF
anv man or set of men, but for the benefit of
the whole country.
There is something which does not appeal
strongly to the American love OF far dealing
and common honesty in the proposal to KICK
away the ladder by which some have climbed.
lest others should rise to the same opportunities
and the same prosperity. The Nation, for Ma
tional purposes only, offered It's incentive TO
manufacturing and r1ining development In
every part Of the country. The section which
happened to be readiest to pluck the fruit has
pucked the most OF it for twenty years.
Would it be less than indecent to reverse the
policy now, in order to deny to other sections
their turn? 81 need protection no longer"
saws one. Yes, the long experience, estab-
Esbed business and large capital which pro-
al
alone but what business have you to say that
the work of developing great Nation shall
stop with you?
II is one of the grandest things in the whole
history Of human government that so few East
ern men. whose industries have been built up
by the protective tariff, now show any DIS
position to deprive others OF It's advantages.
In spite Of many selfish temptations, few East
en men indeed consent to such a course.
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania still stand by
the Republican policy as firmly as they dld
when the cream of all the benefits came to
them. The popular majoIties are rather larger
in PENNSYLVANIA, as time passes, and rather
smaller in Massachusetts, because in the latter
State immigration of foreigners and migration
of Americans to the West have changed the
pOpuau on considerably. DuU lho oFSi"
ing prepon1crance of public sentiment in both
States is just where it was. So of other last
ern States; Connecticut is not more close and
uncertain than it was many years ago; New
York was carried for Harrison, but twenty
years ago voted against Grant But the weight
Of the Empire State in National councils has at
decisive moments been cast for the policy which
built up and still sustains its manufacturing
industries. The people are not ingrates. They
do not want to deny to their sons and brothers
in Western and Southern States the benefits
they have so long enjoyed. To the majority in
Eastern States, the appeal of Free Traders is
simply temptation to sell their Nations
growth and greatness for possible selfish gam.
They do not believe in the gain, but II they
did, would nevertheless vote for the Nations
greatness.