New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-01
rRnsrs Anp rHE rAREFE.

Truly. the Free Traders have most winning
ways to make people hate them. They are
persistently affirming that Protectionists natu-
rally delight In trusts and other combinations
to fleece the public, but are moved to denounce
them only because convinced that they tend to
render the protective system unpopular. This
Is, Of course, an indecent SANDER, for Protec-
tionists, at least as ardently as any other cid-
gems, desire the welfare of the community, and
are moro willing than others to make some per-
sorial sacrifices In order to secure permanent
benefits for all consumers. They believe that
protection does encourage the development OF
home industry, and consequently increased COM
petition among home producers, and there
fore surer and more lasting benefits to con-
sumers than can by any other mode be secured.
The Free Trader does not believe this, and has
right TO his deluions But he has no right
to falify the record by pretending or implying
that Protectionists, who consent to sacrifices
for the public good, do not desire that end as
much as Free Traders, who selfishly refuse to
make temporary personal sacrifices for lasting
pablo benefits.
The sincere advocate of protection is one
who honestly believes that the highest advan-
tages in the end for oil the people Of the coun-
try are to be attained by duties which develop
home production and competition. The Free
Trader can only discredit himself by denying
TO his opponents honesty Of belief or sincerity
Of purpose on this point But It necessarily
follows from the root idea and controlling aims
of the Protectionist that he must be uncompro-
misingIy hostile to any and every process by
which home production Is checked to the dis
advantage Of consumers, or homo competition
restricted for the purpose of plundering them,
He could not be genuine Professionals II be
were not jealous to see homo production de-
yeloped and home competition increased, 90
that the objects Of protection may be most fully
and speedily attained. Even temporary
agreement to restrict production, because OF an
actual deficiency OF demand no naturally views
with distrust because, FIRST Of all, ID cuts down
the demand for American labor and tends to
depress wages, and second, II is exceedingly
ant 70 be prolonged and extended rs q means
Of extorting from consumers unnatural prices.
No other attitude Of mind for the Protection
list Is logical, or consistent with his zeal for tho
welfare Of the people or the uplifting Of labor.
II Is therefore most unjust peryersion to
represent him as the friend or ally Of combina-
tons which have no other object than to de-
feat the ruling aims Of his economic philosophy.
The Islander is only little more dishonest
when the trust or combination In question is
VIGOROUSLY made up of persons who are hostile
to protection, who owe no advantage 70 the
protective policy, and who use the money and
influence they possess to defeat that policy
The trusts which have been aided by protective
duties, IL any such exist do injure the cause
in the public estimation, and that is an addi-
tional and honorable reason for opposing them,
but no such additional reason is needed. They
kindle public indignation against the men who
abuse opportunities granted for the public
benefit aud strive to turn them into instru-
ments Of private greed. But sincere Protec-
tionists require no such stimulus to oppose
| methods which have no other object than the
| practical defeat of their aims and principles.