Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-14
FREE TRADE DENOUNCED.
an Able Argument for Protection by .
Southern DEMOCRATIC Senator.

tariff l am a strong protectionist
Say the Government must raise $3.50,
900, 900 year for its economical sup
port and to meet its obligations, which
is about what will be necessary, sup
| pose, for the ensuing year. Now,
| would raise this sum and all other
sums necessary for the economical
support of the Government by tariff
taxation at the custom-houses, and
would repeal absolutely the internal
revenue laws, with all their abomina-
tions, inquiries, expressions and domi-
cilia-y vexations.
In raising the money by tariff taxa
ton for the economical support of the
Government would so adjust it as TO
| give all the reasonable protection in
my power to American capital and
American labor, in preference to for
eign capital and foreign labor.
would generally admit such articles as
are raised in foreign countries and are
not raised in this country duty free,
because the duty assessed upon arti-
Giles of this character could protect
nobody in this country, as nobody here
either raises or manufactures such
articles.
For instance, 1 would put tea and
coffee on the free list. We can raise
neither tea nor coffee in this country
to any profitable extent, and we GER
tainly can not raise coffee. There
fore, the tariff imposed upon coffee or
tea would protect no American capital,
and no American labor is employed in
the culture of either commodity.
1t follows, therefore, that / would
impose the tax upon such articles i'm
ported from abroad as are produced in
this country, so as to give to Ameri-
can capital invested and American la
Dor employed in producing such arti-
cles whatever protection may result
from the tariff imposed upon such ar
ticles. While would put coffee and
tea on the free list, would put manu-
featured fabrics, both of wool and cot
ton, and other like commodities, upon
the dutiable list. because, while wool
and cotton are manufactured abroad
and the product introduced into this
country, wool and cotton are also man
ufactured in this country, and there IS
at least an incidental protection to the
manufacturer of wool or cotton when
a tariff is imposed upon those COM
modities imported from abroad; and
this incidental protection is advan-
tageous to the American manufacture
ers until the encouragement afforded
them by tariff taxation has built up
enough of establishments in our coun-
try to produce all the commodities of
that character which are needed by
our people. In other words, until the
home competition has regulated the
price Independently of the tariff law
or the foreign importation; or till our
factories have reached a point where
competition among themselves regu-
lates prices.
1t has been said in ridicule that our
infant industries in this country are
now hoary with old age, that the New
England factories are almost as old as
the English factories, and that it is a
deception when it is claimed that they
must be aided by the Government as
infant industries.
1t is not my purpose at present to
discuss the question as to the age or
maturity of New England factories.
1t is enough for me to know that they
are much further advanced than the
manufacturing industries of the South.
In other words, if the manufacturing
interests of New England have passed
the stage of infancy and reached ma
tured manhood, it can not be denied
that in the main the industries of the
South are still in their infancy and
need protection. 1t is only since the
abolition of slavery that the spirit of
development has taken hold of the
South, and manufacturing interests
are springing up in every direction.
The high protective tariff, as it is
usually called, has been main motive
power in producing this result; and
while there may be some few articles,
as in the case of coarse cotton cloths,
that can be manufactured success
fully without the protection growing
out of tariff taxation, IN the main it
is not so, and it is only question with
Us whether we shall continue high
tariff, as it is termed, and continue to
build up under it until the Southern
manufacturers have large investments
in their establishments, have skilled
labor and are prepared to compete with
New England and Old England, and
have built up home markets for our
planters. The infant industries of this
country, so far as the manufacturers
are concerned, are to be found mainly
in the South, and that section of the
Union is more interested to day in
maintaining the doctrine of reason
able incidental protection, both in
theory and in practice, than any other
section in the Union.
Repeal the tariff and strike down
the protection now afforded to South
ern manufacturing industries in their
infancy, and they will fall with gen.
eral crash, and our people will be re-
mitted back to the position of planters
and farmers, who must buy their man
ufactured articles from New England,
which is further advanced and has
more capital, and from Old England,
which is still more hoary with age |
and better supplied with capital and |
skilled labor. As Southern Senator,
therefore / nrntest AGAINST s1lch lenis-