The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-02
PROJECTIONS, FRIENDS.
TARIFF ARGUMENTS OF TODAY THE
SANE AS YEARS AGO.

Thought-Preddential Messages Advo-
Gated Protection-The Interests of Man
ufacturer and Farmer Alike Consulted.
We find today, in the struggle for
Protection, reproduction OF the argu-
ments for Free-trade which the Ameri-
can people debated, considered and con-
demned as ursouhd years ago. It takes
great man like Daniel Webster to ac-
knowledge that he is wrong. Mr.. Web
ster, In his speech against the tariff of
1924, made as strong an argument for
Free-trade as can be urged today. This,
however, did not defeat the passage Of
the bill, and as the result of mature de-
liberation Mr.. Webster became lead
ing champion of the Protective tariff
system. The first great question pend
ing the adoption of any national fiscal
policy is, How we shall most surely and
fully develop the entire industrial ca
pacity CT the people.
Having adopted such e policy, stick TO
it and don't try experiments, unless by
comparison with some other country
which has different fiscal policy it can
be proved that the entire industrial
capacity of that people IS more fully de-
veloped and employed and the people
more prosperous, better remunerated for
labor, and that nation more prosperous.
Any fscSl policy which brings to bear
disastrously upon young manufactures
the fatal competition Of their Older and
far stronger rivals, located In lands
where those manufactures have long ago
been located, and where they have at
tai ned, through ages of prosperous
growth, a ripe and hardy maturity, is
absurdly short sighted.
The great minds who framed, advo-
Gated and secured the adoption of the
federal constitution were not manufac-
turers, nor interested in manufactures,
and they were nearly unanimous in COM
mending the fostering of home manu-
features by discriminating protective du-
ties on their foreign rivals. They very
correctly believed that by this measure
they were helping the American farmer
by creating larger, nearer, steadier and
better markets for their products. Gen.
Washington, in his first annual message,
declared that the safety and interest of
the people required that manufactures
should be promoted, and IN his second
annual message said: Congress has re-
peatedly, and not without success, di-
rected its attention to the encourage
ment of manufactures. The object is of
too much consequence not TO insure a
continuance of It's efforts In every way
which shall appear eligible"
Washington was never interested in
manufactures, but was a farmer, as was
Jefferson, who in his second annual mes
sage, familiar TO every one, speaks of the
Protection of the manufactures as one
of the landmarks by which we ought to
guide ourselves, and Insists upon the
necessity of continuing this as the rule
of our action to insure our national
prosperity.
Presidents Madison and Monroe also
clearly saw the necessity of protecting,
preserving and promoting our manu-
features, and so expressed themselves in
various messages to congress. In his
seventh annual message Mr.. Madison said:
''In adjusting the duties on imports to
the object of revenue, the influence Of
the tariff on manufactures will necessa-
rily present itself for consideration.
However wise the theory may be which
leaves to the sagscity and interest of in
dividuals the application of their indus
try and resources, there are In this, as In
all other cases, exceptions 70 the general
rule Besides the condition which the
theory itself implies, of q reciprocal adop-
ton by other nations, experience teaches
that so many circumstances must concur
il introducing and maturing nanufac-
turing establishments, especially of the
more complicated kinds, that a country
may long remain without them, although
sufficiently advanced, and in some re-
spects even peculiarly fitted for carrying
them on with success.
''In selecting the branches more es-
reciany entitled to public patronage,
preference is obviously claimed by such
as viii relieve the United States from
dependence on foreign supplies, even
subject to casual failures, for articles
necessary for the public defense, or con-
nected with the primary wants Of indi-
viduals. 1t will be an additional recon-
mendation for particular manufactures
when the materials for them are extern
sively drawn from our agriculture, and
consequently impaZts and insures TO that
great fund of national prosperity and in
dependence an encouragement which
cannot fail to be rewarded. "
Mr.. Alexander J. Dallas. the able sec
rotary of the treasury. supplemented Mr..
Madi5on's message with special report
drawn up in obedience to 4 requirement
Of the house,, enbodying the draft OF
tariff contemplating both revenue and
protection, and earnestly commencing
the policy Of Protection. The following
paragraph of that report bears directly
upon many points now under discussion:
although some irdulgszce VII al
ways be required for any sStenps 50 10
realize the national Independence N the
department Of manufactures. the s&cri-
fee cannot be either great or Lasting.
The inconvenience Of the day viii De
amply compensat ted by future advan-
tages- The agrcuiturist, wboseProducs
and whose foclB depend for their vslne
upon the fluctuations Of fcre2gn mar
kst. viii have no occaEon eventually 70
regret the opportunity Of a reody sale for
his wool or his cotton n his own nelgh-
borhood; and it VII soan be undgztood
that the Success Of the American manu-
factursr. which tends To diminish the
profit tGften the excessive prCAtl OF the
importer. does not nscsSSrlly add 70 the
p-ice Of the article "a the hzads If the