Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15

these advantages possessed by the American peo-
Pile and with fair lead among the commercial
nations. they have found II impossible TO sur
mount the obstacles anc break down the barriers
which vicious system Of legislation in TIE inter
est Of class who sell their products TO the Amer
lean farmer from 10 TO 30 per cent: higher tnsn
they do in the foreign markets. had placed IN the
path OF their Onward march for supremacy
To-day with numerous ports on two great seas,
and with a coast line covering thousands oil miles,
the Illuminating admission must be made that our
foreiyn carrying trade in American bottoms no
longer exists. IT, like all Of our other great M
dEstries has been forced TO srccurb, that higher
tribute may be levied on the intelligence, genias,
inventive skill and the labor Of a whole people
that ore-thriieth Of the population may be inaoe
richer. more arrogant, and more pretentions.
Dozs THR tariff REDUCE THE COST OF TIE AR
TicLEa
Mr.. President, the advocates of high protection
and prohibitory duties attempt to convince the
people that the tendency of such legislation is ITO
reduce the cos, Of the manufactured articles
They tell US first that it is necessary to impose
these duties TO protect American labor against the
pauper labor of Europe. aud in the next breath
they inform us that By imposing these high du-
ties the American consumer will be enabled TO
obtain these commodities at lower price than
they can be furnished by this European pauper
labor.
These arguments being inconsistent, the one
answers the other The theory upon which the
proposition rests is that high protective duties
encourage capitalists to invest in protected manu-
features, and that competition between home
producers lowers the price of the article.
This view OF the question fails to take into con
sideration the prompting Of self Interest which
suggest a remedy that will enable two OF more 10
defeat aud coutiol the natural and usual course
OF trade. Experience has demonstrated that
through the assistance OF the tariff this difficulty
can be met and successfully overcome. Trusts
combines aud combinations are formed by those
engaged in producing similar articles under
agreements which Il is almost impossible TO reach
through the courts. The valre Of the plants -
estimated; trustees appointed 10 manage The IN
terests OF the several owners; trust ccruhcates
showing the interest OF each in the aggregate
business are used, and an executive committee
regulates the production and controls the price OF
the commodity competition IS destroyed, and a
monopoly created. The only restriction that IN
tiuences the price OF the article j. the duty I'M
posed on the competing imported article.
II of equal Quality with the foreign production
the value can be fixed on the domestic commodity
within fraction Of the cost Of the importation
after paving ali charges. costs transportation and
duty. Without the protection 10 the home manu-
fscturer the price could never exceed on the same
quality OF goods the cost in Europe plus the costs,
charges aud transportation 10 the port OF entry.
To this extent the tariff is potent factor in en-
couraging these unlawful combinations aud in
protecting the guilty conspiratots fTon that free
and equal competition which under the laws Of
trade would otherwise restrain their selfish greed.
This method Of conducting business in the di-
versihed industries OF the country that come with
in the influence Of our high protective tafii Is The
rule and not the exception The following table.
which shows the trusts that have been forue.
and the protection extended 10 each class Of COM
modities manufactured, will fully illustrate the
correctness Of thiA statement: