The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-31
FRIDAY. OCTOBER 81. 1880.
THE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES,


which adds the tariff to the price of IL
manufactured article. 1t is u more
complex idea to prove that any benefit
may accrue from enhanced prices, of
what we buy, or that the actual result
is or may be less price; and it is still
more complex to prove, that u benefit
to the nation as u benefit to each in,li.
vidual. In the argument on the tariff,
the free traders have the advantage
Of first impressions. Broadly stated it
would seem natural that u man should
buy and would buy where he could
buy the cheapest. and he "a gamer.
But this is not necessarily true. and as
simply us possibly we will state why.
If a man had to buy only, it probably
would DO altogether true. lie must
sell and lie has the complex object of
not only buying cheap but selling high.
Free traders keep only the buying in
view. Tariff protectionists keep both
buying and selling. Protcctionests
claim and bring examples proving
that on almost every manufactured
article, protected for a series D; years,
that the price has grown as cheap or
cheaper than could be bought for in
foreign markets. That home manu-.
features give employment to well-paid.
we'll housed, and well.ied workmen.
That these workers can and do buy
more and better articles of food than
do the poorly paid workers of Europe.
by employment of these workmen in
manufactures they are kept from ell.
gaging in farming and thus crowding
the producing class and lessening the
consumers; and that nearby markets
save freight both ways.
But besides and above the pecuni.
AIRY gains which forms the basis of ar.
gument between the free trader and
the protectionist, is the idea of good
citizenship. 1t may seem wrong at
first thought, to say it is right that we
he taxed to make good citizens, and
yet our public schools are run OIL this
idea; indeed all that we call govern.
ment, for which we pay such enor.
nous taxes is IL paIt of the same idea
by which each man pays according to
his assessment for the education of
the youth, for the suppression of
crime. in u word for the good of society.
Well-fet, well.mid, well-louscd, well.
educated, wage.earners are elements
If stability, prosperity and good gov
eminent which are worth being taxed
for, even ii the tariff were proven "to
be u tax" We do not believe that
two dollars a busllel for wheat and
two cents Il yard for calico, or yet
twenty-five cent wheat with fifteen
cent calico, would mean prosperity.
There might he IL certain gain for one
class for a time but ruin and disaster
must follow such state of things.
No man can look at the foregoing
protection principles and say that they
are not without reason. lie might
figure that OH the whole it he better
to buy and sell his wares in Europe
rather than i'll Dakota, but certainly
lie would have to admit that these
principles are true, and in order to
show that their benefits were less than
their burden. the argument on his
side would have to become us complex
rs is the protectionist and more 50.
Some of the profountlest students have
spent a life time of study OH these
questions and have differed. No or.
binary man can of his own knowledge
assume to pass upon the truth Of such
a study. But for the last thirty years
this coUliLry las Deen ;,.::::'l"r the rule
Of protection party. No country las
ever had period ofsuch general pros.
perity. Certainly we should not take
chances by changing our policy to any
great extent. Is the country pros.
porous! Are the prospects bright OH
the course we are pursuing! Then
why change the course, or the helms.
man. 'Sail OH oh ship of state!''