The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-03
PROTECTION AND FREE TRADE.
Why the Former Is Better for the
United States.
A Policy That Has Immensely Aug
mented Our Wealth.
Answer to a Recent Elaborate Attack
on the Protective Policy.

| Inc NUMBER OIL question marks IN the pa
per upon "The Tariff" by Mr.. Frank X.
Wheeler of Kennebunkport, which appeared
a short time ago in the Portland Argus de-
notes still small doubt in the conclusions Of
that gentleman as to the practical workings
OF the free trade theory which he so ably
euloglzes. Mr.. Wheeler's entire argument
is from a free trade standpoint as opposed to
our present national policy of protection.
The tariff is duty upon foreign commodi-
ties imported into this country for consump-
| ton.
The protective tariff is a duty levied on
foreign commodities, with an idea Of pre-
venting their importation, in order to en-
| courage domestic industries.
Free trade, or the doctrine of laisSez faire,
| as it is termed by economists, rightly called
by Mr. Wheeler "the other theory" pro-
poses to do away with all duties and restric-
| tions-save low tax upon imports for reve-
nue. only
Why does not Mr.. Wheeler suggest an
| equitable and impartial tax, fitted to supply
the needs Of the government? If he has dis
covered the philosophers stone of practical
economy. why hide his light beneath
OuohOAA 10y liCO lAduc, uOL Iu6 Tax
come from the consumer? The government
must still move on, millions must still be
rolled up to defray its legitimate expenses.
And how, pray, shall an equitable tax be
laid, to which the consumer does not con-
tribute his relative proportion?
Experiment in the first place, only, can de-
eide the best industrial system by which a
country's wealth can become permanent and
assured No two countries are alike in eli
mate, people, situation or physical ge0gra-
ply. Trade cannot be regulated by an arbi-
trary standard. more than cord wood can
be conveniently measured by linear measure
There are thousand and one things-condi-
tions-existing in different countries which
II made applicable to the same rule, must
bring about widely dIverging results. SO as
a protectionist take the ground that the
condition of things in. the United States is
UNDUE IN itself: And that rules put
into practical application here might operate
with entirely different effects In Great Brit
ain. There may come day when free trade
would be the wisest policy even for America,
but to me 1t seems far removed
Inc question. why Is Great Britain al
ways cited as a free trade country as OPP
posed to the United States might arise In
the minds OF some 1t is answered by the
statement that it is practically the only
clvlllzed country that has free trade as its
national policy. How does it come about
Since protection is such boon to manufac-
turing industries, that England does not
have policy of protection? England has
lived under policy Of protection for over
20O years, and she has been enabled through
the markets of her numerous colonies, in
many cases forced markets, having manu.
featuring establishments the growth of ages,
q patient laboring population, educated
from habltual devotion to toll to. their call
ing, carefully watched over by the central
government with no fear of cOmpetition-to
lay aside the shield and buckler of protec-
ton.
Speaking Of the protective tariff, Mr..
Wheeler says, IF we sell we must buy. If
we build Chinese wall about ourselves to
prevent foreign goods from coming in, we
shall find that the same Chinese wall will
keep our own surplus products from obtain
ing market abroad" The fact that we are
hedged In by Mr.. Wheeler's so called "Chi-
nese walp'-the protective farmland that we
a. POO 100 ooS c'' ,sr"handisn in 1883 valued
at Az $stbz ~ and exported $S23 5000
worth 81 our own manufactures, and that
our exports exceed our imports by more
imam SlO0,OOO,0OO. would cause thoughtful
men to think for themselves rather than ac-
cept such arbitrary statements This "Chi-
words.
Mr.. Wheeler states that, ''the method of
raising revenue by custom duties is waste
1ul system of taxation" That is, the price
PAID Tor some commodities is increased by
the import duty placed upon the same article
OF foreign manufacture brought into the
country for consumption, and that the in
crease IN price on the domestic article does
not go into the public treasure. Allowing
that The facts are such, this net increase sup
ports an American factory, run by American
capital and furnishes employment to
Americas sons and daughters.
=, Helcomplains that the tariff is higher today
than thirty years ago. Our duties were laid
not alone for revenue, but for protection.
The policy Of this Government is protection
and has been since the first tariff act passed
in 1889, and not 'the other theory" Our
policy does protect and therefore is not
wasteiul system One of the first petitions
presented to the first Congress was by the
artisans and mechanics Of Baltimore-seek-
ing protection to American industries.
Washington, in his first presidential message
to Congress, advised protecting and foster
ever In mind, in his farewell address to the
country, said, Ought our country to remain
in such cases dependent on foreign supply,
precarious because liable to be interrupted?
Ii the necessary article should in this mode
cost more in time of peace, will not the Sc
curity and Independence thence arising form
an ample considerations" And SO it could
be traced down the line-Madison and even
jackson were outspoken in its favor 1t was
necessary then, and, as protectionists believe
progress and prosperity.
MI. Wheeler well says, I'VE have now
been living under a protective tariff for
thirty years: Our industries have adapted
condition of things All the intricate ma
chinery of our vast industrial life has been
adjusted and set in motion with protection
as balance wheel and regulator" IL we
tamper with the regulator the entire system
is unbalanced and runs to waste.
MIR, Wheeler states that "thp DrCtpctiVa
tariff is expressly designed to restrict and
discourage and diminish foreign trade, (which
everybody admits to be good thing,
while free trade only proposes to give this
same universally admitted blessing a fair
chance to develope and expand"
Let us inquire into this statement. Our
foreign carrying trade, in which we have al
ways had, practically, free trade, developed
mark was reached. We had a tonnage en-
gagged in foreign commerce ,of nearly $780,
900 tons; the war which followed dealt to it
a crushing blow,-many of our merchant
vessels turned to government uses, the ex-
port trade fell into the hands of heavily sub
sidized foreign bottoms and for the most
part has so remained. The insurmountable
barriers to the establishment Of American
lines will be, as all patriotic citizens hope,
destroyed by our present Congress- liberal
subsidy granted and the shipping of the
country assume its proper proportions.
One single line OF Engli ih steamships ply
ing between England and the United States
received yearly subsidy from the English
government of 100000. Would 1t be rea-
sonable to suppose that we could establish
and maintain line unaided by the govern
ment, as opposed to such a thoroughly pro-
tected system as that of Great Britain? If
we should be successful in retaining our
own export trade and the patronage of our
own government, by the transportation of its
mails. Give both these to American ship
companies and it will be sufficient with the
aids of the subsidy to furnish a prospecting
business for many lines Of steamships
Some people are forever crying because we
do not open uplour markets to free trade with
England. Why we have a home market al
most twice as large as Great Britain would
be- provided she depended upon the United
States for her entire supply Of bread-stuffs
and produce. To open up our home markets
to the free importation of the cheap products
of English manufacture, would be to kill the
goose that lays the golden eggs. And is not
our home market much more valuable TO
our farmers and to our mechanics than an
uncertain trade across the sea, where an
ocean freight must be paid and then prices
settled by the competition with the crop
raised by the pauper labor OF India or Egypt.
Mr.. Wheeler acknowledges 1t. Speaking OF
| the farmers, he says; "they are unable to
| sell all their products in this country and
consequently have to send their surplus into
| the markets of the world where they get on
| ly that price which is allowed them in the
face of the worlds competition.