Sharp County record., 1890-09-11
A TARIFF WALL.


The AcriSaht on the sault Ste. Marie Causes
Enormous Loss-How This Obstruction
Acted Like n Mckinley Tariff Wall.
1t is said that the accident at the
Sault Ste. Marie canal caused daily
loss of $780, 900 by reason of the delay
in transportation caused by it. At
present there is perfect system of
reciprocity" between the people west
of that canal and those east of it
These people find their system of
friendly barter so profitable that an
obstruction to it causes loss of half
million dollars day,
All this shows that the exchange of
products is profitable to both parties. II
"McKinleyism" were reasonable thing
it would be well to establish a custom
house at the Sault Ste. Marie canal SO
as to hinder exchange permanently. In
this way the people who live east of the
canal would be protected" from those
who live to the west, and those to the
west would be protected" from the
uoou VI Cuedp edSJeFu BOOuS'
This is all good protection" philos-
ophy. Ben Butterworth, in criticizing
the extreme notions of his fellow pro-
tectionists in his famous speech against
the Mckinley bill, contended that
If tariff walls are good in the abstract,
their erection builds up great opportunities.
defy any man within the sound my vol Q
to make it clear that prosper ty cannot and
would not be built up by having six walls
built throughout the country, and that each
division levy tariff against the ther, and
so develop its own resources. Is there any
escape from the logic of that conclusion? If
So what is il?
Butterworth was right. If the protec-
zionist idea is sound it would be we'll to
have an accident at the Sauit Ste. Marie
canal every qay. That would serve the
same purpobe as wall in preventing
the exchange of commodities.
But Congress thinks that in this case
at least friendly barter" is good
thing; and hence the great appropria-
tions for the improvement of this canal.
When the complete appropriations con.
templated have been expended tho
Government Will have put more than
$5,OOO,O 900 into this great artificial water
way. That money is cheerfully voted
because members Of Congress know
that cheap transportation means cheap
goods; but how can protectionist law
makers, who follow the lead of McKin-
ley vote money for the Sault Ste Marie
canal for tho purpose Of making
things cheap, Mckinley breaches
the strange. doctrine that we
must have mo return to cheap
times in our own country Canals and
railroads mako commodities cheaper;
but Mckinley says, when merchandise
is cheapest men are poorest" II that
be true then it must also be truo that
when merchandise is dearest mon arc
richost a condition Of things which
can bo very easily brought about by
destroying all canals and railroads and
every labor saving machine. In that
way merchandise would be made dearer
because moro labor would be required
in its production and transportation,
and McKinloy's ideas would be realized
that we should have mo return to cheap
times in our country"
But the plain, common people Of this
country who earn tholr bread by the
sweat of their brow, do not believe in
this Mckinley notion. They believe,
on tho contrary, that ustas the straight
road is the quickest way to town so tho
cheapest prico is tho quickest and
easiest way to satisfy thoir wants.