Arizona republican., 1890-12-18
UNPARALLELED GUN WORKS.

UNPARALLELED JUN WORkS.
 Fifty years ago the retrogressive pre- decessors of our present "reform" free traders were just as bitterly opposed to protection as are their successors in our own day. They opposed the tariff on cutlery on the plea that it was absurd for Americans to presume to compete with the famous Sheffield cutters. But the tariff was maintained, nevertheless, with the result that American cutlery is equal to any in the world. A quarter of century ago the opponents of pro tection said that it was madness for us to undertake to build iron or steel yes sells in this country, and they are say ing it now. Yet today our ship yards are turning out the most perfect vessels afloat. So through the whole history of the tariff it's enemies opposed it with all sorts of objections. When the results of tariff legislation proved the falsity of one of it's enemies objections, they re- treated to another, and never for moment gave up the fight they were waging in behalf of the foreigner.
 Another notable triumph of protec- tion is now recorded. Less than ten years ago this country did not pretend to make the big guns demanded for modern warfare. Further than this, the American Cobdenite knew that we never could make them. Now see what has happened.
 Lieutenant Colonel w. Hope, V. C., of the British army recently ended tour of inspection in this country. Be- fore leaving our shores he gave the re- suit of his observation for publication in the metropolitan journals. Never was a more glowing tribute paid to the benet- cent effects of protection than his pro nunciamento on American guns and gun works. That he is good authority is attested by the free trade New York Times of December 8. It prefaced it's report of interview with him as fol- lows:
 Lieut.. Col. Hope has long been recognized by army and navy officers in this country as being one of the greatest living authorities on Ordin- ance matters of the present day, and his opin- ions regarding the progress of the American gun establishments are of much importance. During his three months tour of inspection in this country he has visited all the great gun works and war material establishments Of the United States.
 Then it proceeds to let Colonel Hope himself talk:
 sI consider the Bethlehem gun plant to be superior to any gun plant in the world. Bethie- hem is the realization of my dream of what perfect gun establishment should be, and be- lieye 1t to be the only perfect establishment oi irs kind in the world. The yunshops of this place are prodigious in size, the capabilities of the establishment beyond the conception of any enc who has not visited it, and the excellence of the material turned out unequaled in point of thoroughness This say without a shadow of exaggeration. could only look and wonder, and return to England firmly convinced that tn America exists the greatest gun and steel producing plant in the world.
 'As to the Washington gun foundry-the Bethlehem and Washington are practically the same estsblishment-my remarks concerning the Bethlehem apply equally we'll At this lat ter place for the first time in my life became convinced that it was possible to construct a perfect 'built-up gun. This Is re- suit l have long contended impos- sible to attain l now see that l was in error Mind, you do not say that believe that the 'built-up' gun is the best gun that can bv devised, but do say that the 'built-up' gun of the United States Navy, as turned out at the gun in existence. l will go further than this and say that I believe, and krIow it to be fact that the 'builtup' gun, as now used in the United States Navy, is the best and most pow erful gun ahoat or ashore anywhere in the world. There is not gun in Europe, there is not gun anywhere, that can begin to compare with 1t, and the credit due to the heads of the Ordnance Department of the United States Navy for this result is inestiinable.
 "I ascribe the success of the 'builtup' gun to the fixing of individual responsibilities on every one connected with the assembling of the pieces The slightest error in measurement Is traced at once to the person directly responsible and 1t goes without saving that such error will not again be repeated. The proof of the eff ciency of the American 'builtup' guns is the re- suits of the tests they have stood. Not one of the guns has developed defects or shown the slightest tendency to yield In England we are way behind you"
 In the words of the Boston Journal, "how it must harrow up the free traders to reflect that every big gun laundering from the steel sides of our Yankee men, of-war is an object lesson to all the world of the good results of the protect i've policy?"