The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-13
The Growth of Protection
THE PROGRESS IT IS MAKING ALL OVER THE
WORLD.


THE PROGRESS IT IS MAKING ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
The principles OF protective tariff are stead
lily gaining ground among the aboring classes
Of all foreign countries. Nor is this gain con
fined to the wage earncrs. Mamma eturars and
agricultuiists are fast changing their views and
calling for defensive legislation. The restless
ness among the Workingmen of England par
ticularly is growing daily. OF great significance
is the recent action OF the chamber of commerce.
OF Manchester, heretofore the hot bed of free
trade and Cobdenism, in unanimously recon-
mending the imposition of duties on foreign
products, in cases where these products COM
pete with native industry, equal to the fiscal
burden borne by native producers. The Fair
Trade league has become d most influential or
ganiZation. Tt is daily adding converts to it's
ranks. The Workmans Association for the De-
Tense of British Industries is most potent ally
in its endeavors to lift the burdens from the
down trodden laborers OF the United Kingdom.
In France the protective policy not only has a
strong hold, especially among the agriculturists
but is steadily gaining in strength There is
more likelihood of greater duties being imposed
than that any will be reduced or taken off.
Turning to Germany, the low wages OF whose
workingmen are held up continually as an ar
gument against the power Of Protection to Sc
emphatic REPUTATION Of the charge just quoted
German tariffs have aimed to be protective
since $780, The Customs Verein is really the sire
to existing German unity and empire. But there
was not until recently any skillful attempt to
make the rate or duty proportionate to the
quantity OF labor involved in the product as in
the United States. In 1880 this question was ag
tated, and on May IA, Bismarck, in speech be-
fore the German reichtag, said: Because it is
America is mainly due to it's system of protec-
tective laws, urge that Germany has
reached that point where it is necessary to mi-
taJe the tariff of the United Statesn
Germany adopted his views and advanced it's
| tariff. What is the result? The increase in
wages has been almost continuous since the in
crease of it's protective features. Manufactures
have sprung up ON every hand, and Germany
has passed from an importing to an exporting
nation. OF course, one effect being to greatly
increase the number of employed, the per capita
rate OF wages does not show the same increase
as this country, though in comparison with Eng
| land it is most marked. Moreover Germany is
now reaping the benefit on home MARKET and
as the German workingman has economical
tastes in dress and living, and as he can buy
cheaper than his English brother, he is dOubly
benefited by the existing protective legislation
Recent government statistics show that the Iron
and Steel association of Germany represents
$50 firms, with capital OF $252, OOO.COo, and en-
ploys 235, 600 men. Ten years ago they were rep
resented by 800 firms, employing but LOCO per
sons Their monthly wages have increased 81
per cent and this rule of increase will apply to
all Germany.
Going north to Sweden we again see protec-
ton i'll the ascendancy, and with the usual re
suit Until ten years ago Sweden prospered nm
der protective tariff Fhe doctrinaires sue
eeeded in having their theories adopted For
decade both agriculture and manufacturing suf-
fered, but in recent election the chief issue
was the tariff, and the result was an overwhelm-
ing victory for Protection. The editor of the
New York Nord Sternea recently said ''For the
first time in number of years Sweden seems to
have awakened from the absurdty of her posi-
ton, and has come to think that she should be-
come manufacturer for herself, end not
mere producer and consumer of goods from
others believe Sweden is entering now on an
era of prosperity. Protection has built. the
country up, and while Sweden has neither the
extent nor the variety If the United States yet
the stimulus which protection must give to the
grain growing, milling and manufacturing in
dustries cannot but be fraught with good re
SUITS
Even Free-trade New South Wales, which has
sneered at her protectionist rival colony, Vic
toria for several years past, at a recent test
vote could show but one majority in her parlia-
ment for the continuance of the present reye-
nue. policy. The benefits that Canada has de-
rived from t'rotectiQn are too well known to
need more than reference
III other countries the situation is similar ard
the practical business men and the laboring
classes are everywhere combating theorists
The principles of a Protective Tariff and the
advantages of q home market are more firmly
demanded than at any previous time in the
worlds history. And wonder. The eyes of
the world are turned to the United Staten,
Which has borne and suppressed the most
gigantic war of all history, has paid off nearly
all the debt incurred by that war, has given en-
ployment to it's own millions of workingmen
and to new half million each year of the I'M
employed Of foreign nations. In spite Of ALL it
has become weather. and more prosperous
standing today at the head Of all nations. Its
citizens be they wage givers or wage earners,
possess more enlightenment, enjoy more COM
forts and luxuries, eat better food, wear better
clothes, and withal save more money than the
people of any other country.