Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-03
STRONG STAND FOR PROTECTION,
The Pr esident Points Out Benefits Certain
to Result from the New Bill.

The general tariff act has only partially gone
into operation, some of its important provi-
sions being limited to take eife It at dates yet III
the future. The general provisions Of the law
have been in force less than sixty days. Its
perms nent effects upon trade and prices still
largely stand in conjec ure 1t is d ious to
note that he advance IN the prices OF articles
wholly AFFECTED by the tariff act was by many
hastily ascribed to that act. Notice WAS not
taken of the fact that the general tendency of
the markets was upward from Influences Who'll
ly apart from the recent tariff legislation. The
enlargement of our currency by the silver bill
undoubtedly gave an upward tendency to trade
and had marked effect on prices; but this
Latural and desired eff eft of the sI,ver legisla-
ton was by many erronec u ,ly attributed to the
There is neither wisdom nor Justice in the
suggestion that the subject of Tariff revision
shall be open before this law has had fair
trial. 1t is quite true that every tariff schedule
is subject to objections. No bill was ever
framed suppose, that in all Of its rates and
classifcations had the full approval even of q
purity caucus. Such legislation is always and
necessarily the product of C mproinise as to de-
tails, and the present law is no exception. But
in its general scope and effect, think, it will
justify the support of those who believe that
American legislation should conserve and de-
fend American trade and the wages of American
workmen.
The transformation as to the terms of the act
which has been so widely disseminated at home
and abroad. will be corrected by experience,
and the evil anguries as to it's results con-
the general prosperity of our PEG
pie Already we begin to hear from
abroad and from our Gu TOM houses that the
prohibitory effect upon importations imputed
to the act is not justified The imports at the
port of New York for the first three weeks of
November were nearly per cent. greater than
for the same period in 1889. and 20 per cent.
greater than in the same period of 1883. And, so
far from being an act TO limit exports, conf
IDENTITY believe that under it we shall secure
larger and more profita BILE psrtclpa ton in for
eign trade than we have ever enjoyed. and that
we shall recover a pro Ortionate participation
in the ocean carrying trade of the world
The criticisms Of the bill that have come to
us ire m foreign sources may we'll be rejected for
repugnancy. IftheSe critics really believe that
the adoption by of free trade policy, or of
tariff rates having reference solely to revenue,
would diminish the participation OF their own
countries in the commerce of the world, their
advocacy and promotion by speech and other
forms Of organized effort of this movement
among our people Is rare exhibition OF unSelf-
ishness in trade. And on the other hand if
they sincerely believe that the adoption of
protective tariff policy by this country Inures
10 their profit and our hurt, IT rs not1ceably
strange that they should lead the out,rry against
the authors of policy SO helpful to their coun-
trymen and crown with their favor those who
would snatch from them sub tantfal share of
traae with other lands already Inadequate to
their necesslti S.
There i no disposition among any of our peo-
pie to promote prohibitory or retaiiatory legis-
tatiOn. Our policies are adopted no. to the hurt
of Others, but to secure for ourselves those adj
yantages that fairly grow out of our favored po-
with its incident Of universal suffrage makes it
imperative that we shall save our working -peo-
pie from the agitatiOns and diStres>es which
scan work and wages that have no margin for
comfort always beget. But after all this is done
it will be found that our markets are open to
friendly commercial exchanges of enormous
value to the other great powers.
From the time of my induction INTO Office the
duty of using every power and influence given
by law to the executive department fer the de-
vel0Dment of larger markets for our products,
esp c ally our farm products, has been kept con-
sanlly in mind and no effort has been will
be spared to prOmote that end. we are under
no disadvantage in any foreign market, except
that we pay our workingmen and wOrkwOmen
better wages than are paid eisew here-better
necessaries of life. / do not doubt that very
Largely increased foreign trade IS accessible to
us without bartering for either our home mar
ket for such products of the firm and shop as
our own people can supply, or the wages of our
working neople
and in meats and breadstuffs, We have advan-
tageS that only need better facilities of inter
course and transportation to secure for them
large foreign markets The reciprocity clause
of the la If act wisely and effectively opens the
way to secure large reciprocal trade IN ex-
chan G for the free admission INTO our ports of
Ger ain products. The right of independent
ma ions TO make special reciprocal trade con-
cessions is wei established, and does not impair
either the comfy due 10 other powers or what
is known as the Favored nation clause" so
genera ~ found in comm erc1A treaties. What
Is given to one for an I'D quate agreed onsider-
alton cannot be claimed by anot her freely. The
state of the revenues such that we could
dispense with any import duties upon coffee,
tea, hides, and the lower grades OF agar and
mnasseS. That the l>rge advantage resulting
to the countries producing and exporting these