West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-11-19
THE TEACHING OF EXPERIENCE.
From tn, st. Loul. Republic.

I that IL has created and fomented
feeling of antagonism. almost of
hostility, between the two great
branches OF industry pursued by a
majority of the people, Agriculture
and Manufacturers and as these
industries are largely pursued in
different sections of the country,
this hostility has taken the danger
Gus form of sectional enmity and
prejudice. The agricultural re-
gions, especially those which pro-
dnce large surplus for export,
have justly felt that tariff which
forbade them to buy in the markets
where they were compelled to sell
and forced them to get their needed
supplies in markets where the law
steps in to raise prices for the beue-
fit of sellers was an unjust and in
tolerant discrimination against
themselves IN favor OF the manu-.
featuring regions. They have re-
garded a Protective Tariff rs a law
for making the farming States trio
utarY to the manufacturing States,
and sectional irritation has been the
natural and inevitable result.
But while the tariff has always
and everywhere w-onged and op
pressed agriculture, it has shown
its falslty as a system of economy in
its absolute failure to issue healthy
and stable prosperity to manufac-
turers. The reasons for this are
plain to see. 1t teaches men to de-
pend on artificial helps-laws tax
ing their countrymen for prosper
ity in business rather than on their
own skill and efforts. 1t throws
business out of its own channels
into artificial. law-made channels,
where there must always be nuctu-
alton and uncertainty. Years ago
Mr.. Everett stated in an grafton at
Lowell that the sagacious men who
established the manufacturers of
New England were never friends Of
Il high tariff policy. Hon. Amasa
Walker, at one time a member Of
Congress from Massachusetts,, and
among our foremost writer's on
economic questions, st tied :hht it
was within his personal knowledge
that when our FIRST protective tariff
was proposed, the law of 1916, the
leading manufacturers of Rhode
Island, including Mr.. Slater, the
father OF cotton-spinnlng IN this
country, met at the counting room
OF one Of their number, and, after
deliberate consultation, came to the
unanimous conclusion that they had
rather be let alone" Their busI-
ness bad grown up naturally and
succeeded we'll, aud they felt conf
dent Of it's continued prosperity if
uninterfered with by government.
But, as usual, toe clamor Of less
farsighted men, and the ambition
OF politicians to filter God's gifts
through their own darkened laws,
prevailed. The country began its
protection policy, and, as always
happens, Government help begets
an immediate and violent demand
for more Government help. The
protective tariff Of 1916 gave place
TO a higher tariff in 1920; that in
turn 10 the still higher tarin Of
1924, and yet higher one in 1928,
growing in its rates and it's " abom.
inatIons +" until 1t pushed the coun-
try to the very brink Of civil war.
Protection has run a parallel
course since 1865. When Congress
began to repeal war burdens and to
relieve manufacturers Of the inter
nal revenue taxes on their products,
which they had used to secure in
creased duties on competing foreign
products, there arose a call from
consumers an over the country and
in both parties for reduction Of
the war tariff. Unable TO resist
this call the protected industries so
far bafIled and thwarted il az %
prevent any reduction OF conse-
quence until 1872, when they
defeated a House Dill making sub
stantiaI and permanent reduction OF
war duties by substituting a Senate
bill making horizontal cut Of 10
per cent.
As soon, however, as the elections
Of 1874 had gwen the next House to
the Democrats that law was repealed
by the outgoing Republjcans and