The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-05
WHY HE Is A PROTECTlONIST.
Senator John Sherman Gives the Reasons
that Cause Him to Oppose Free TT ade.

The subjoined letter of Senator Sherman
was printed in the Urbana (O.) Citizen:
protective tariff was the first meas
ure provided by the first Congress of the
United States No nation can be independ-
ent without q diversity of industries.
single occupation may answer for an indi-
vldual, but q nation must be composed of
many men of many employments. Every
nation ought to be independent of other ma
tions In respect to ali productions necess-
airy for life aud comfort that can be made at
home. These are aXloms of political econ
omy so manifestly true that they need no
demonstration. The measure of protec-
ton Is proper subject of dispute. but there
should be- no dispute as to the principle Of
protection in q country like ours possess
ing almost every raw material OF nature
and almost every variety of production.
I'VE have prOspered most when our IN
dustries have been best protected. The
vast variety of our manufactures. now III
valing in quantity those of countries much
older than ours, is the result of protection.
Every President from Washington to jack
son, inclusive, declared in favor of the
principle of protection. Every eminent
statesman of the early period. including
Calhoun, favored this policy. The owners
of slaves. engaged chiefly in the produc-
tiOn of cotton, became hostile to protec-
ton. and, with those engaged In foreign
commerce, were the representative free
traders of the United States. Now that
slavery is abolished and the South has en-
tered upon the development of her vast
natural resources, and it has been proven
that our foreign commerce Is greater under
protective laws. there should be no opposi-
ton in any portion of our country to the
protection of American industry by wise,
discriminating duties.
THE principle of protection should be
applied impartially and fairly to all pro-
duction whether of the workshop or farm.
The object is to diversity employ ment aud
to protect labor, and this protection should
be impartialiy applied without respect to
the nature of the production. All expert
ence has established the invari able fact
that domestic production, by inducing
competition. in brief period lower the
price of all protected articles. In the
whole range of productions this result has
been universal. Whenever it is apparent
that new industry can DO established, as
is the case now with the manufacture of tin :
plate, 1t is good policy to give TO the indus
try a liberal degree of protection with the
certain assurance that if we have the raw
material on equal conditions. We can. after q
time. compete with the imported article.
The policy of q nation upon economic
questions should be fixed and stable. The
Mckinley law as now framed. though it
may be open To criticism as TO details. is n
strictly protective measure, fair and Just as
applied to all industries. with ample pro-
visions to secure reciprocity in the ex-
change of domestic productions for articles
we cannot produce. 1t ought to be thor
oughIy tested by the experience of several
years. 1t rs not good policy to disturb II or
keep the public mind in suspense about
it. 1t will, as think, demonstrate it's WIS
dom; but if not, with the light of expert
ence. il can be modified. The highest pol
lev and the greatest good TO our people lie IN
the full trial of this effort TO establish upon
a firm foundation the domestic production
of every article essential to American life
and independence. JOHN SHERMAN.