The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-22
TARIFF FUNGI.

TARIFF FUNGI.
In an interesting contribution to the
San Francisco Examiner, Congressman
William L. Wilson discusses the ques-
ton OF tariff and trusts. As those who
know the intellect of the mar would ex-
pect, it is clear cut and goes straight to
the mark. He has ridden round the
bay, paid a visit to the Golden Gate,
and inspected the busy ship yards and
industries of the great western seaport.
Its magnificent possibilities OF wealth
and enterprise stir him to a pitch of en-
thusiasm. He has seen a magnificent
harbor, such as neither the art of the
engineer nor the most lavish outlay
could create. It's deep and safe outlet
stretches out to invite foreign commerce
to its shores. He has made acquain-
lance with the extensive and productive
country that pours it's into the
lap of the city, has travelled over the
lines of railroad that render communica-
ton easy, and he has admired the man
u%facturing energy Of the town itself.
Few places in the world, he believes,
can boast such a lavish bestowal of
natures favors.
But the foreign commerce, which
should be the life-blood of a city with
the commercial advantages of San Fran
cisco, is checked and impeded in every
possible way by the action of the repub-
lican party. We put forward, and with
reason, our claim to be n of the most
enlightened peoples of the world. We
cherish the belief that we can hold our
own in matters of trade with any out
slider. But we practically throw down
the whole edifice of our boasting in
ruins when We cling to the %antiquated
notion that trade is not a mutually ben
eticial transaction, but a gambling for a
stake, in which we insist on holding
cards in our sleeve. The provisions of
the Mckinley bill debar San Francisco
from the vivifying and invigorating
channels Of foreign trade almost as eff
fectually as if an earthquake had closed
the channel at the Golden Gate.
The result of the policy is inevitable.
The hard working people of this country
are burdened with the presence OF
trusts, that render most of the necessi.
ties of life a matter of serious expense
and give in return absolutely nothing
in the shape of increased pay. AS Mr.
Wilson we'll puts it:
Our high tariff men say, not in words
to be sure. but in deeds, that it is better te
have the currents of industry settle into
those %stagnant pools called trusts than to
have them vivifed and invigorated b,
foreign trade. AS q people who produce
and will be capable of producing for indefi
mite ages, a great surplus of agriculture
and manufactured products, we must fns
profitable foreign markets, Sor that surplus
or we must invent some device whereby W
can throttle production and bring it dow
to the demand of the home market. In sucl
lines of manufacture as are protected b
the tariff and can be centralized into a fe,
found in the trust. In agriculture and i
a some lines of manufacture the trust canno
v be made effective. We have reached tn
point rs producers where we must hav
commerce or we will have trusts. Tari
reform aims to give US a profitable Quite
? for surplus products through foreign trad,
while protection, especially in its latel
and most extreme manifestation, the M,
kinley bill, compels and encourages IL
resort to trusts whereby labor ia mao
dependent upon capital and narrowed in i
i, opportunities of employment, and prof
are sought through monopoly prices in IL
home market rather than through lncrea.
" ing sales in the worlds markets.