Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-06

trade we never should have attained that
position. We held our positions as ma
ton of protectionists. We let foreigners
see what protection has done for US and
they copied u.s.
The contrasts in the underlying princi-
pies of our government and the English
government has frequently been pointed
out. Ours is based upon and recognizes
the rights of humanity. England is a
monarchy, claiming to govern by divine
right dec grattia, and is for the benefit of
royalty, aristocracy, and cottonocracy.
We claim that ''the brightest picture In
our history is the advancement of the
workingman into the front rank of dis
tinction and influence" Even John
Bright, who denounced American pro-
tectionists as 'barbarians, y ''ft subject
for lunatic asylums," ETC., said:
america is the home of the workingman.
He has there advantages
which the people of this country England
have not yet gained, because we are grad
ually making our way out of the darkness
and tyrannies of past ages.
We move on higher plane than any
other people. Humanity is our guide, not
royalty nor aristocracy. Protection in
this country benefits the farms, the fur
naces, and the factories, and those who
toll in them. The royal commission, in
its report on the depression and suffering
of the working classes in England, said 1t
was owing to the importation of foreign
made goods into the English markets
which appeared to grow at a more rapid
rate than population, " necessarily throw
ing English laborers out Of employment.
Those and the producers we're the ones
who were suffering through England lad
hitting foreign fabrics free of duty. "
Yet that same royal commission added.
A MOST SIGNIFICANT FACT.
"Those. on other hand, who are in receipt
of fixed salaries, who draw their incomes
from fixed investments, have comparative
y little to complain Of Those classes OF
population who derive their income from
foreign investments or from property not
directly connected with foreign industries,
appear to have little ground Of complaint.
On the contrary, they profted by the re-
markable low prices of many commod-
tiles"
The royal commission of 1886 sustains
the claims of American protectionists, that
those with fixed incomes, money lenders,
etc, are the most benefited by free trade,
while those who produce, the iaborer
workingman, are injured thereby. Free
trade benefits the classes who produce
nothing, who contribute nothing, because
they create nothing, toward the wealth OF
prosperity of the country. Protection
benefits the artisan and toiler, the laborer
who is constantly contributing to the
wealth and prosperity of the nation. Free
trade is fast running England Protection
has made the United States the most pros
porous country i'll the worl6 University
boys" by study and reflection, will soor
comprehend why it is that the presidents
professors, etc, in our colleges and uni
7ersities are nearly all free-traders. Ht
will soon discover the folly of that Utopiaf
idea so often taught in colleges, etc, thai
there is political economy alike adapted
to all countries and governments as they
exist.
On that fallacy the London Quarterly
Review says: eff all the countries of the
globe were actually, or were ready to be
come, constituent portions of one and thu
same great family, the theory of free-trad
ers might seem plausible. But the plain
truth is that the whole analogy is forced
and unnatural. By treating the human
race as one great family we are not follow
ing, but departing from the apparent de-
sign of Providence, as indicated In the dis
pensations that everywhere present then
selves to our observation. In these WE
are totally unable to discern any trace O.
| the ideal corporation" Again the writer
says: THE Deity seems to have stamped
on the features of nature and humanity
unmistakable characters, that nations
| shall remain separate and distinct eacf
pursuing, under the restraintsonly ofmora
obligations and just laws, its own interests
and thus, in beautiful harmony with the
similar arran gements among individual.
of the same nation, each, however uncon
sciously, contributing to that general gooC
of all the parts
Genuine American patriotism consists
in striving ito promote the genera! well
fare" of our people first, that that is the
great underlying principle of our govern
ment, and the chief purpose for which il
was formed. 1t is not in the minds Of the
so-called philosophers, professors, ETC.
that the truest patriotism is found; but Il
is in the hearts of the common people, t9G
| toilers, whether ON the farm, In the mill
or in the factory. Philosophers and pro
fessors are nearly always abstract, abstruse
rarely to be trusted in practical matters
those pertaining to everyday. Grea
statesmen have realized this stolen truth
Bismarck wanted to ''save Prussia from
the professors.
Naqolean Bonaparte said; eff natter
was made of adamant the political econo
mists would grind it to powder Glad
stone. who not long since was lecturing'u'
on the evils of protection, in reply to the
IL - T
land, Oct. IA, 1864, said: Direct taxation
admit if we were to proceed upon 40
stract principles. is q SOUND principle
| But, gentlemen, have some compassion
upon those whose first necessity it is K
| provide for the maintenance offhe publi;
credit, to provide for the defenses of thf
country, to provide in every department
or the full efficiency of the public service
| wish | could teach every political philo
sopher and every financial reformer to eX
tend some indulgence to those who would
ascend along with them, il they could, in
to the seventh heaven of speculation but
who have weights and clogs tied TO thei1
feet which bind thean down to the earth
Gentlemen. have compass
and after that | will go with you strong or
impracticable in the affairs of terrestrial
Kingdoms. I warn any government
against adopting free trade" But in his
Dundee speech, he said $780, ''Protec.
ton, although it might inhict incidental
collateral blows on their countries, did fa1
greater mischief to the people of the
country which adopted such a policy, and
whose people it pjundered and defraud-
ed" In his Kin Beyond the Sea, he said
of us: The development, which the re-
public has effected has been uLexampled
in its rapidity and force.
AS to riches. it is reasonable to establish