Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-08
WhyI Am a Proteetionist.
Hon George Fl. Ely in American Econ
omist.

Hon. 6e0rRt II. Ely IN Amtrtcd1 LEon-
omist.
Its obviously the right and the duty
Of this nation TO care for its own.
Whatever. from geographical position.
commercial relations and existing social
and industrial conditions, may appar-
entity be the policy Of any other nation.
IL il our duty TO make the utmost OF
American resources-resoufces in men
and In material things That WAS the
underlying thought OF the new nation,
planted on the new continent
IL proposed higher type Of manhood
than could be realized under old world
conditions
It meant, first Of all, higher wage
level. Men, not class interests. were 20
count In the new socisl and political
framework. That higher wage-levei
aimed at By the Fathers Of the hepuolc,
the policy of Protection which they In
augurared. secured and still maintains.
By carefully adjusted rates OF duty, the
low wage products Of other countries
which compete with ours, or with sech
a. we can and ought 20 produce, are
made 70 pay TO large extent, the nee
essary expenses of our Government :,
while our free list Of non-com petitlve
proc uccs swings wide open the z ties, IN
every CLINE, 20 the products OF our agrl-
culture and manufactures
| Within the lines Of these defences, we
are now working on. our great destiny
The theatre Is All Isolated continent
| banded from ocean to ocean by every
zone Of climate, between Tropical heat
aud Arctic cold
The instrument Ia diversified Indus
try. which. along the whole range OF in
yentien, discovery and human labor, hits
| Into the sunlight the dormant and I'M
| utilized natural resources OF our country
By this policy the farm, the shop, the
mine and the factory, each furnish
| market for the other. and while taxation
| Of foreign products, at the gates, Is an
| unfailln9 reliance for revenue, home
production. with competition the mo
inent the defensive duty has established
the industry, invariably lowers the cost
Of commodities TO the consumer. Ia
other words, the tariff Is tax
| only on the foreign producer. In
no other land does days
| wages secure TO the toiler so
| much to cover his necessities and TO
brighten hia life Whenever, az differ
ent periods In the one hundred years De-
| hind US, this economic policy has pre-
vailed, and to Just the extent i. has been
fully operative. its vindication has
glo we'd upon the pages of our national
history.
The Mckinley Tariff Act is now work
ing out its claimed and prophesied re-
suits. In the first ten months OF us
operation. It has increased our foreign
trade 500, 435, l23. Ii is. at this moment,
bringing in more than one half OF our
foreign imports on the free list, and 1t
has reduced the per capita revenue from
duties from s. 81 to s2.59. Its provis-
ions for the enlargement OF sales OF
[ nited States products to South and
Central American States have already re-
suited in important treaties with Spain,
San Domingo and Brazil, with other
negotiations pending.
These provisions for reciprocal trade
are certain TO increase our export sales
$50 900, 900 within a year, and yet this
patriotic and successful undertaking Is
characterized by Tariff Reform" as
The Blaine Reciprocity humbug"