Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-07
WHY l ana PTotsctioniss.

First am Protectionist because am
an American, thoroughly imbued with
American ideas. American principles. Amer
lean enterprises and Am ericsu thought
Secord For the reason that i, Rusrsn-
lees to the wage esrnefs, whether male or
female. 3 better remuneration for their ser
vices than they can possibly obtain in any
country on thu face Of the Rlt be; and this
remuneration does not apply simply to fac
tory operatives. manufacturing textile fab
RIGS, but applies equally to the employed in
every vocation in life, whether it be clerks,
..lesmeu, professors Of 'lleges. or sslaried
III rers IL railroads, bsnks, or Incorporated
C ,mp.nies of Any kind 40 that any humsn
b ing in any vocation in this c1uutry VII,
works for . ss'ary, ei'her by the day or
year, i. benefited by the American policy
Of Protection.
Third has caused the balance Of trade
to turn ln sur favor during the last thirty
wears 70 such an extend that ths Dsions OF
the earth. during this time. have paid US
eighteen hundred millions of dollars. and
our Country is lust thar much richer than it
would have been had IL not been for our
system of protection. The result of this
IL that instesd Of being compelled to pay
the money lenders Of the country from
seven to ten per cent. per Anoum interest for
their money, they are very we'll Satisfied
with from four to Ave per cent. per annum,
reducing the rate Of interest quite one
half from what the average wss to the bor-
rover thirty years ago.
Fourth-For the reason that it encourages
manufacturing enterprises OF al! kinds to
Increase throughout The 'untry, and the
competition between the manufacturers
prevents large profit. from being made, and
prevents monopolies OF sill kinds in c,nse-
qrence Of this comp tition The result Of
our manufacturing interests is We furnish
the people a better class Of goods At less
price than they would have ID pay II these
! d fferent fnsnufsc,uriug Adjustments were
not esisbii he'd in this country, creating .
dem.nd for our agricul. ursl products, and
realizing . better price for them in our own
home market than W get abrosd.
Fifth--The U. 8. Government collected
| in 1890 about two hundred and thirty mil.
lions Of dollars frnm imports, and the most
Of this revenue was collected from import
ers, who bring in q class Of merchandise
that Is not used generally by the medium
and lower classes, and particularly so since
the duties have been taken of sugar.
! The loves. estimate of the amount of
money earned by the wage-earuers Of oil
classes in this country is about fifteen
thousand millions Of dollars annually, an
excess Of at least six thousand millions over
the earnings Of the same number OF people
living in other countries
| Can this country do sway with our pro-
tective policy without reducing the wages
! OF the bread-winuers TO the level OF wages
paid in foreign counuiesi II not, then the
wase-esrrsrs could well 81 ord to pay the
/ $3.50. 600 600 colt cted by the government.
mostly from foreign producers, in 1890 and
| keep up the present rate Of wages
| As the weslihier classes use at least
seven tsnths Of the amount OF our imports,
that portion of the dug paid by consumers
besrs very lightly on the poorer classes ;
co lsequentIy all Of our legislation fAvoripg
protection is almost wholly in the interest
| of these classes, and she psssing Of such
laws by Republican Congress lie iegisiat-
| log the greatest sood tn the eressest num-
| Der Of pc ofle Coz WM N. STRONG. in
American Economist, Jolly 81. 1891.