The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-14
Protection an 1 Business Sense.

American Economist.
\ decision between the policies of
protection and free trade should in
no Wise be influenced by consider
atoms of sentiment or theory. The
question presented must be deter
mined in the light of experience, facts,
and the application of these in accord
;;nce with the dictates of plain bust
ness sense. This fact explains in
great measure the attitude of men on
farms. IN factories and counting rooms
on the one side, and men of the clois-
tiers, colleges aud dreaming galleries
Oh the other. 1t was of the latter
that an eminent French statesman
said, they lave no experience and
hence cannot fail to take the wrong
roads when arguing economical
propositions with respect to govern
mental policy.
Theorists insist upon taking every
economic proposition into the cloud
land where they delight TO dwell, and
there trimming it liz conformity with
such notions as they have imbibed;
When all the while there IS neither
magic nor mystery in its make up
only the plain facts of cost and condi-
tons, such as every good business man
takes into his calculations of every day
affairs.
Gauged by this standard and applied
to a nation SO maryelously endowed
with natural resources as is the United
States, what is the outlook to the prac-
teal man Of affairs: He finds there is
timber in the forests, mineral in the
mountains, plenty of fuel both above
and below The surface. lie sees mil
lions Of strong arms crossed over
breasts swelling with energy to carve
out personal competency while adding
to national wealth and power. Shall
natures gifts remain untouched, and
stalwart men be held back from chan
nels i'll which their unhampered am
bition would place them, and they be
compelled to remain dependents upon
foreigners for the necessaries of life?
The question suggests the answer
So Ling as workingmen in any part
of the world can be found content to
take lower wages than Will properly
support citizen of the United States,
the theorist says, Let the product of
such cheap Labor come without fetter
! OF barrier to its ingresS. His claim is
that the way to make people rich is to
let them ''buv where they can buy the
cheapest This is the beginning and
the end of his philosophy. But the
practical man of affairs knows that
I foreign products Will not be imported
unless buyers are ready to take them
off his hands and pay something more
than cost charges. Experience has
also taught him that the only way in
which a large majority of the people
can become purchasers is to first lie
/ supplied with work and given wages
/ somewhat beyond what is required fer
! buving food lie also recalls the fact
III - W Il u III liiIitS bstSl ttIl lilfD
have md rtaken to ut. e domestic
resources, cDmb.n atoms Of interested
foreigners heretofore supplying the
desired products at once dropped down
! prices and kept them down until all
efforts OF domestic competition had
starved OFT. 1t is in view of these
facts that he announces willingness to
join with the enterpriscr of home in
daStry-the would-be miner and mill
I owner, and the farmer who stands
lea ly to supply these with bread and
meat-and conclude an arrangement
I by which ev-ry willing pair of arms
can be given work. every needy buyer
can secure enough money TO keep him
self and those dependent upon his eff
! forts on the high level Of comfort and
independence.