The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-17

1 M. .,o,dents of debate often Dring out
| lin and marrow of the discussion far
mora fully and completely than the most care
! frIlv elaborated set speeches. This was
ro,ahlv illustrated in the discussions OF the
| ,orig in the House OF Representatives Tues
| dav. Mr.. Walker. Republican, from Massa-
cbusetts. was defending the principles OF
nrotcctive tariff, when Mr. Livingston. Of
| Georgia. interrupted to say no wanted to
| buy his spectacles where he could buy them
cheapest
Mr. Walker retorted Then God deliver
mo from your disposition. ! wan; to buy Of
Americans and to protect the American arti-
san and laborer'
Now. in his homeiy way. Mr.. Livingston
said all that can be said against protective
tariffs. The idea OF a protective tar1 is TINS:
Spectacles and thousands of other articles are
made in Europe far cheaper than they can be
made in America. therefore, unless aided by
the Government, Americans are unable TO
manufacture spectacles in competition Win
Europeans. Accordingly the advocates OF
protective tariff step up and say; we VIII
put a tax on all foreign spectacles which Will
force the price Of them up 50 high thA' "h
American can manufacture them ana SOL
them at a profit. when the foreign spectacies
in competition with his have to pay the tax
added to their cost" Plainly, then. the tax
which the high-tariif man would impose Is LOT
the benefit OF tho manufacturer OF spec
tacles. and TO the disadvantage Of
him who uses spectacles. Is this far
and lust? Ought the Government to
compel Jones to pay two prices for his spec
tacles in order that Smith may make profit
ont of manufacturing spectacles; Has not
Jones cot lust as much right to buy his spec
tacles cheap as Smith has to manufacture
spectaces. and is not the Government abus-
ing and msapplying its powers conferred
upon 1t for the equal benefit OF all when 1t
forces Jones to pay two prices for spectacles
in order that Smith may manufacture them
for profit
The equity and justice Of the thing is not
open to discussion. In plain English the
Government robs Jones for Smiths benefit
when it compels him 10 pay double price for
his spectacles in order that Smith may manu-
facture them. Then what is the case IN re-
spect TO the members benefited by the pro-
tective tariff? What is the proportion be-
tween those persons in the United States who
use spectacles and those who manufacture
them? We have no means of determining
this definitely but we have a shrewd sus-
picion that If the manufacturers OF spec
taces had no market for their wares
in, fI,a I,,rf
there would be an immediate and utter col
lapse of the whole affair. In other words. the
great body of those who use spectacles is
composed of persons who have no connection
with their manufacture. Here, then, is the
Government making the great bulk of the
pay tribute to that small portion
of it engaged in the business of manufactur-
ing spectacles Where is the sense or the
Justice of this? All of both the sense and the
Justice of it is found IN Mr. Walkers response
TO Mr.. Livingston. They consist in pa
triotic desire to buy spectacles from Ameri-
cans, and in a patriotic desire to protect
merican artisans and laborers.
Now, both these patriotic desires are COM
mendable in Mr. Walker if he is really fool
enough to believe that there is any patriotism
in either. Patriotism may rest in the bosom
of fool az well as in that of wise man.
But there is nothing whatever in the sent-
ment Of patriotism that demands that an
American shall buy his spectacles from an
American only, or that demands that be shall
wish TO see an American manufacturer #
spectacles get rich at the expense Of other
American citizens. An American may be true
patriot and still desire to buy his spectacles
as cheaply as he can. and the more he desires
to do this. the thrittier he is likely to be. and
therefore the better patriot he is likely to be-
He may be true patriot and not care a bau-
bee whether the American now manufactur-
ing spectacles continues to make his living
by manufacturing spectacles. OF whether he
has to go into some other business better
suited to him for a support
SO that Mr.. Walkers patriotism is nothing
but sckly sentimentality resting IN no
principle of reason or justice. The reason
and justice of the thing is that every man
should be permitted TO buy his spectacles
Just as cheaply as he can. and no mon should
have the powers of the Government used to
confer special privileges upon himself.
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