The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-01
THE pumrueorRY OF PROTECTION.

rnited States sent his famous Tariff Reform
message to Congress. the Republicans at once
took mn their old CRY and began declaring far
and wide that the Democrats were 10 FAVOR OK
Free Trade" which would ruin American
industries and reduce the wages OF the Amer
ican laborer 10 the level OF those OF the
"pauper labor Of Europe psuper labor
bv the way. that seems TO be not only salts
fed. but greatly pleased with its condition.
There was absolutely no truth in this
charge. No Democrat in the country how
ever much Of free trader he might be. would
advocate any such doctrine under existing
conditions when the country needs so enor-
mons A revenue 20 meet the demands
mon Il for the payment Of It's national
debt and huge pension lists The Dem
ocratc party is opposed to taxation Of the peo-
ple directly or indirectly, and relies
or the customs duties to raise the hundreds
Of millions needed annually by the Govern
ment. II therefore fsvors Tariff. but
Tariff which will encourage imports ana
really make the foreigner pay the tax ana
not prohibitory Tariff, such as we now
eroan under which shuts out imports ana
forces our own people TO pay one tax TO tho
monopolst and another to the government
That neither Mr. Cleveland nor the Demo
cratic House which was in session at the time
lie sent 10 his famous message, we're IN iHNof
Of free trade" is clearly shown by the re-
cord. In that message. Mr.. Cleveland useu
these words
Our progress toward wise conclusion
will not be improved by dwelling upon the
theories OF protection and free trade. MS
sevors too much OF bsndylng epithets, IL IS
q condition which confronts us-not theory
Relief from this condition may involve
slight reduction Of the advantages which we
award our home productions, but the entre
withdrawal Of such advantages should not 10
contemplated The question OF free trade is
absolutely irrelevant. and the persistent Claim
made ia certain quarters that all euorts 10 re-
lieve the people from unjust ana uhneces-
sary taxation ore schemes Of so-caued Tree
traders. is nischievOus aud far removed from
any consideration for the public good. Inc
simple and plain duty which we owe the peO-
pie is 10 reduce taxation TO the necessary e4-
penses of an economical operation OF the GoV-
eminent and TO restore 10 the business Of the
country the money which we hoid IN tDe
Treasury through the peryersion OF Govern,
be done with safety 10 all our industries
without danger 10 the opportunity Tor relnu,
nerative labor which our workingmen need
and with benefit 10 them and 10 ali our people
by cheapening their means Of subsistence and
increasing the measure OF their comforts
In accordance with the recommendations
in this Message the House passed reform
tariff bill which was the best tariff law. recog-
nizing protection. that had ever been enacted.
1t admitted free raw materials for the use OF
our most important industries. but It had
nothing approaching TO free trade IN IT, ana
gave as high protection as Henry Clay, the
father of protection. ever asked Neverthe
less the people either did not read or did not
heed what they read. The old scare-crow
again worked. succesfully. and Cleveland and
Tariff Reform were temporarily defeated
by ignorance, bribery and corruption carried
on by the protected monopolists enormous
campaign fund raised 10 purchase voters on
condition that the Republicans, if elected
would pay them back by enacting Tariff
law even moro stringent than the war tariff
which Mr.. Cleveland SO periodically de-
nounced.
The Republicans did win and carried out
their promises to the monopoists. If the
Morrill, war tariff was whip, they substi-
tuted for it, in the Mckinley tariff, scor-
pion, and the monopolists were given back
their corruption fund with tremendous inter
est. paid them by increasing the taxation
levied upon the people for their benefit.
And now what do we see: So far from
wages being raised, we read that Andrew
Carnegie, one OF the prime benefcaries and
apostles Of proteotion-who, although few
years ago he was q poor man, is now enabled.
from the fruits Of the taxes laid for his in
terest, to drive tally-ho coaches throughout
the British Isles. aud to purchase baromal
seat in Scotland where he lives like prince of
the blood has ordered the reduction Of
wages 80 per cent. in his iron works, and the
discharge Of all union employees and it is
also announced that he is deliberately forti-
flying his establishments in readiness for
actual war upon his operators in case Of
strike.
This, then, is the real substantial outcome
of a protection which keeps the word Of
promise to the ear, but breaks it to the hope
and instead of the increased wages held out
as one of its blessings we see wages reduced,
and preparations made 10 resist TO the death
those who do not quietly yield to the stua-
ton No wonder the people had begun TO
realize the truth in 1890; aud it will be passing
strange if they DO not assert themselves with
even moro emphasis ia 1922.