The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-03-12
TARIFF LOGIC.

The Democratic party will attempt
all manner of sophistries to overcome
the successful results of the protective
policy in their eagerness to inaugurate
British free-trade in this country; but
the facts cannot he controverted.
However paradoxical it may appear TO
Democrats, protection protects, and, in
many instanceS has decreased the price
of manufactured fabrics, while, at the
same time, it has enhanced the price
of American labor. Without the duty
on foreign imports, American manu-
| factures would not have come into ex-
istence; but, after once being inaug-
urated, the spirit of competition has
been such that articles have been
placed Oh the market at the minimum
price. Our Democratic citizens may
ask the question, why would not this
state of affairs exist under free-trade!
For the simple reason that the child
walks before he runs, and that ma
ton has to begin at the A b = OF IN
dustrial life before it can exist indie
pendently of foreign help. If, when
the United States first assumed her
position as nation, she gave no pro-
lection to home industries, the people
would have looked to Great Britain
for every article of wearing apparel
and implement of agriculture, and
would have so continued. Protection
built up home market, and said to
foreign countries, GLANDS off, until
we can stand alone"
In the British parliament, on the
Oregon question, we believe, in lS4S,
Sir James Fox, member of the
House of Lords, stated, in su distance, it
made little difference to the British
empire where the boundary line was
established. If free trade could be in
augurated in the United States every
coat worn by Americans from the
Pacific to the Atlantic would be an in
sigma of British conquest, and every
plow or harrow used In the cultivation
of the soil would render tribute to
Birmingham and Sheffield, and not to
the New England or Middle States.
Continuing further, he said, "give US
free trade in America for few years
and we will throttle and destroy every
industry in the republic, by the sur
plus products of our looms, and after
that is accomplished Americans must
pay US onr own price for the conve-
niepces of life" Protection has saved
the industries of this country from
this destruction, and, by keeping out
the product of foreign pauper labor
has given our own citizens an opportu
nifty 20 build UP factories, improve
machinery, and to study practically |
the economics of industrial develop
ment.
The American policy has given
an impetus to capital to bring IN
to practical use our diversified natural
resources, give employment to labor,
and make the country self-support-
ing. In many instances, by reason
of competition and improved machin-
cry, the price of the manufactured
article has been lowered to
less than that in foreign countries.
Of course, those who desire to wear
French or English goods in preference
to American must pay the import
duty; but patriotic citizens are not
taxed in this regard. This IS
,he simple solution Of the apparent
Inconsistencies in the result of the pro.
,ective policy in the United States,
md in this, as in other matters of a
business nature-as we said in pre-
nous article nothing succeeds like