The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-01

the protective tariff act and was elected
president as the distinctive representative
of protection. In 1906 Jefferson. antici-
pating treasury surplus, asked in his
message: "Sha!i We suppress the impost
and give that advantage 10 foreign over
domestic manufactures ?" and answered
his question by advising ''the continuance
of the impost and the application of the
surplus to the great purposes of public
education. roads, rivers, canals and all
other objects of public Improvement"
That is Mr.. Jefferson did not seize the
opportunity TO commend an initial step in
the path OF free trade as Cleveland did
when confronted with an impending sur
plus. Jefferson reiterated these views in
his message of 1907, and in 1909 he in
dorsed the principle OF protection to manu-
features. The committee of the house to
which this portion of his message vas re-
ferred on the general question of pro ection
used this notable language: "A nation
erects a solid asis for the support and
maintenance of its independence and pros
perity. whose policy is to draw from its
native resources ali articles of the first
necessity"
And with special view of protecting
home manufactures they recommended adj
ditionai duties on clothing, millinery. cot
ton manufactures, bedticking corduroys,
shot and other manufactures in which
lead is used, and salt. A resolution was
passed directing the secretary of the treas
ury to prepare and report to the house
plan for the application of such means as
are within the power of congress for the
manufactures OF the Uuited States" This
resolution was passed by majority of IS
in a vote of 13l. Washington, Adams,
Jefferson. Madison and Hamilton
had inaugurated and maintained
the policy of protection without
any opposition worthy of name. and at the
end of twenty years of protection its
only opponent on principle was John Ran
dolph, of Roanoke, who was SO notorious
political and social crank all his days
that the soberest statesman of his time
impeached his sanity. Albert Gallatin,
creased protection for our manufactures.
President Madison, in his messages of
1911 and 1916 particularly commended to
congress the protection and preservation
of our manufactures. In obedience to
Madlson's recommendations the tariff act
of 1916 was passed, which so greatly ex-
tended and increased specific duties and
diminished the application of the ad val
orem principle to foreign imports that it is
described as 1.-The practical foundation of
the American policy of encouragement Of
hoWe manufactures-,he practical estab-
lishment of the great industrial system
upon which rests our present national
wealth. and the power, prosperity and
happiness of our whole people,"
The tariff of 1916 was supported not
only by Henry Clay, but by John C. CAL
houn. Calhoun defende protection
against the assaults of New England, and
argued for the American system of pro-
lection as essential for the perpetuity of
the Union. and for the increase of ma
tional strength" He did not plead for
mere incidental protection, but for pro-
lection in its broadcast sense, as calcu-
lated to bind together more closely our
widespread republic and cement a wall of
public opinion against what he called "a
new and terrible danger to the nation
disunIon." This was the most glorious
hour of Ca.houn's life. for We find him IF
teen years later battling against protection
as unconstitutional uphoding nullinca-
ton as reserved right of his state. and
championing that very new and terrible
danger" to the liberties of his country
against which he solemnly warned New
England in 1916, when she voted against
the protective tariff then secured by the
twenty-five votes of the South. This pro-
tective tariff of 1916 saved our manufac-
lures when at the close of the war of 1912
the traders of Great Britain undertook to
glut the market with their goods and thus
break down. as they hoped forever, our
growing manufactures. Lord Broughan
in the house of commons, said: at is
worth while TO incur q loss upon the first
importation in order by the gut to stihe
in the cradle those rising manufactures in
the United States which the war had
forced into existence contrary to the natu-
raj course of things"
As late as 1873, when Calhoun began to
oppose the principle Of protection on the
ground of its alleged conslitutionalitv
ami inexpedency, Madison rebuked the
tree trade pro-slavery party by saying: "A
further evidence OF the CONSTITUTE. onal
ser OF congress TO protect and foster
manu- actures by regulations If trade Tan
evidence that ought Itself to settle the
question: is the uniform and practical
sanction given toshat power for near forty
years"-that i, the constitution grants
the power to protect manufactures "by
regulations Of trade" and not as a mere
incident TO the power TO collect revenue.
Madison secretary OF the treasury, Mr.
Dallas, III has report 10 congress urging an
increase OF duties on cotton and wooden
goods said: 1t vii soon be understood
that the success of the American manu-
facturer. which tends to diminish the
proAt (of,en the excessive proft) II the
importer does not necessarily ada to the
price al the article IN the hands OF the
consumer"
Mr.. Dallas was evidently an able ana
inteiigen d. m'crat wuo tors I more in
1916 than Grover { eve. nj ever knew.
The tarh If IS.6. making Ia - more
strongly protective ttau eve oet3re, " =
enacted by tie voices AMI votes # Web
st.r Clay and Callahan. n, ~, >. MIA.