Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-07-08
For Self pefen G.


A strong argument in favor Of pro
lection is that il is necessary as meabs
Of national self preservation. Free ira
ders affect to regard this proposition
with great contempt, but il is a fac.
nevertheless that many Of our greatest
minds in this country have maintained
lit.
Suppose that. through some uutowar1
circ instances. we should become involv-
ri in a war with one or more European
nations from which we import many
things necessary Cor us to nave in time
Of war Suppose that during all our
national existence We had followed the
advice so generously bestowed upon us
by free traders aud had devoted our
selves principally to farming pursuits
and had allowed the nations with which
We were at war to make end sell to us
most Of the Manufactures consumed By
US. including our mechanical tools and
implements. aud also arms, ammunition
and military equipments. how would it
be possible for us to contend successfully
in war with such nltions?
OF course without manufactures of
our own We should be at the mercy Of
our enemies till such time as we could
establish them and produce our own i'm
plements of warfare ami other needed
supplies; and, if it ever could be accom-
plished, it would be under the most ad-
verse conditions, especially as in such
case we should be entirely without the
skilled laborcrs and artisans necessary
for such an undertaking.
A great and diversified country like
ours has within it all the elements of
national self development, self support
and self preservation.
But these clements cannot be proper
ly developed without numerous and d.
vcrstied manufactures, and these can
not be built up aud maintained without
strong protective tariff.
The greatest minds Of this country
have favored protection, not for revenue
only. but a protection that builds up
manufactures which afford profitable
employment to labcrers engaged therein
and which gives a great home market to
our agricn ural products. Among the
greatest of the american patriots Of the
past who favored such policy of pro-
lection. we're Washington. Jefferson,
Alexander IIa milton, John c. Calhoun,
Henry Clay, Lincoln and Garfield
That they were true and devoted Amer
lean patriots is undisputed aud the great
Republican party of to-day is but en-
gagged in carrying out md improving
the folicy Of protection to American in
tcrests as advocated by those illustrious
patriots.
Alexander Hamilton. is his great re-
port on manufactures in 1870, said;
Not only the wealth but the indie
pendencc of country appear to be ma
.tar;all spppertea via I've prosperity Of
manus Fn'es. Every nation with a
view to ksse great objects ought to en-
deavor to possess within itself all the es-
seniials Of national supply. These COM
prise the means Of subsistence, habita-
ton. clolhing and defense. The pos
secession of these is necessary to the per-
friction Of the body polite and to the
safety as we'll as the welfare Of society.
The mt Of either is the want of an i'm
portant organ Of political life and mo-
tion, and, IN the various crises that
await state. it must seriously feed the
effects of any such deficiency"
And he cites the extreme embarrass-
mcnts Of the United States during the
Revolutionary war from their inability
TO supply themselves with many things
that they greatly needed as a striking
proof of his statement. and shows how
these embarrassments may be overco ne
by judicious protection to our manufac-
lures.