The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-10
A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE, NOT ONE
OF SCH dulles.

Those who talk tariff reform" and
''high protection" use terms to deceive
or are deceived by them. Free trade
means an unrestricted market for all
commodities of all nations. This may
be qualified III this country by the fact
that we have always regarded commerce
subject to such taxation as will raise
revenue to meet the expenses Of the gov
eminent. This is a revenue tariff, to he
laid without discrimination on all ar
ticles Of commerce. The protective view
would lay the tariff on those articles
that come in competition with articles
that are largely manufactured in this
country, while those articles not manu-
featured or grown in this country or
those that may not by encouragement be
successfully produced here are free Of
duty.
Protection recognizes as fact that
wages are higher here than in England,
for example, which enhances
the cost of the manufactured
products, and this necessitates a
discrimination in favor of the American
manufactured article. Protectionists
assert from the experience of the past
that this stimulates production in this
country till the manufactured article
here is cheaper than before. Protection
claims that foreign countries. grown 10
their limits SO far as population is con-
cerned, with wages reduced TO the limit
of living necessity, can sell goods under
free trade system SO as to ruin the
home industry, keep our country from
that development in manufacturing she
ought to attain TO, and leave us largely
an agricultural touatry, instead of one
with diversified Industries.
Protectionists maintain that the slim
ulation Of manufacturing makes, TO that
extent, a demand for labor which tends
to increase wages. Protectionists main
tain that the hard conditions in most
European countries have kept the labor
ing men at work at low wages, which
has kept them more ignorant and less
and that well paid labor and, conse-
quently, more intelligent workingmen
Is public benefit, and the policy that
will tend to that end is the best policy.
Does protection tend to maintain or in
crease wages?
That protection stimulates industry
there can be 10 longer serious doubt.
Judge Crisp admits it in the American
Journal of Politics, and VIC. Oates, him
self Democrat and free trader, admits
it in the North American Review Oates
objects to protection because it stimu-
iates to overproduction. Crisp says that
the chief factor in the development of
our domestic industries has been pro
lection, and that ninety per cent. of the
articles is home made.
There viii be no contention that pro-
lection does not protect. The man who
wants free trade TO stimulate manu-
featuring by giving the manufacturer
free raw material is back number. We
have the raw material and the manu-
factory that depends on imported free
raw material Will not likely succeed
here.
The question at stake is the principle
Of protection. Men who deny the con-
of protection; who claim
that protection does not protect, that it
hampers trade, hinders manufacturing,
and reduces wages, still say they are for
protection that ultimately leads to
free trade. If protection is SO
bad and free trade will set
spindles in motion and make better
wages. why not be for free trade now?
Why be for protection that ultimately
leads to free trade" This tariff re-
form" advocated by men whose every
says free trade is CONNER
cial panacea is ridiculous. \ protec-
zionist only can be logically for reform
Of the tariff. Why?
Tariff reform is logically o dispute
over schedules. 1t recognizes that dis
schedules ought to be
things put on the free
ist, some rates lowered, others raised
hat the most nearly perfect or just
schedule may be made. A protectionist |
alking tariff reform" is talking sense. |
1ut q free trader talking tariff reform" |
5 rs ridiculous as an atheist seeking to |
'eform the Thirty-nlne Articles. Be |
,ause a protectioniss criticises a tariff /
measure is 10 evidence he has abandon |
d protection. 1t may be admitted that /
here are no protective measures that /
Ire bad and that none are perfect.
Much light is made of the home |
market as it applies to the farmer.
Hinetytwo per cent. of all farm
products are consumed at home.
But Liverpool controls the price
u the surplus which fixes the
,rice of corn and wheat" There are SO
many exceptions and limitations that
his can hardly be said to be true SUP
,ose we had free trade. would not Liver
,ool still fix the market? Would not
'ur surplus be only greater, and would
lot that depress the market? Would
lot men working in manufacturing, if
lriven from these employments by for
ign competition, oe compelled to turn
al i4ANAS aAId mus loAt iASi SVEN the sur |
'lus OF grain and reduce the price? As
is the farmers get about "the same
rice for what they sell, while the price
# almost anything they buy has been
educed from 20 TO 10 per cent through
he developement of trade and manu-
acture under protection.
While we are developing as q nation,
nj any material portion Of our domain
emains unimproved, and wages are