Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-12


ToR sElF-oeFEssE
A Strong a-gazlsar IN favor Of protec-
uoa - that II - necessary - means Of
a>saonsl ssaf pxsssxvs<loa- Free traders
AFFECT 20 regard this proposition with
great contempt. but II u fact never
thsless that many Of cur greatest minds
In this country have maintained il.
Suppose that, through some unsovard
circumstances. We should become IN
volved IN war with one or more Euro
peAa nations from which We import
many things necessary for as To have in
TINS OF war. Supposs that during ali our
nakloual existence We had followed tho
advice 90 generously bestowed upon rs
BY free traders and had devoted our
selves principally 70 farming pursuits.
and had allowed the nations with which
We were al war Ia make and sell 10 Us
most OF the manufactures consumed by
Us. including oar mechanical tools and
implements. and also arms, ammunition
and military equipments, how would il
10 possible for as To contend success
fully in war with such nations,
OF conr.e without manpfactor;ss a,
..a,,s - :. e..
90 - ' =.
our snsmies III suea siine as we eouid
establish them and produce our own i'm
PIGMENTS OF warfare and other needed
supplies; and, II II ever could Be accom-
phshsd, II would be under tho most adj
verse conditions, especially "a IN such
ease we should be entirely without tho
skillsd laborers and srtisans necessary
Tor such an undertaking.
A great and diversified country like
ours has within 1t all the elements OF
national self development. elf support
and self preservation.
But these elements cannot DO properly
developed without numerous and di-
verslhed manufactures. and these can
not he built up and maintained without
sstrong protective tariff.
In his firsr message 10 the frst con-
gress Washington said;
The safety and interest Of the people
require that they should promote such
manufactures a. tend to render them
independent OF others for essentials, and
particularly for military supplies"
Alexander Hamilton. ono OF tho
worlds greatest hnanciers. IN bis great
report on manufactures in 1880, said:
Not only the wealth but the indie
pendence Of country appear to be ma
terially connected with the prosperity
OF manufactures Every nation with .
view TO these great objects ought to en-
deavor to possess within itself all the
essentials OF national supply. These
comprise the means Of subsistence, hab-
itation. clothing and defense. The pos
session Of these u necessary 70 the per-
lection OF the body politfc and to tho
safety rs well az the welfare Of society.
The want OF either Is the want OF an i'm
porrant organ OF political LIE and mo-
ton, and, In the various crises that
await state. 1t must seriously feel the
effects OF any such deficiency.
And he cites the extreme embarrass-
meuts OF the United States during the
Revolutionary war from their inshihty
~ cSPP<y s<<~AASS~' 20 "aS< A~~es<J ssAAA@SS
that they greatly needed as striking
proof OF his statement, and shows how
these embarrasements may be overcome
by judicious protection to our manufac-
tureA
In 1915 John c. Calhoun. discussing
this question in congress, said:
"Ths security OF . country mainly de-
Ponds upon its spirit and means; and a.
every people are subject to the vicissi-
sudes OF peace and war, 1t must ever Do
considered the plain dictate OF wisdom
IN peace to prepare for war
And then he shows that this can b
done only BY establishing manufactures
and protecting them against foreign
competition by proper tariff duties.
In 1873 Jsmes A Garfield uttered the
following weighty words:
80 important IN my opinion ts tho
ability Of the nation 70 manufacture all
those articles necessary TO arm, equip
and clothe our people that. If it could DO
srcrred IN any other way. would vote
to pay money out OF the federal treasury