The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-09-21
LEAF FROM AN OLD SCRAP BOOK.

LEAF FROM AN OLD SCRAP BOOK.
In an old scrap book, formerly the
property of President William Henry
Harrison. and filled with political ar
ticles selected and preserved by him dur
ing the campaign OF 1910, are number
OF articles which apply to the present
political condition with startling exacti-
tude. Many of these articles, clipped
from the writings of anonymous contri-
butoisto the Newark, IN. - Advertiser,
a thin wing paper of prominence, and
other journals of that day, read as
though written to throw light upon
the situation as it exists today. The
following. signed An Old Tariff Man,
! was written in 1910, when revision of
the tariff. under. times and conditions
analogous to those which now exist was
the all-absorbing type. 1t will be read
with interest as indicating that political
seconomy is an exact scource which does
not change, either in theory or applica
ton under similar circumstances:
The wealthy merchants and master
manufacturers of old nations where me-
chanical industry has been long estab-
fsbed can easily break up the new estab-
ishments of young countries, by sending
in manufactured goods and selling them
at less than actual cost, and continuing
this for one, two, or more years until
the new establishments are totally pros
trated. The governments, too, of old
manufac turing countries can aid their
own establishments by granting premi-
AIMS and bounties on the expectation OF
their own manufactured goods, thereby
actually affording many articles cheaper
in other countries than in their own.
England has extensively promoted her
own industries by these means, but not
content with these means she he's for
ages protected her own internal industry
in all Its branches. by high duties on, or
absolute prohibition of the importation
of all foreign rivalcommodities, suffering
nothing to be imported and consumed
within her own dominions of foreign
growth or manufacture, if the same can
be produced or made at home.
This and this alone has given to Eng
land that proud ascendancy in manu-
features and commerce; this has enabled
her to plant and sustain colonies or
almost every island in, every cape and
: head-land bordering on, and every river
flowing into the Ocean. This has given
to her a military and maratime power
superior to any other nation, and at
this moment enables her to invade the
empire of China. on the opposite side OF
the globe, an empire the oldest and most
populous of any in the universe.
If England is immensely in debt, and
and large proportion of her population
reduced to abject poverty it is from
other causes, and not from the protec-
ton given to her own internal industry
Is Massachusetts, any more in debt or
her population any the less comfortable
or wealthy, or prosperous and flourishing
, because of her manufactures? Noon
the contrary the comfort of her people
their wealth individually, and the gen
eral prosperity of the state, is equal to
that of any state in the union, and sup
efior to that of any nation in Europe or
ASIA.
fit were conceded that perfectly free
trade would be best for all nations, still
the mere fact that no nation grants it to
ms would be an argument conclusive
why we should not. But beyond this
contend that we have very extraordi-
nary advantages in productions of soil,
in climate. in cheapness of land, in min
eral wealth, in waterpower, &c. which
would enable our mechanical and man
featuring population to do better than
the same classes can in any other coun-
try, if protected against foreign rivalry;
and at the same time, the very protec-
ton given to these branches shall still
further promote the interest Of the agri-
cultural and mercantile classes.
The argument is therefore, protect
American manufactures against toreigr
rivalry; protect by high duties and alb
solute prohibitions; protect against the
various forms in which we may be as
sailed by individual manufacturers or
merchants of foreign countries, or by
foreign governments, and soon we may
ionaI prosperity.
Nor does it necessarily follow that
protection to home industry is to cause
higher prices; on the contrary, in most
fnot all cases after brief period O
effectual protection, prices invaribly
became lower than the imported article
ofsimilar quality had been; this is sc
universally and VIGOROUSLY the case
that need not advert to any particular
instance, yet protection is none the less
necessary; the best established manu-
factories may be destroyed by large
importations of foreign manufacture
sold at sacrifice, and by the premiums
and bouutIes given by foreign govern
ments. England and France and other
nations are so well aware of this, that
they continue their high duties and re-
strictions, ages after their lnanufactorits
appear to have the frmest establishment.
The free trade theory, if correct in any
point of view, is about to be tried on a
large scale in the United States. Here a
vast empire OF variously diversified soil,
climate, and productions, and inhabited
by numerous. active and enterprising
people. will exchange commodities with
out theintervention of restrictive duties,
or any other hindrance save the mere
cost of transportation. Here the trial
will be full and complete, because no re-
striction will exist on either side, or at
either end of the chain of trading and