The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-01
HOME INDUSTRY AND DEMOCRACY

1t is pleasing to see people of all
creeds and parties in Utah uniting as
to the benefits of home industry and
investing money in home manufac-
lures. 1t would be interesting to know
exactly how much practical support
by the investment of cash and the
patronage of home products comes
from the members of the Democratic
party.
We refer to this because of the con-
tinued attempt, in spite of the patent
facts. by Republican speakers and
writers, to make the public believe that
it is part of the Democratic creed and
practice to destroy American manu-
features and prefer foreign to domestic
products. The imprudence of such as
sertions is equal to it's falsehood. 1t
is amazing that men supposed to be
truthful and respectable, will descend
to such miserable mendacity in their
over-zealous and malicious PARTISAN
ship.
There are no more devoted and con-
sistent supporters of home industries
in the world than can be found in the
ranks of the Democratic party. This
applies to Utah as well as other places,
and is in full accord with Democratic
principles enunciated by their leading
opponents for a hundred years or more.
Tariff reform has not been advocated
by the Democratic party for the pur-
pose of injuring home enterprises or
fostering foreign industries. Those Re
publicans who assert to the contrary
either do not know what they are talk
ing about or are willfully endeavoring
to deceive A reduction of duties on
imports is demanded in the interest of
the consumers, who are imposed upon
by the dealers, manufacturers and CAPT
talists because of the high tariff
The object and intent of exhorbitant
duties cannot be concealed by any
amount of sophistry. It is to run up
the price of the article made dutiable
so that it may be barred out of the
American market entirely, or that the
producers or manufacturers of a SINH
lar article here may be protected so
as to give large profits. 1t is claimed
that the reverse is the effect produced,
and that prices are reduced by the
operations of the protected tarif
But fair investigation discloses that
when the reduction of prices is brought
about, it is not by the imposition of
large duties but in spite of them.
COMPETITION, the introduction of new
kinds of machinery, the progress of
skill in manufactures, and the benefits
of experience, all combine to reduce the
cost of production and. measurably, in
some Instances, to bring down the price
to the consumer. But in many cases
of experience, all combine to reduce the
prevent competition in prices, and the
protection afforded them by high duties
works to their immense profit and the
virtual robbery of the public.
Instead of duties being reduced when
there is prospect of a decline in prices,
the tariff has actually been increased
under the Republican system Of
protection, which is protection alone
to the capitalist, the manufacturer and
the dealer, but an imposition on the
great body Of purchasers who cannot
buy the imported articles because of
the high duties, and therefore have to
pay the price demanded for the home
goods. which are kept but a trifie if
anything below the figures of the for
eign with the duty added.
The seductive plea of protection to