The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-30

We have lately had some very dis
gusting proofs of the way in which
the protectionist policy has corrupted
our national legislature.
Given legislation which may put mil
lions into the pockets of private citizens
( and corpora tons, and the obtaining Of
that legislation becomes a matter of
= business. 1t is sought Ia the same
spirit and by the same means that bust
ness men seek cheaper raw material,
lower freights or advantages of any
kind over their competitors.
Direct corruption of a legislator may
or may not be resorted to. That de-
ponds on the honor and decency or the
men who seek his vote. But no pans
are spared to make it his interest 10
agree with the vote seekers. 1t may De
money aid to his party, it may be pay
ment of the legislators campaign eX-
penses, it may be by information that
will enable him to deal profitabiy on the
stock Xchange-WhateYer the method
or the means, the protected persons or
corporations treat the matter as a
strictly business one, with which senti-
mental cOusidera tons have only very
remote connection. The result is what
we all know and are ashamed of.
That is one side of the matter. There
- eliADl4lCA AAlolN 10 lAtN iiAO-C IASHSN't~1
The tendency with protected indus
tries is to trust much to protection
and not much TO wit and energy ana
skill. Undoubtedly the effect IN SO
large a country and with SO active
people as our own is counf 3cteu Dy
the spur of competition flol Wlthln.
We have absolutely free trade among
a popula ton nearly as large as that of
France and England, or of France,
Spain and Italy combined, ana, con-
sidering the character of the popula-
ton, the domestic competition is
stronger than international compet-
ton in the latter group. When the
counteractin2 interior competition is
confined to the people of country like
France, it is relatively weak, and the
effect of protection in demoralizing
the general energies is corresponding
~ strong 1t results in a modified
form of state socialism. which is all
the more miSchievouS for being yelled
and inSidiOus. Men who would be ac-
tive and successful in an open fight
with vigorous competition become in
ert. They are constantly relying on
the state TO remove obstacles and re-
duce difficulties in the way of their
prosperity instead of increasing their
own energy and overcoming difficult
ties and obstacles. And not only their
mental but their moral senses are per-
verted or put to sleep. They think of
protection only as preserving the
home market for them, ignoring the
injustice of shutting their customers up
to the same market
Jules Simon, one of the acutest and
Soundest of the political reaSoners of
France. has recently described this eff
feet of the control of the government
secured by the protectionists:
They have favored and developed
that vice of Incidence which is pecu-
harly French. We have impetuosity in
war, but incidence and timidity in bus
mess and industry. The habit Of be-
ing governed overmuch makes US count
on the government instead of on our
selves. We look to it alone for safety
and profit At the slightest danger to
our persons, our property or our CAPT
tai we run to the government We OPP
pose readily enough, and with strong
arguments, the theory of state proVi-
dence. but on the first occasion We bid
goodby to our theory and implore the
state to protect us. In our marriages
we look for dowry rather than charac-
ter: in our investments we prefer a
moderate but sure return; in industry,
routine in occupation; the peaceful
mediocrity of the functionary to the
chances and changes of the indepen-
dent worker. We are essentially a
wooden stocking people. Disasters
are rare VIII us. but progress is slow,
and this slowness in the presence of
he continually accelerated industry
End enterprise among our competitors
b. equivalent to defeat"
This Is not pleasant picture. There
no reason to doubt that ii is a fair
ard accurate one.-New York Times.