Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-22
THE FAILURE OF PROTECTION

The Mckinley Theory Based Upon n Dis
aster Producing System.
1t is interesting to note that while
the United States is engaged in the
attempt to shake off the incubus of the
Mckinley law, all Europe is in IAN
economic ferment," as some writer has
phrased it 1t is well known that all
the principal nations of the continent
have high protective tariffs. According
to the doctrines which have dominated
our legislation since 1861 they ought all
to be happy.
On the contrary. they are all un-
happy. France is giving another turn
to the screw, showing that the tariff of
1891 has not brought about the bless
ings expected. Quite the reverse. The
chamber of commerce at Marseilles de-
clares that since its adoption there have
been constant reduction of CONNER
cial operations, a lack of new enter
prises, suppression of many that pre-
viously existed, that no new factories
are building. that those burned down
are not replaced, that the mum Der of idle
ships grows larger every day; in short,
that there has been a change for the
worse in foreign commerce, attended
by a similar condition in agriculture
and internal commerce. The remedy
now proposed is still higher tariff,
another turn of the screw, an expe-
dent certain to aggravate the evils
now prevailing
In Italy there is chaos Uprisings
have occurred to resist the outrageous
taxes on the necessaries of life, and
these have to be put down by military
A Al a. - Il
iciency in the revenue, and while it is
proposed to reduce expenditures the
proposed economies are admitted to be
insufficient to avoid deficit. New
taxes are proposed, to be levied upon
people already exhausted by excessive
taxation.
Fifteen years ago Germany entered
upon the enterprise Of making the peo-
pie happy by protective taxes. This
was largely in the interest of agricul-
ture, which demanded to be shielded
from the curse of cheap food. The sys-
tenn ran its usual course. It did not
answer expectations, and its advocates
said it was not high enough. So in 1855
rates were put up again. Two years
later it was thought necessary to make
a further increase.
These constantly augmenting i'm
posts on the necessaries of life have
caused great distress among the poor of
Germany. But what effect have they
had upon agriculture? For answer let
us turn to the recent speech of DR..
MIGUEL, in the reichstag. He has been
counted on in some quarters as an OPP
opponent of the treaty with Russia, as
he is known to be in sympathy with
the agrarians. He said that the main
task of the Prussian government for
the next few years r.ust be to devise
effectual assistance for agriculture. In
spite of this he favored the treaty. I'm
any case" he added, 1.-The treaty can
not render the condition of husbandry
any worse than it is"
Such is the effect of fifteen years of
high protection upon German agricul-
ture. Even in the opinion of its warm
est friends it's condition cannot be any
worse. This is but repetition of the
experience of the United States. We
have had continued demand for high
err rates, and they have been advanced
from time to time. The Mckinley bill
went to the extreme of high protection,
and what is to-day the condition Of our
industries? According to the state.
ments of the parties interested they
were never worse. They are waiting
for the repeal of the Mckinley act that
they may have chance to revive.
1t is alleged, of course, that business
depression is due to the prospective re-
duction of the duties To what then
is it due in Italy, where there is
prospect Of an increase? To what is it
due in France, where an increase has
just been made? There is no fear of
tariff reform in France, but there is
paralysis of industry and trade. To
what shall we attribute the depression
in Germany, where agriculture, it's
chief beneficiary, is admitted to be in
so desperate condition that no COM
mercial treaty can make it worse? The
limit has been reached in putting up
duties, both in Germany and the United
States. but the expected blessings have
refused to materialize.
There is deep philosophy underly-
ing this economic ferment" that pre-.
walls in all protective countries. The
theory of creating prosperity by high
taxes is breaking down. Protection has
been tried and found wanting. -Louis--
vile Courier-JournaL