Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-04-05
PROTECTION PRopucTx


Republican Eule Responsible for Social
asfic Demonstrations
The Coxey movement is chiefly sig
nidcant as an expression of the social
lstic tendencies that have developed
under republican rule and protectionist
principles In France the doctrine Of
protection has been accepted by the
socialists in its logical consequences,
and men are saving to the state: Since
protection makes prices high. give ms
also protection for wages Fix mini
mum scale, and let the state compel
employers to observe it
There WIS no principle more essen
tially embodied in the foundations OF
American liberty than the principle OF
individual liberty-the independence
of the citizen. The state was SOW
ereign only because he. the citizen.
gave it OF his own sovereignty. 1t
was his creation; he owed moth
ing to the state but loyalty and
obedience to necessary laws The state
owed all to him. This spirit gave
the dignity and strength that char
acterized the men Of America In its
destruction there has been no influence
more potent than the doctrine Of pro-
lection. In its very essence it assumes
that one set of individuals is not as
strong as another Set Of individuals,
that man isn't able to stand up be
fore the world and win his own way
through it. In practice, it has fostered
the idea that one class must be made
to contribute to another and far small
er class; that the government has the
right to interfere in the affairs OF its
citizens and determine how much OF
one mans goods shall be given to an
other man It has made the govern
ment part Of and a party to the
money-getting machinery Of the fav-
ored class, and has made money-getting
governmental function, leaving the
minds of the citizens with no sense OF
their personal independence and indi-
vidual responsibilities. We are no
longer a nation of sovereigns, but OF
dependents So paternalism drifts into
socialism and SO protection comes back
to the protected in the appeal OF
Coxeys army" for help
In this country the masses have not
yet learned to apply the logic of the
situation; but they are fast learning it.
1t is no new idea; the inevitable conse-
quences of protection were foreseen
years ago by studerts Of sociological
tendencies So long ago as 1851 Cavour,
the italian economist said:
II maintain that the most powerful ally Of
socialism in its logical relations, is the doctrine
Of protection Il sets out from absolutely the
same principle Reduced 10 its simplest terms
1t af1rms the right and duty Of government to
intervene II the employment anu distribution
Of capital; It afhrms thai the function and mis-
OF
enlightened decisions for the freedecision OF the
individual. II these principles should become
recognized as incontes rably true, do not see
what answer could be made to the working
classes and their represen tatiTes when they
came to the government and said: You believe
il The right aed duty Of regulating the dis
lribution Of capitol: why not also take up the
regulation Of production and wares: Why not
establish government works hops
Germany and France, and now the
United States have verified these
words The proposition is SO self-evi-
dent that It scarcely needs discussion,
Speaking of Mr.. Leon Says PROPOSE
ton that protection insensibly leads to
''nationalisn. a French authority on
economical questions lays down the
principle that between protection and
socialism the line Of distinction is very
| difficult to perceive" Frenchnan
defined the difference as being that
the protectionist was a rich man,
while the socialist was pauper.
Undou btedly, if the robber barons
are right. Coxey is also right. and SO
are the populists, and with more JUS
tice on the side of the latter, for their
needs are greater. The populists are
but the natural outgrowth of repu bic
anism and protection.
Let Coxey blow his trumpet long and
Justify at the gates Of the robber
barons. 1t is his turn now.-Louisville
Courier-Jo urnal