The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-09-28
The Only True Protection to Ameri-
can Industries.

have before us the result of that 'policy,"
or a result which it has been powerless to
prevent, and it is the worst condition this
country has ever experienced since the
Indians possessed the soil. The "pro-
tective policy" eliminated in what will
go into history as the epoch of the
Mckinley act, the highest tariff ever
experimental with by the United States.
Nothing that was promised by the cham
pions of this economic theory has hap
pened, but the exact opposite. There
has been total break down in the manu-
featuring business. The home market
one of the strong points made by the
early advocates of the American
System" as it was called at that time,
has long ago vanished, and the foreign
price lists are consulted and fix the price
of all our farm products.
Wages of American labor was another
element of strength and prosperity the
advocates of the protective policy" built
castles in the air on. Labor is now tramp
ing the roads not in hundreds, nor even
thousands, but in millions, imploring for
a chance to work, seeking a shelter from
the elements and crust to appease
hunger
The competition which was promised
the people would lower prices has done
its work and over done it. To defend
themselves against the blight which an
ever grinding competition threatened the
trust was formed. And the trust in turn
was seized by the gambler and speculator
to corner everything in the market; and
capital joining hands with the banks
inaugurated campaign of robbery to
fleece the entire nation. History prob
ably has never witnessed such complete
failure and playout of any economic sys-
tenn as the much Wanted protective
policy" Nobody disputes the collapse,
and the best the defenders of the ''protec-
tive policy" can do is to charge it to the
fear which the advent of the democrat
party to power caused. But no sensible
person takes any stock in this baby act.
The truth all lies in nut shell. All
the other industries of the country, agri-
culture, mining, mechanical, etc., "chip-
ped in" contributed from the very begin
ming part of their earnings to the
manufacturing interest. The hat was
passed round as it were, and collection
taken up from all the other members OF
the industrial family to encourage the
manufacturing branch. This is the way
the "higher standard of wages" was
maintained. This is the way the profits
were created for the manufacturers, and a
market at home was kept open for their
accommodation. The wonderful progress
of manufacturing was built on and out OF
the sweat from the men engaged in farm
ing and other lines of industry. This
was not altogether denied but the ready
excuse was given that if our "infant i'll
dustries" were protected for just little
while they would soon be firmly estab-
lished and able to compete with the whole
world. But the infant that is raised with
the bottle never wants to give it up, the
only change as it grows strong and lusty
is the demand for bigger bottle and
more milk.
When Henry Clay proclaimed a pro-
tective tariff as a distinctive "A1nerican
SYSTEM" about 80 per cent was the tor
notch and that was deemed abundantly
sufficient to build up any industry in thi.
country till it became self supporting
and then the duty could be and would BIZ
lowered. But the exact opposite is VIVA
resulted. This protective policy" grew
i'll the opposite direction till it reached so
SO, 100 per cent and upwards in tn,
Mckinley law, and literally fell of its owl
weight. Well, we have tried the barring
ont process most effectually, and taking
from Peter to pay Paul, and they hav,
worked only dismal failure Our com
mercial marine has disappeared from tn,
seas, we have produced nation of pau
pers and millionaires and middle elias
barely holding on by the skin of thei
teeth to keep out of the pit of poverty.
1t is clear as the sun at MONDAY tn,
protective policy" is a fiat failure. Tn,
people have been slipping down for twent,
years. Every year prices dropped witt
10 rally. More were added to the rank
of idleness. The smaller middle mel
kept dropping out and the larger business
houses contributed to the pages of Brad
streets and Dunn & Cos list of insolv
encies Nine millions of mortgages GOV
cred the farm and homes of the strue
Cling middle class, and the sheriff's ant
auctioneers cry and hammer sounded
louder each sucoee ling year. But why
dwell longer to depict the wretched con
dition that all realize at the end of thirt,
years. What ever may not be proven a.
the cause of the wretched plight the
nation finds itself in, there is one fact toe
potent to be denied, which is that tariff
protection doesn't protect.
Can we find an economic system thai
will protect? We believe such system
is attainable, and that system is NOR
money and free money. The wealth of {
nation consists i'll the products of homes
labor. Labor cannot be employed with
o1t money in sufficient quantity to pa,
labor. Nor can the employers of labo
afford to extend business to its utmos
unless the drain of usury or interest oil
the money can be avoided. Those who
employ large numbers of hands-grea
manufacturing establishments and othe
lines of industry-must depend on Dor