The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-20

Editor Herald II have read with inter-
est an admiration Mr.. Abbot Kinney's
studies in The Herald on municipal gov
eminent, ETC., but if he will permit me
to dissent from the view he takes in The
Herald OF the 18th instant as to the
primary reason for the policy of protec-
lion which many enlightened nations
have adopted, perhaps l may convince
his readers at least, If not himself. that
protection is not altogether the "noxious
weed that he seems to think it is. The
primary object, (Which, like every other
good thing IS liable to perversion,) of
true protection, in this country, for ex-
ample, 10 to give our own people the pro-
ducing OF everything this country needs,
even If at the same cost at which these
things can be produced by the people OF
foreign countries. And If this latter
qualification or limitation IS steadily
kept in.vew by protective legislation and
is faithfully carried into practice, where
is there even a sem blarce of "a forced,
indirect contribution from the whole
body OF the people, rich or poor, or
from anybody for thesbenetit of anybody?
If wise American protective policy
can be devised whereby the production
of everything we need. that we can pro-
duce, is given to American workmen at
prices no higher tnan we would be
Obliged to pay foreigners for products OF
the same quality, why in heavens name.
should not such a policy be be evolved,
pc .fected AID adopted and made perma.
nene by the American people in place of
that other. very beautiful doubtless, but
very visionary policy of doctrinaires,
which, for mere theory, would sacrifice
the welfare of millions of our laborers for
the benefit OF the workmen-Paupers per-
haps of other countries, when the certain,
inevitab BILE tendency of such policy in
its practical results is to bring the c1ndi.
ton OF our people down to the level OF
the pauper labor OF Europe. or worse
STILL to the level of the heatnen Chinee?
We see the contrast of the two policies
lucidly exemplitied on the one hand in the
practical, sensible insstance pv Calitor.
mans that Monaghan immi grafton shall
cease; while on the other We sea how
persistently sentimental doctrinaire east
erners clamor for the opening wide OF our
gates to the hundreds of millions of the
degraded people of Asia. despite the fact
that the practical effects of this latter
policy would be. with the certainty OF
fate, TO drag our civilization down in
stead Of dragging theirs up.
Rational political economy. like chart
dividuals or as nation don't look out
tor ourselves, who, for conscience's sake.
will? AS some ancient III oralist has said.
"he that does not provide for mis- own
household, is worse than heather.
Washington and the early fathers did not
scorn to patrodize, and by favorable leg
islation. to encourage home industries.
1t has been reserved for modern doctrin-
aires-enthu sissts often tor pure theories
that, in practice won't work-so look with
lofty contempt on the we'll being OF the
millions OF their own countrymen who
must toll for their daily bread, whose
prosperity nevertheless is intimately
bound up with their own, and who are
not ashamed to ostentaticusly favor. a
national economic policy that will give
EN- ploymeht to aliens in blood and inter-
ests in other lands. instead of to their
own flesh and blood. to brothers OF their
own national household. These imprac-
ticable theorists forget that while our
own producers pay taxes in many forms,
national state, municipal and other. and
also serve the state as citizens In many
capacities. the foreign producer only pays
one tax, at the custom house. and often
not even that; and that he performs no
services whatever to this country as a
citizen, because he resides outside its jur-
isdiotion. 1t seams to be a matter of
cold blooded indifference to the theoreti-
cal free trader whether the useful indus
tries OF his own country by which The
great body OF the people live, thrive or
not. There is a homely maxim which
many practical common sense people in
all ages and in all civilized countries
have found to be exceedingly true: That
family, community. province, state OF
nation which comes nearest to product
ing from its own resources or by its own
| labor, all its own necessities. is, as COM
! pared with others, the most independent
| be ause Its welfare, its prosperity. de.
ponds, to that extent at least, not on
others but on itself.
H D. BARRUTS,