The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-10-03
Protection a Principle.

EDITOR ACANTHA--ln your last issue
you copy from the Seattle Post
lntelligencer, a paper that | used
to take, that pre- lection to
American industries is principle,
not theory have always held
to that. 1t is the principle, the
fundamental principle that under-
lies the foundation of the American
republic. Aye, more, it is the
chief corner stone of the american
republic. Washington, in his first
inaugural message recommended it
and all the presidents down to Mar
tin VanBuren advocated it.
T1omas Jefferson said in his mes
sage in 1900 that it was indespcn-
sible to pay the national debt and
furnish revenue to support the gov
ernment. II there was a surplus
over he would use it to build up q
navy, improve rivers and harbors,
make roads and support schools,
rather than take off the duty, or
prohibition, and give our market
to foreigners. Andrew jackson
said it was the duty OF the govern
ment to protect our home industr-
les. With our mountains full Of
coal and iron, with the cotton and
hemp of the farms, if VIC filled, or
neglected to profit by these bless
and gave our market to Foreigners,
we were not worthy of the bless
ings and protection OF almighty
God
Now we have the record of over
100 years of the marvellous prosper,
ity of this government under the
benign influence of protection to
home industries and the utter fail
ure to run the government under a
free trade policy, yet men will
preach and write long wlnded edi-
torials that protection is a theory
and unconstitutional.
In 1916 the first free trade tariff
was passed and at the same time
silver was den onetiZed. Seven
years latter that Henry Clay, a
whig, and Thomas H. Benton, d
democrat, describes the times, and
our commerce was ruined, currency
contracted, no market for the pro-
diets Of the farm, labor seeking
employment and could not find it,
wheat rotting in the stacks and IN
| the granaries for the want of u
market, the Legislators passin g
stay laws and stop laws and the
people loudly camoring at the
doors of state and national legisla-
lures for redress and could not fine
any.
In 1887, afte~ the free trade tar.
if OF 1888 it was the same and
worse. The state OF Michigan re-
pudiatcd her state debt; Indiana
had an appraisment law by which
they paid their debts in old plows
carts, wagons and broken dow
horses. Every township had 8
board of appraisers. They would
appraisc these old traps away up
and turn them over to the sheriff
and that satisfied the debt. Sup
pose Montana should pay off some
of her' mortgages with horses,
sheep, wool and silver at the price
they were worth when these debts
were contracted. Everything the
producer has to sell has shrunk ir
value from so to 100 per cent, but
debts and money cost more than
ever.
The free traders of the present
day put ME in mind of thc copper.
heads during the war This Viii
sor German tariff, or curse, is the
most accursed conglomeration o.
absurdlties ever passed by the
American congress. 1t neither
protects hor furnishes revenue
But we must wait till the gooC
time coming comes, when VIM
Mckinley is the president and We
will have no trouble any more
Then we will have an American
foreign policy.
Yours Truly,
ERAsTUs GREEN