The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-27
The Protection Discussion

Editor Herald: When l suggested
different theory concerning the ultimate
object OF protection from that PROFOUND
ed by my friend Mr.. Abbot Kinney, |
had no desire then, neither have | now,
to enter into prolonged ami what would
probably prove protitless discussion of
this great question, for which. indeed,
there is hardly room IN the columns OF
daily paper. Despite Mr.. Kinney's
learned arguments, l still adhere to my
position as stated in my former commu-
nication. While I believe that absolute
Tree trade at present exists in no civilized
country, | also insist that it never can
exist so long as the world is constituted
as it is. | confess there is certain charm
in the theory that all restriction of trade
and travel throug TOUT the world ought
to be removed that man ought to be per-
ylitted to 60 wherever he pleases without
let OF hindrance, and that all those sa
tanic institutions known as custom
houses ought to be at once and forever
abolished. When that ideal but myth
cal state called the millennium arrives,
then universal free trade and free travel
will be possible. and not before. So long
as there is an infnity of grades OF civiljza-
ton i'll the world, just SO long will re-
strictions DE needed to protect the higher
from being degraded to the levels of the
lower; just so long will the free, independ-
eut citizen workmen of the United
States, who maintain families, churches
schools, liberal institutions, serve the
state in peace and war and perform all
the duties of ful-iedged citizens he
most Justly entitled to be protected from
the cruel, killing competition of pauper
labor imported into this country, as well
as from the equally killing connection
OF the products of pauper LABOR in other
countries; and also from the still more
degrading and demoralizing competitions
OF Mongoiians, who, in this country,
have no families, pay prac really no
taxes, perform 10 duties as citizens, live
on rice. sleep on shelves like sardines
and who. in their own country, are COM
PEELED to work for wages that would
starve an American and strangle his civ
ilization outright.
1t would be manifestly unjust to expect
American citizens to maintain the higher
and richer civilization which we enjoy
and at the same time permit them to be
undermined and underbd by what Mr..
Kinney calls ''the worlds riff-raff,'
unincum bered by all the complex and
onerous duties of high citizen ship. can
mercilessly compel our workmen 10
either repudiate those duties altogether
or else come down to their wages ana
their standard of living; and this hard,
grinding competition can De carried on
whether these lower types are introduced
here or are kept "out of our bounds" as
Mr. Kinney would have them.
1t would seem that Mr.. Kinney and |
agree perfectly in this, that we are both
opposed to the coming hither of Cheap |
men, to compete with our workmen; but !
we Numerically differ i'll this, that he
under the guise of freedom of trade, |
would permit cheap men all over the |
world to carry OH this same kind of COM |
petition, without any restrictions what
ever. so far as the enhance to our mar
kets of their cheap products is concerned, |
whilst l would favor such moderate pro.
tectIve imposts as would give the market
OF this country to our own people at
prices at which they could live-not as |
Cinnamon live, but as full-fedged Amer |
lean citizens ought to live.
| hardly think Mr.. Kinney is serious
when he proposes that a daily subsidy |
should be given to mechanics as an alter
native or substitute for the present gem
eral laws favoring domestic industries
he absurd and | presume Mr.. Kinney so
intended it.
Whilst | cordially agree with much |
that he says about American ship build
ing and sugar bounties, which are glar-
ing examples of the peIversion of the /
true principle of protection, nevertheless !,
l firmly believe that it is the duty of the |
government to encourage by all reasona- |
BILE and feasible. but still effective. m cans |
rial welfare and independence of our peo- |
pie as great national family are Sc
cured. H. ID. BARROWS.
Septem Der "a, 1895.