The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-12
PROTECTIONIsJs FOR THE MONROE
IT. DOCTRINE.

Members of the Republican party have
been talking Of "protecuon' so much and
20 long that with many of them it has
become a sort Of fetish that they wor-
ship as heathens worship craven images.
In his elaborte speech in the Senate on
Monday. upon the Monroe doctrine,
Senator Cullom of Illinois, said:
I'VE have reached the time when it
becomes our bounden duty to say 10
the world. with dignity and fairness.
that thus far but no farther, shall FOR
eirn systems OF government be permitted
TO approach. our policy - the Aierl-
can policy: Our doctrine is the protection
of American interests. and our motto Is
America for Americans.
There is very large body OF Ameri-
cans who feel absolute indifference as
70 the Monroe doctrine. and these are
,,t.rlv unable TO understand the frantic
interest which another very large BODY
of them seem 10 take in II. This speech
Of Senator Cuiioms gives us glimpse
o. the reason why these other Americans
lake this interest in the Monroe doc
trine." They identify II with their fe-
tish. pro lection. lrvlt'hVh = ~
keep European wares out Of America
and the idea that suggests that line oil
policy logically suggests keeping Euro
pcans also out of America. selfish
desire 10 get unfair advantages out OF
their American brethren Is the chief IN
spiration Of protection" and The man
who seeks to get such unfair advantages
naturally objects to sharing them. SO
the proiectionist says he will keep Euro
peans away. and not allow the sharp
rascais amongst them 20 share in his
plumber of those simple Americans VINO
submit to the shaving methods OF pro
lection"
The December number OF the Social
Economist" which is a monthly maya
zine filled with most Interesting ana
instructive articles. has been laid upon
our table. We are simply amazed 10
find a journal conducted with 50 much
enlightenment and intelligence as this
the most siavish devotcc of the slavish
doctrines OF protection" In one article
in the present number entitled Man
date Of the Elections" the writer argues
that the two last elections have been
unqualified declarations toy the "eople OF
the United States in favor OF policy Of
protection" and that 1t is the duty Of
the House OF Representatives to obey
that declaration and forthwith 10 pass
hill restoring all duties 10 a protective
basis. whether the S,ratc Will pass IL
or not. and whether the President yetcos
IL or not Speaking OF the condition Of
feeling and opinion when the Novcm-
her. 1885. elections were held. the Social
Economist says that the Democratic tarff
law had then been in force a sufficient
~ long time for the country 10 perceive
and understand It's operations. and II
uses this language:
"i.aborers everywhere had come 10 a
sober. realizing sense that their WAGES
were permanently lowered, and the pur-
chasing power Oh their day's labor pain
fully diminished. Business men had
an equally vivid realization OF the fact
shst the possibility Of profits had persist
entity shrunk. and the business outlook
and opportunities were less hopeful and
encouraging. al well as less remunera-
tive"
This writer is. OF course, speaking OF the
;aborers employed on protected manu-
features. and tho business men who
ecaJ, In such. But the laborers en-
ployed OH such manufactures are not one
tenth OF the ,aborers In the United States.
and the business done In selling pro-
tected manufactures Is not one-tenth OF
the business donc In the United states
II these isborers Got higher wages under
tho Mckinley lsw than they now ge,.
and Il the profts Of those business
men" have "'pcrsistently shrnnk." 1t Is
because tho other nine-tenths OF the
oeopls Of the United States have been