West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-01-31
REEDS ROCKY ROAD.
HE VIII Find the People skepticai on tho
blessings OF high Protection.

lie wit Find the People skepticai on the
blessings OF high Protection.
Tom Reed says that the republicans
will have nothing 10 do I'M tbs next
campaign but read the testimony OF
MIR. Cleveland's letter upon the tariff
bill
There is something more. Reed will
find that the very foundation of pro-
lection has been shaken 10y the contest
just concluded. For the first time the
voters have learned by direct observa.
ton that protection is synonymous
with corruption and fraud. Before
this time the majority believed that
there had been fraud and corruption in
tariff laws. They are Mt last con-
tinced that when taxation departs
from n revenue purpose and begins To
be used for the benefit of private corr
porations, inevitably corruption is the
beginning OF the departure and fraud
the constant accompaniment.
Millions of Americans have read
dairy how senators demanded and re-
ccived concessions to the sugar trust.
90 the iron interest. TO the cotton mills.
10 the glass aud pottery makers. None
Of these senator's argued for the public
=
ease for the interest"
Mr.. Reed can give in his speeches
few extracts from Cleveland's letter.
Then some American citizen will ask
him why, rs manufacture is the great
end of national effort, free choice to
raw materials for staple industries Is
denied TO our manufacturers. And
unless he elects TO be willful public
hasf f,lt hat T..
pool of interests in which not Ameri.
can industry, bat American pull"
creates the scale according TO which.
Legislative favops are granted.
1t is true that a few democrats have
been traitors to their party. But the
people have seen in that perfidy the
working of the republican system of
high protection. In their treason these
men have been republicans and pro-
tectionists. What they have done has
been in the usual republican and pro-
tectiouist way. True of one, true of
all protectionists. Protection goes 10
Washington to get favors; not to hon
estly govern honest freemen. Every
favor ii gets is lever with which to
get another. Protection always favors
higher protection and will spend money
against anything short of prohibition
and monopoly of the market. 1t is
against extending manufactures. Its
plan is always To limit production and
secure scarcity prices for monopoly.
That it does not succeed is due to the
opposition of the democratic party and
the American spirit of competition.
Another obstacle will arise before
Reed. The business world, whose in
disposition to approve changes has
done more TO intrench tariff robbery
than anything except the lobby's
manipulation. has perceived that con
slant and feverish uncertainty is as
inseparable as corruption from
the protective system. There can
be no permanent tariff schedule
wien IL Is designed for pro-
lection, because new conditions of pro-
duction are continually arising. There
can be no perpetuity in protective
system while IL embraces four or five
thousand articles which few wish to
sell at abnormal prices and the many
wish to buy at natural prices The
only system OF reasonable certainty is
"A revenue system, and the plain bust
ness men have grown sick of tariff
tinkering.
Protection is inseparable from fraud.
IL Is inseparable from tariff tinkering
and uncertainty.
When Reed takes out Cleveland's let
ter he will read IL To a public opinion
which has been educated TO the folly
OF protection by the circumstances
which called forth that document. In
1883 tariff reform seemed radical to
scores of business men in Reeds New
England, TO whose ears free trade has
now rather IA pleasing sound. Tariff
reform has had its day i'm the west and
south. Free trade and taxation for
revenue only will be the western and
southern platform hencefortli and on
1t will be found crowds OF business
men who have been calling themselves
moderate protectionists. IL is coming
to be understood that Christian hon
esty and "A protective tariff are incom-
patible.-St Louis Republic.