The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-05
The Lesson of Experience.

| ernor Mckinley, Senator Platt or Con
necticut made speech, the introduc'
tion to which makes in itself first
class editorial. He said: Long ago II
was declared that the man who did not
provide for his own household had de-
MED the faith and was worse than an
| infdel and the country which does not
provide for itself and the welfare OF
/ its people is equally guilty. The first
| thought and purpose of every lover OF
his country should be its protection
| from all assaults, no matter from what
source or in what shape they come
That is true Americanism, and however
little Americanism there is in the pres
ent administration of our government
there is world of it in the hearts of
the people. Mugwump newspapers and
Democratic leaders seem to delight
nowadays in calling every expression
of patriotic sentiment jingoism,' but
the people of the United States love
their country we'll enough to take care
of it, as the right minded man takes
care of his family. and they are going
to do it. too.
Whenever by any means a party
comes into power that is not willing
to take good care of the country. the
people will put it out of power. When
assured of what is the best policy for
the welfare of its people, they may be
relied upon to support and intrench the
party that advocates that policy. Two
years ago n party obtained power upon
promises the keeping of which is now
seen to be ruinous to our welfare. As
soon as the people discovered this,
they determined to remedy the disaster,
and last fall did all that they could to
take from it the power with which
they had entrusted it; now, they are
waiting impatiently, oh, how impa-
tiently, for 1896, to complete the work
which IS meet for repentance. Our
Democratic friends like to compare
politics with the swing of a pendulum,
and console themselves with the idea
that last fall the pendulum reached
the limit of its swing. Let me tell
them that their illustration does not
fit, and If 1t did they would only need
10 wait until year from next Novem-
Der to see how much further the pen
dulum can and will swing in the same
direction. The result last fall was not
an accident or a spasm, but the work
of great people to whom there had
been restored a clear vision of what
was the best policy for our government.
Take care of your own: that is the
core and kernel Of the doctrine of pro-
lection to American Industries. BY a,
fair tariff Of protective duties we lust
as truly protect our country from for
eign invasion as by the building Of
navies and the organization Of armies.
No invasion is more to be dreaded than
commercial invasion. None can work
greater disaster and ruin. None entails
greater loss or suffering. Hostile
armies and navies, indeed, may slaugh-
ter our citizens, destroy our property.
bring suffering to the home and loss
to the nation, but does not free trade
do that? Sum up the loss, the suffering
and the misery inflicted upon this
country during the past two years by
the abandonment Of protection, and tell
me whether war could equal It? Has
not free trade bombarded our cities. de-
vastated our fields. destroyed our prop
erty, reduced our national standing,
filled our homes with suffering. swept
men to untimely graves? What more
could war do to us than the avowed
policy Of free trade has done?
What is the object of protection TO
American Industries? Simply this: that
the Industries necessary for our own
subsistence shall be carried on within
our borders and by our own people.
What Is the object of so-called free
trade? Simply that the Industries nee
essary for our own subsistence shall
be carried on in other lands by the peo-
pie of other lands. Which is right and
which is wrong? Whatever may have
been thought during the discussions of
the past, our people have learned by
the experience of suffering which is
right, and are not likely soon to forget
the lesson"