Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-14
MR.. BAYARD'S EDINBURGH ADDRESS.


Addison tells us that his friend, Sir
Roger do Coyerley, when boy, which
was at the time when the feuds ran
high between tho Roundheads and the
Cavaliers, had occasion to inquire
which was the way to St Anne's Lane,
upon which. the person he spoke to, in
stead of answering his question, called
him young popish cur, and asked
him who had'made Ammo q saint. Tho
boy being in some confusion, inquired
of the next he met which was the way
to Anne's Lane, but was called prick
earod cur for his pains, and instead of
being shown the way, was told that she
had been saint before he was born,
and would be one after he was hanged.
Sir Roger, says Addison, generally
closed this narrative with reflections on
tho mischief that parties do in the
country. how they spoil good neighbor-
hood, and make honest gentlemen
hate one another. This "reminiscences of
Sir Roger reminds one of the wrath
that ensues on the part of our friends
of tho protection school whenever their
pOlitico economic saint is criticised
and her obvious vices held up as a
warning. Here in Pennsylvania pro-
lection needs no intellectual bulwarks.
1t is guarded by interest and upheld by
superstition. 1t is vain to point out,
how impossible, how indefensible it is,
both in theory and practice. Tho ar
gument may convince the mind, but
superstition rules the soul.
Accordingly, when Mr.. Bayard at
Edinburgh disclosed some of the rags
and tatters that make unsightly the
figure of our protection idol, he was at
once beset by the guardians of the
temple and furiously assailed. But
spleen and rancor cannot affect him.
Mr.. Bayard as Senator, as Secretary of
State, and as Ambassador to England
has served well the State. No stain of
yenality has marred his career, and
amid the changes of opinion, of the
stiffness OF selfish politics, he has
maintained his independence. and
courageously stood fast by his convic-
tions. The agents and parasites of
monopoly may denounce him, but they
cannot affect him. Denunciation is
easy, but truth holds the balance, and
its measures are enduring. Mr..
Bayard believes that protection is
founded upon theory that is false, a
theory that may In practice give to the
industries of country, temporarily,
the hue of health, while, in fact, plant.
ing the seeds of permanent disaster
and SO believing, he has, both at home
and abroad, vigorously expressed his
thought. His observation and expert
ence have shown him that industries
which need artificial support, at the
expense of consumers, are always the
first to feel the effects of commercial
adversely and the last to recover from
it; and that the permanent prosperity
and opulence of country will always
depend on the successful prosecution
of its natural industries. In other
words, artificial stimulants may give
to protected industries temporary sue
cess, but the final results are CONNER
cial lassitude and depression. Holding
these opinions upon question of vital
Importance, both to the United States
and the world, why should he not OK
press them? They have no relation to
the domain of diplomacy, but they con-
cern the domain of political economy,
in which all nations have deep in
terest. What is the effect of the protec-
tive policy upon the morals, the poi-
tics, and welfare of a people? Is our
Ambassador to keep silent upon SO
grave subject when addressing a phil
osophical society because his utter
ances may awaken the sensibilities of
the beneficiaries of such policy,
whether at home or abroad? The news
paper organs which decry Mr.. Bayard
for pointing out the effects of protec-
tion would hail with delight any utter
ances of Sir Julian Pauncefote which
could be regarded as disparaging to
free trade. What eulogies would they
not pronounce upon Sir Julian's per
spicuity and the appropriateness of his
the.:e! Really, how much depends
unon which OK is gnred