The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-26
senator Squire on the Protective Tariff

Washington City. May 1s.-Special-on
-hs 9Th OF ta.s rnozta the American Sro-
tectsve League will ceiebrsts the tenth
anniversary OF rs existence In the cay OF
New York And OF that date It's paper.
the American Economist. viii issue spe-
cal esI;tou IN which will appear the opin-
ions OF he leaders 81 the protection move
rnsnt throughout TIRE country. Senator
Squire, IL MS answer, says;
Prom the date Of the Foundation Of
cur government a system OF indirect tax
alton. or customs duties, has been the
main source OF revenue. The fathers OF
the republic taught us that IN the levy
Ing OF duties reference must be had 20
their adjustment. 80 as 20 promote and
protect the industries OF our country a
protective tariff formed on those princi-
pies should be as near as may De Hniver-
sal Il should protect the manufactures.
the farmer and every other producer.
The United States is the best and largest
market IN the world, and IL should be so
projected By IT'S custom duties as 70 hold
Il for the benefit OF our producers. II we
throw open our markets free 20 the prod
ucr OF foreign cheap labor. and devote
ourselves 70 the search for foreign mar
ks,s, as a compensation, We lose more
than we can possibly gain.
The enterprise, the genius and the skill
% The American people can always be re-
ly as foreign nations can do. and at the
came time 10 establish q standard OF
prices that will allow American labor 20
enjoy IS fair proportion OF the profits in
the shape OF liberal wages. Low wages
mean lessened consumption, and conse-
ouently diminished production, and the
inability Of the employer TO furnish re-
-nunerAtive employment 10 labor.
II have no hesitation in saying that
high scale OF wages is promotive OF and
perhaps even necessary 10 the stability
OF our republican institutions, under
which every man should be a sekrespect-
ing citizen. and no privileged classes
should exist.
"A low scale Of duties or an enlarged
free list OF foreign competitive products
can have but one 81 two results either
that goods manufactured in foreign
countries by miserably unierpaid labor
shall take the place Of goods that have
hitherto been made in American facto-
res and 10y fairly paid American labor
ers. or that foreign goods shall be kept
out Of our markets by ruinous compe-
tltion and reduction OF wages to the
foreign standard Protection does not
necessarily mean high prices 10 the Amer
lean consumer. 1t Is well-known fact
that within the last few years. IN conse-
quence Of the competition among manu-
dacturers. when any particular industry
has been fairly developed. American man
ufactured goods have often been sold as
cheaply In the United States and exported
10 foreign countries at prices as low as
the prices ruling for similar goods manu-
featured In Europe: while the protective
duties prevented our markets being flooded
with foreign products and preserved the
profits OF our own trade for our own cit
liens.
The events OF the last two years have
been a terrible object lesson TO the peo-
pie OF the United States. The agitation OF
the tariff question. and the threat OF free
trade held out by the Chicago Democratic
platform. have manned and crippled our
great manufacturing system. reduced the
consumption and lowered the price OF ag-
ricultural products, cut down wages and
thrown thousands out OF employment.
Experience Is a dear school and often
a bitter one. But II the dear-bought ex-
perience of the Era Of Hard Times
through which We have recently been
passing. shall result in reputation of tar
III tinkering and free trade fallacies. then
the suffering OF our people will not have
been in vain.
III this country IL TO remain a nation
OF which every American citizen shall be
proud Protection TO American Industries
Is and always must be an issue OF para
mount Importance"