The record-union., 1896-09-25

ducts we produce to least advantage.
If labor, production and manufac
lures are to be maintained in this coun-
try at rate commensurate with the
demand our system makes upon it's
citizenship, then tariff duties must be
added to the foreign price Of what
ever comes into debasing competition
with our own, SO as to give our own
fair field in which to flourish.
Suppose, for instance. that our iron,
copper and coal mines should show
signs Of exhaustion with the promise
Of depriving our posterity of these ne
cessities. In such a case it might be
wise to promote the importation of
these products and thus extend the
period of exhaustion of our own sup
ply. But suppose that our mines Of
these products are boundless and that
unexplored fields of these deposits are
numerous and exhaustless in our own
country would it be wise to admit like
products free from other lands and
thus seal up these home industries and
sources Of production?
Suppose it to be admitted that the
prosecution Of an industry legitimate
and wholesome is beneficial to the peo-
pie socially and as an educational in
flCence, and conduces to their general
prosperity, what would we say to the
craftsmanship that would destroy that
industry by admitting free products of
the same industry from abroad pro-
duced at rate impossible with us un-
der the conditions we impose upon our
people?
The tariff imposed upon those things
which we can and ought to produce at
home is nothing more nor less than
common aid by all given to those indus
tries that all may reap common bene-
fit, instead Of sending abroad the price
our use.
Which is best, that we put a. tariff
upon glassware and manufacture glass
ware at home, paying the cost of the
by that production into home channels
Of trade and commerce; or that we ad-
nit glassware free, and have no glass
manufacture at home, but send the
money paid for the glassware we need
out of the country?
Shall we admit cheap goods that will
result in closing up production at home
and the levying besides Of direct taxa
ton for the support Of the Government?
Shall we diminish home industry to en-
large foreign industry, and in addition
maintain Government out Of our re-
stricted ability?
To these arguments Mr. Bryan re-
plies. that the capital and industry that
protection drives to production Of that
diverted from other industry, and that
there is really no augmentation of in
dustry as a whole. But the vulnerable
spot in that reply is this, that in the
United States, because of the variety Of
our products and the vast extent of our
territory, we have inexhaustible founts
of supply for about all the staples that
are needed for our development and
happiness. In no country Of the entire
eastern hemisphere is this true. The
South American continent alone fur
nishes nearly a parallel.
Under free trade and Mr.. Bryan de-
clares himself an Out-and-out free trad
er, we confess that the goods we export
we can make cheaper or easier than the
goods we receive from abroad, which
we might make at home. Now, under
protection, to supply our need. we COM
pei the production and manufacture Of
that which we must have, and this in
creaseS the sum of our industry To
this the Republican party adds the pol
icy Of reciprocity, namely, that we will
exchange freely or nearly SO those
things which we produce to the best
advantage. for the things which the for
eign country produces to the best advan-
tage, and which we do not produce at
all, or produce to least advantage.
Thus. under protection and reciproc-
ity. the Republican party presents to the
wage-ea the broadest and best op-
portunity for employment, to manu-
facture the assurance Of fair reward, to
labor the highest just wage, to produc-
ton a home and a foreign market alike,
and to society In general a condition
bettered and made more desirable and
profitable, because Of the improved con-
dition of labor and production
But this is not all. The Republican
party has declared unreservedly for the
conservation Of American shipping.
How will it accomplish it? BY return to
the ancient policy under which 90 per
cent. of our foreign commerce was car
ried on American bottoms, whereas now
but s per cent. is so transported. To
| accomplish this it is proposed to return
to the system in vogue UP to 1888: a
system of favorable discriminating du-
American bottoms. This takes no
money from the treasury, but puts
| money into it, increases no bur-
den of taxation, and provides addi-
tional revenue for thesupport of Govern
ment.
Forty societies of charitable and hu-
name character have combined in Oak
land to give the tramp an ODpOrtunitv