Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-01
THE SECTIONAL INJUSTICE
OF THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF
Strong Argument Against the System.

H.
velopment in this country, which II
seems to me. the advocates OF free trade
have not presented TO the consideration
of the American people so forc-Oly and
persistently as it's Importance deserves
l mean the manifest sectional injustice
OF the system.
Admitting. for the sake OF argument,
that the protective system has built up
snd established certain manufacturing
industries in New England and the
Middle States, and at certain points IN
the West and South, it cannot be oe-
MED. with any semblance Of truth, that
this has been accomplished by means
of the contributions levied or eXtorted
by il from less favored localities. No
one doubts that in a highly civilized
country like this. capital can be forced
into the production OF articles of prime
necessity or OF general demand. by re-
stricting foreign importaions. A civ
ilized nation must have wooden goods,
carpets. glassware. cutlery, etc. even if
it cannot obtain them from foreign
countries. and is therefore compelled to
manufacture them with greater expense
at home.
ProtectiOnists contend that the pro-
tective tariff is necessary for the main
tainance OF a considerable part OF our
manufacturing industries, and that
without IL they would be overthrow by
,oreign competition. BY examining one
Of the tariff schedules. we may see what
a vide range of articles protection COW
ers.
Let US concede that many Of our man
uiacturing industries are dependent for
their existence upon the tariff; but pro-
tectlonists viii also be obliged to ad-
NIT that the larger part of our manufac-
turing establishments are
LOCATED IN THE NEW ENGLAND
and Middle States; and that compare
lively few of them are located in the
South and West. Common sense teaches
Us and our industrial history confirms
IL as true. that within country the
blessings Of protection will not be even
~ distributed over the whole country,
but will be showered in great profusion
upon certain localities, which possess
natural advantages, and will be spar
ingly bestowed upon less favored local
tiles. II would De impossible, even if
the advocates of the system honestly at
tempted II, 10 distribute its special ad
vantages equally throughout every part
OF the country, so as to do no injustice.
but TO give every section its due pro-
portion OF benefits. In fact, most of the
advocates of protection in this country
desire no such equality in practice.
though they pretend 70 favor 1t in the
Dry. They really favor the system be-
cause o. IT'S sectional and personal in
equ9lities.
Il must be conceded that many of our
Industries are self-sustaining, and re-
quire no assistance from the tariff. The
cotton Of the South requires no protec-
ton: neither does the wheat or corn
Of the West. As matter Of fact. the
South and West are engaged in agri
cultural pursuits. which require no pro-
lection. white the New England and
Middle States are engaged in industries
many of which are supposed to depend
directly upon protective assistance.
UNDER FREE TRADE
only such manufactures and other in
dustries will be carried on as are profit
able and able 70 withstand both foreign
and domestic competition. Under pro-
lection. however. certain manufactures
and other industries may be carried on
which would be Improbable against
open. worldwide competition. BY
means OF a tariff. domestic manufac-
lures may control the domestic market;
but. nevertheless. domestic manufac-
lures will be carried on in this country
only in those localities best suited to
them. Thus, iron and steel industries
will be carried on where coal is abund-
ant and where ore can be obtained at
comparatively low cost. Portions OF
Pennsylvania possesses great advant-
ages in the manufacture of iron. while
Kansas and Mississippi have no such
advantages. Louisiana sugar planters
are greatly benefited by a tariff on
sugar Other sections of the country
not engaged in producing sugar. de-
rive no advantage from such a tariff.
Copper mining in the Lake Superior re-
gion. where the copper ore exists, and
glass manufacturers in Pennsylvania.
Ohio and Indiana, where cheap fuel and
materials can be obtained, are equally
clamorous for protection. The people
OF these sections demand a law which
cOmpels the people of other sections to
buy their products and pay prices above
the natural level of the worlds mar
kets for their benefit
II is evident that sections of the cOun-
try which are confined TO those pro-
auctions which are seif-sustaining. and
which require no enhancement Of prices
from buyers
IN OTHER SECTIONS.
not only derive no advantage from the
tariff system, but on the contrary are
injured by the involuntary tribute eX-
acted from them in the form of higher
prices. in order to build up manutac-
turing industries in more favored sec
tons. Such products as cotton. wheat,
corn. petroleum, and the like, derive no
advantage from protection, because
they are produced in quantities that
yield a surplus which fixes the price Of
the whole. These products are self
sustaining. \ protective tariff levied
on foreign impCrtations Of these articles
would not, at least under ordinary con-
ditionS, affect the prices in this coun-
try.
Kansas, Nebraska, South Carolina
and Mississippi are engaged in self-sus-
tanning industries. which are not de-
pendent upon the tariff for their ex-
istence; but since the people Of these
States are compelled 10 buy protected
goods, which are dearer than the same
kinds of goods would be under free
trade. 1t follows that the inhabitants
OF those States arc impoverished to a