The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14
THE DAWN OF PROSPERITY
1t will Follow the Enactment Of Far.
if Legislation.
Washington Recorder.

One would think that the mphat ic repudi .
alton of free trade BY the voters in 1891, and
the reiteratiou OF the reputation on Novem-
Der last would be sufficient TO cause the free
trader to perceive that free trade Is a back
number, and that protection Is the policy OF
the future. But the free traders 60 placldly
on laying plans for the policy Of the admin
istration OF President Mckinley; suggesting
an increase OF the tax on beer, the imposition
of tax on tea and coffee, etc., as u means to-
ward raising revenue sufficient Tor the eX.
penses of the government, for doing away
with the deficit in the treasury, which has eX-
listed ever since we decided to take "the first
step toward free trade" Really the Tree trad
ers might as we'll give their brains needed
rest.
We have never had any difficulty about
raising sufficient revenue under protective
tariff, and protective tariff Is wnat we are
going to have jpst as soon as Prestden; Nc.
kinley and the next Congress can geL around
TO it, That there will be no lack of revenue
for the government is as sure as mat there
will be no lack Of work for the people.
The object OF free trade Is to remove every
obstacle from the path of those who choose TO
buy goods abroad. Two results from such
policy are plain 10 the most superficial OBJ
labor will be lessened, for the products OF
foreign labor will take the place OF American
products, and American laborerS Will be de-
prired Of just so many hours work as those
imported goods represent. Second: We must
send out OF this country either gold or goods
to pay for The things we buy. We can't pay
IN goode, except larm prOuuclS, Wnen our Iac-
tories are forced to shut down, because even
our home market has been given over to for
eigners. We must pay in gold, as experience,
both past and present, has proven under the
incipient free trade OF the German bill. Fac
tories have been shut down, people thrown
out of work, ,aud wages decreased from one end
OF the country TO the other. We have deficit
in the treasury instead OF Il surplus. 1t is
time. surely, to call halt and To right aboat
face toward protection, prosperity and sur
plus that will decrease the Democratic gift Of
debt.
The prosperity OF the laboring people, the
payment OF high wages-,hese are alike the
cause and the result of protection. Because
the wages of American laborers are higher
than the wages Of Europe, we need protection
against that labor with its low wages. If
American wages were cut down to the foreign
level, no one doubts but that American work.
men could successfully compete with foreign
laborerS-so long rs they were able TO keep
body and soul together at those pauper
wages. But 1t is In order that they may new
er have to meet such conditions that a pro-
tective tariff is imposed on the products of
those who do labor under such conditions.
BY such protection, the high rate of Ameri-
can wages Is maintained, and thus the high
wages which were, in the beginning, the
cause Of the imposition of 4 protective tariff,
are also the result of the maintenance Of pro-
lection.