The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-02
TARIFF MODIFICATION.
Modern Business Development and
the Protective Principle.

Elkhart Qnd.) Review.
When Henry Clay was advocating the
american system" or the protective tariff
for the development of manufactures, Dan
lei Webster opposed the measure on the
ground that this agricultural ma
ton and the development of manufacture
ing was not a desirable motive or end.
When, however, the protective principle
had been adopted, and Daniel Webster
recognized the fact that gradual change
from agriculture to manufacture was sure
ly coming. especially in the New England
States, he modified his opposition and
became defender of, if not believer in,
the protective policy. He gave as his rea-
son the fact that changed conditions re-
quired a change.
From that time until nearly the present
there has been necessity for the encour-
cement of manufacturing industries and
commerce in this country, and a tariff
which was larger than the necessities of
revenue was a necessity for the stimulus
of these lines Of commercial life and be-
came a policy of government. selfish. per-
haps. but yet at the same time necessary
and desirable. But the development Of in
dustries has been so rapid and so marked,
especially within the last four years. and
the accumulation Of capital has been so
vast that any outside stimulus offered by
the government beyond the point where
the Increased wages of American labor
enters into production is not only unneces-
sary, but has become especially unwiSe.
The Republican party, as the advocate
of the protective principle, should learn
the lesson which the evolution OF industry
and of commerce is teaching the world at
large, and should recognize the demand,
not only of the people, but the demand of
the times and the conditions and Of the
laws of trade, for such modification of the
protective element in the tariff legislation
will place this country in the fore in
all lines of industry and commerce. The
demand for the modification of the applica-
ton of the protective principle is not par
tiSan nor entirely of policy. but is a de-
mand of the changed necessities and al
tered conditions of the diversified industries
agricultural nation with a necessity for
stimulating manufactures, but we have pc
come largely a manufacturing nation with
the necessity of stimulating commerce with
the world at large and of restmulating
the decaying agriculture of the country
The principle on which the Nation should
base its action in tariff reform is the re-
tentiOn of protection against foreign cheap
labor, but putting the American purchaser
in the markets in the world on equal foot
ing in the purchase of raw material, re-
moval of all stimulus to manufacturing in
terests where vast capital is invested but
the retention of such tariff as shall place
American skill on a higher footing than
foreign ignorance. The time has come
when American industries should stand
upon their own feet, with only safeguard
against the Ignorance and lack of skill of
to which foreign labor is accustomed.
There is almost acute danger that we
shall overdo manufacturing unless we slim
ulate commerce and agriculture. The prin-
Ciple of modification of the tariff should be
on lines looking TO the establishment of
foreign commerce and Il revival of the
earlier tendencies Of this country TO be-
come a partner with nature and the soil in
the production of food elements and other
natural elements which enter into the
necessities of mankind and into the vastly
expanding range of comforts and even
of luxuries which wealth is developing
The Republican party cannot afford to
overlook the necessities in the present cor
ditiOn. and in some way which shall be
devoid of partisan bias so modify the tariff
laws of this country to fit them TO the
present time and TO render them so elastic
that they may be sef-contracting and self
expanding TO meet new conditions.