Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-13

more than what might have been ex-
rected. Pennsylvania has always been
the headquarters of practical pro-
tectionists and probably the economic
doctrine that high tariff is She father
Of industrial prosperity has received
more solid and effective support there
than anywhere else in the country, not
excepting Massachusetts. New England
protectionism, while eminently prsct-
cal in its aims, has been distinguished
for its platitudinous theories than
for its common sense. We cited an
illustration of this yesterday in
our editorial reprint of some curious
opinions lately expressed by the secre-
tary Of the Home Market Club. No
Pennsylvania protectionist OF any
standing would give utterance, for
example. to such declaration as this:
The assumption of the Babcock bill
is that the Steel Trust, so-called, 10
not only an evil, but result of the
tariff. Now, everybody recognizes that
tits in no other sense the result Of
protection than that the Industries
which it carries on may have been
established in this country under tho
inducement of protective TARIFF IL
takes a Massachusetts man to prove an
assumption by an inferential denial
but, of course, arguments OF this kind
fool the ignorant and frequently mis-
lead people who are in a position to
know better.
In no Stnte of the Union have the
principles of protection teen more ex-
plotted in a-business way. and nowhere
have the practical advantages of a high
tariff In establishing the commercial
sway Of the few at the expense OF the
many been more effectively used to
induce feeble-minded folk to believe
that tariff restriction means competi
tive expansion. Mr., Bayard no doubt
had Pennsylvania particularly in mind
when he delivered that famous speech
before the Edinburgh Philosophical In
stitution in November OF 80, the speech
that gave a protectionist Congress an
attack Of palsy and caused protectiouist
editors to lose sleep for weeks trying to
devise some plan to have the Della
ware statesman disciplined. In another
column we reprint letter to the New
York Evening Post, written by cor.
respondent who takes occasion to quote
from this speech in making some telling
comments upon how protsctionism over
rides the Constitution, and We urge
upon our readers its careful perusal.
IL points out very strikingly the in
evitable results of the policy of pro-
lection carried to its logical conclusion,
and includes an illuminating quotation
from the Chicago Record Herald on the
political attitudes of Justices White
AMI Shiras, Of the Supreme Court.
There was much wisdom in Mr..
Bayard'sstatement that sit is 10 correct
to treat Of protection as national
policy, for that it can never be, be.
cause it can never be other than the
fostering of special interests at tbe
expense of the rest; and this over.
throws the great principle OF equality
before the law, and that resultant
sense Of justice and equality in the
administration of sovereign powers
which is the true cause of domestic
tranquility and human contentment. -
Unfortunately what is "incorrect'' il
often Of dominant Importance and pro.
lection has been treated as a national
policy in this country with devotion
and differentiation that has resulted
in not only arousing the distrust and
antagonism Of other nations, but in
oyerthrowing that very Justice and
equality in the administration OF
sovereign powers' to which Mr.,
Bayard referred. In 1.-THE game OF
international competition for trade, ;,
the Unsuitable growth of that form OF
State Socialism styled Protection, ),
has overleaped the bounds Of equality.
1t has demoralized the national sense Of
individual rights, seriously endangered
the unity and cohesion between capital
and labor, and is fast developing an
idea in the national mind that com.
mercial prosperity is becoming more
and more dependent upon the mower Of
cunIollinB element.
This latter result of the protect:opisi
doctrine run wild is unouestiouably
responsible for the recent Republication
of our traditional belief that the hes,
form Of government is tho one based
upon the consent of the governed.
Before the advent of McKinleyism into
our national legislation the principles
which guided US were those that recog
nized the inalienable right of every
citizen to stand before the law upon ar
equal footing with his neighbor. From
the day the Ohio politician became
the Americanized embodiment Of Ole
World absolutism those great self
evident atruths contained in til,
Declaration OF Independence, viz.
that all men are created equal; tina,
they are endowed by. their Creator with
certain uIalienable rights; that amons
these are life, liberty and the pursuit.
of happiness, began to crumble. To
day they have to all inteuts and pur
poses become relic Of the past. The,
exist where statute law, the outcom,
OF the truths themselves, keeps then
before the public, but their exercise /,
of the Madam farley order, and the,
have ceased TO be fruitful in thu
generation Of, the Jeifersonian principles
of government. We take possession o.
people by treaty and by bold, outright
mn ohuoa T.. f6a .s..hIss - =.