The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-02-28
IN SERIOUS DANGER
ADVOCATES OF PROTECTION SEE
CAUSE FOR ALARM.
Tho Proposed Tariff Concessions to Cuba
Involve Needless Meddiing with Rates
and u Grave Menace to Our Own
Agricultural Interests.

Agricultural Interests.
The situation in the United States
In regard to the practice OF protection
as a means of national development is
remarkable. We have just emerged
from period of Hard Times in way
which has justified the strongest con-
victions of the Protectionists. Many
man has in past times hesitated
over the Protection according to iron
and steel. If such duties were needed
for those products at any time, when
could we hope to successfully produce
iron and steel in competition with the
world at large? Yet iron and steel,
strongly protected here, have sailed
forth and opened for us the markets
"a the world. The very things on
which we had the greatest doubts are
the things which have placed our prin-
ciples beyond dispute by practical IL
lustration known and read Of all men.
Nevertheless, this is the very mo-
ment when protection is running its
greatest risk. 1t Is a curious fact. in
the nature of mankind, that there is no
time when there is such great dan
ger as the time of victory. Aften ten
sion of muscles comes the natural
reaction, and men, after victory, like
to concede something to their enemies.
This is all well enough when 1t re-
lates to the courtesies of individual
intercourse but it has no application
to business. Protection rests upon
principle, or it does not. If it does
not, then it is a mere bestowal OF
bounty, and is no part Of the business
of government. If it rests upon princi-
pie, then that principle must be that
the American markets belong to the
Americans. You cannot maintain your
system and sacrifice anything to
which it is applicable.
Recent events ought to show con-
gress that the people are coming to
understand these things. After such a
victory as our system has had, it can
easily be understood that all attacks
on the system, if made at all, must be
insidious and disguised They cannot
be open. for they would be resisted at
sight. Hence there should be full dis
cussion of these new attempts, which
are now being made in our period of
victory to turn the victory into de-
feat.
The first attack came in the disguise
of reciprocity. That sounded we'll.
All things sound well which are mere
" on paper. Mr.. Cleveland could talk
most convincingly of the tariff which
should protect all manufacturers, and
yet be so nicely poised that it would
suit all importers here and all manu-
facturers abroad. So long as the SEN
ate was against him and he could do
nothing, there was no false note in the
song. But when he got a senate of
his own party, and they all went to
work on a real tariff, he found the
product so bad that he could only COW
er his face as it passed by.
So with reciprocity treaties. Fran
ed in the mind they exchange only
commodities that one of the countries
produces and the other does not. This
seems plain. But no real reciprocity
bill or treaty ever could do any such
thing, or ever really tried to.
Recognizing this fact when they
were face to face with it the manufac-
turers and producers of this country
quite recently, in their meeting in
Washington, earned the thanks of
their country by their courageous &C
ton. This they did, though many of
their friends stayed away as another
method of protest.
Another insidious attack upon pro-
lection as a system has recently been
made in the bill repeating more or less
of the tariff for the benefit of Cuba.
1t does not in any way appeal to our
judgments. 1t is not addressed to our
intellects. 1t is only addressed to our
sympathies. We are told that Cuba
has been maltreated by being set free.
Can that be so? Not at ALL Some en-
terprising Americans have gone there,
purchased land and built railroad.
Are we going to reward eXpatrlatlon!
We have a right to wish them sue
cess, and we give them our good will.
Why should they be benefited at the
expense of those who stay at home and
develop our own country? Why should
a desire to be kind to the absent lead
us to withdraw protection for our own
tobacco growers and our own beet
sugar raisers? Why should we, for
the sake of good men, even, who have
gone abroad to seek fortune, allow
such an attack upon our system of
protection as will be a good beginning
for a final destruction?
If you need any proof as to the char
acter of the attack, look at those who
are fiocking to the aid of the Cuban
bounty or rebate, whatever it may be.
Every journal that has ever advocated
free trade is after us. in fashion
which may be called brutal; all Of
them are attacking those who sustain
protection, as if it were a crime to up