The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1902-07-10
PROTEcTIONISM VS.. PATRIOTISM.

The fullest, firmest expression to ma
tional strength is patriotism. All other
gains include themselves in this one mag
nificient product. Free constitutions. If
developed along their true lines of
growth, especially favor patriotism; if
turned aside from the public welfare, they
are peculiarly inimical to it. The sense
the same for all under the public veal, is
the foundation of love of country. In
tempter of the strong. is most ~unfavor-
able to that good will which should in
cite men in pursuing their welfare.
Protectionism, as developed in the Unit
ed States, is profoundly opposed to pa
triotism. 1t begets a tempter forgetful of
the public welfare, exacting in private
claims and full of personal strife. This
is its own n disposition. and once es-
tablished as a public policy it carries this
disposition with it everywhere in all
forms of civic action.
The little kernel of sound theory that
may in the beginning nave lain at the
bottom of protection was shortly lost
sight of in a greedy struggle between ever
increasing claimants to retain old and win
new advantages. The common aims for
which legislation is ordained were more
and more brushed aside, and every man,
busily occupied with his own interests,
was taught to antagonize them to the
interests of others in public affairs. Our
civic life became a game of hurly burly,
in which each man sought a place for
himself. How natural was it that the
steel combine, bred and built up on this
pabulum of protection, should in the
recent strike make no vindication of
policy, no appeal to the public, show
none of the decent respect for the
opinions of mankind which our fore
fathers thought fitting, but should rely
simply on the hard fact of force to MAIN
tain and extend the power the public had
conceded to it! The temper was: Let
those workmen whine and PROFOUND and
propitiate. We know our own business
and propose to pursue 1t in our own way.
We will not KICK the less because we
hnx,1 nrnur4 fnt nj tho n,,h1fo nrth Wa
will not resist combination the less be-
cause we are the largest combination in
the world.
One of the surprises in the development
OF our national life has been the spirit of
our private appropriation as opposed to
the public welfare which has taken pos
session of us. We ave set no limits to
individual enterprise. If a franchise could
be secured. no scruples have stood in the
way. Legislation which aimed at an
equal division of advantages, as in the
restricted sale of public lands, has been
baffied in every variety of method. Lands
which were devoted to public education
became the prey of the a n grabber. The
policy of private thrift which gained such
a foothold in protection has spread every
where. Our railroads have been left in
The hands of corporations for narrow and
personal uses. Private property has
grown up in our streets and highways,
and the commercial opportunities which
have been the fruit of our common en-
terprise have been converted into person
al possessions. The indirect evils of pro-
lection nave far exceeded it's direct evils.
A tempter has been engendered which has
respected no claim and spared no common
privilege.
If there has been war we have had shod-
dy clothing, embalmed beef and a rush