The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-02-22
suppLIANr BECOMES DIcTATOR.

Protection defined. Websteris Dictionary. "a theory, or policy
I Of protecting the producers IN a country from foreign competition in
I the home market by the imposition Of such discriminating duties on
I. goods Of foreign production as win restrict, o prevent their importa-
I tom opposed to free trade
Daniel Webster: 1.-THE system Of prohibitions and restrictions. "
Although condemned by all the political economists OF note, pro-
] lection has been advocated by many intelligent and patriotic men, and
their arguments in defense Of 1t deserve candid weighing The theory
rests upon Two premises; LIST, that It. is best for a country to have d.
versihed industries, and to produce within her own borders most Of the
things in order not to be dependent upon foreign Countries, especially
in time OF war, The premise all must admit
End, that by prohibiting or restricting by tariff taxes, the importa-
ton Of foreign products, the domestic producers win be given acom-
plete or partial monopoly Of the home market, can get higher prices
At least for atime) and will therefore build up the various manufac.
lures and productions the country needs. This is commonly known as
the "infant INDUSTRIES argument. 1t was the main one urged by the
earlier advocates of protection, who fully expected, and claimed, that
after the infant industries were once established they would sustain
themselves and cease to be protected at the expense Of the people at
large.
1t is vigorously disputed by free traders, who maintain that a
country Of such intelligent, energetic people, free institutions and
wonderful natural resources as the United States will best develop her
industries in free competition with all the world; that to burden and
restrict the whole people In order to help a favored few to fortunes,
works more harm than good, and that her astonishing growth and
prosperity are due solely and wholly to her people and resources, aided
by free trade In 0s per cent OF all her commerce, and has been achieved
In spite OF protection on the remaining ? per cent Of 1t. Judged by the
views and promises Of our earlier statesmen, the country has com
petely outgrown protection. Says the O%regonian, the great Republic
can paper Of the Pacific Coast
1.-THE highest Republican tradition has already stood for a 'protec-
tive tariff that leads to free trade
"How long must we waltz Shall it be until our iron and steel
concerns organize themselves into mammoth combinations and market
their product in every iron centre OF the universe? Isl until we have
sold wooens in Bradford, cutlery in Sheffield, watches in Geneva,
bicycles in France, bridges in Germany, locomotives in Russia and ia
pan, and rails, locomotives and cars IN every country in Europe? Is it
when our so-called Infant industries have become giants, and in the
camp Of industry whore they once crayed permission to lie down,
crouching in corner, they have grown strong and spread out over the }
whole, and demand not only the market Of the world, but a monopoly
of the home market, through tariff protection secured through power :
full lobbies at Washington and heavy campaign contributions
apparently none Of these circumstances announce the day when :
nr,tn,tinn hoe M lt 1I - e~, 4MJo . -, t4gq
parenty the cry for tariff aid is as loud as ever, though changed from :
a pithul wall to a masterful shout. The supplant has become the !
Dictator :