The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-01

oak back into an acorn. II had better be
carefully considered
H.
The proposed treatment NJ corporations.
even " something ought TO be tlore. is a
fine example Of how easily men mistake
their wishes for their reasons II il pro-
posed TO repeal such portions Of he 'arir
act as have made these corporations pros
porous. OF course, this is not intended
TO attack the tariff, All We are trying to
do Is 70 sap the prosperity Of institutions
which have grown SO large as TO friRhten
us. Why do they brighten MS? Because
they are great and strong and wealthy.
or course, then. their greatness and strength
and wealth are Fundamental facts beyond
dispute. No tarify law. Of course can 10
made which does not apply 10 all. Hence.
II the tariff is so reformed that IN. big,
strong and wealthy corporations go to
dest ruction, hov. are the small ones To bc
saved? Really, to the I'm and iudicious
mind this seems like free trade for its own
sweet sake
Protection in some lands may ba the
subject Of discussion and debate How
IL can be that in this country, and AZ ills
time. passes all understanding In the
United States the policy Of protection has
had a century and a quarter Of alternate
triumph and defeat. The triumph he's
always been followed by prosperity, the
defeat by hard times
Tn" idea that protection il in the nature
of medicine. TO be dropped as soon as pos
siblo. il an idea we had better examine.
What il it is food' The medicine notion
comes from the early arguments for the
selection Of infant industries to be fostered
and cherished, Time and experience have
enlarged that MOTTO of protect ion. They
have shown that protection is not a privi-
lege, but n system. A privilege might ba
robbery. A system must justify itself by
results. The principle which underlies
protection ia the securing al all times to the
American people the markets of America.
II means that the work of this nation shall
he done by the people of this nation. All
wealth comes from the marrying Of labor
10 the raw material. In a country like
ours, extending over such vast regions,
there can be no lack of mat erials. ANY
system which enables our people TO do our
own work il the system which can give.
and has given the best results. The enemy
have all along sneered at the idea that taxes
can make us rich. But this liz simply TO
beguile by words Would il be any less
absurd to say that taxes gave us good
currency? And yet they did. We tax
State currency. We do not raise one cent
by the tax: it simply bars out the State
currency. We used the tax as way Of
accomplishing a result as means TO an end.
In like manner, we used the taxing power
TO create barrier behind which We could
do our own work. All the theorists, the
men who thought there was nothing in the
world they could not think Of declared
that We would be ruined. We have not
been ruined but we are to-day very lively
example of people who do their own work
What would you say was the ideal indus
trial condition Of a nation? Everybody at
work. just now we have everybody at
work. And yet We think we want some
thing else. IL We keep on fussing We shall
get il. With all the world, except England.
including her own colonies. of our opinion,
with success embroidered on all our ban
ners, We are invited 10 surrender our views
and give place to beaten world
Why? Simply because Of that human
unrest which is part OF the history of the
race. We. being also Of limited knowledge,
are much given to DE beguiled by gcnerah-
ties. Here is one line of gencraties. Is
the Dingley tariff bill the end Of wisdom?
VI not, then It can be improved. A tariff
bin could he framed, we think, which would
be free from all the errors Of that cele-
bratcd bin and retain It's virtues Where
would you enact such bill' Why, in your
own mind, of course, Unfor,u una ely. bill
enacted in the mind has no extraterri-
,nria1 fprna A hill cd k,,i on
like the progress Of the world, is the result,
of fierce conflict Of opposing human in
terests. and must he so. When men talk
carelossly Of tariff revision, the v talk of
tariff never yet establish he'd, and one that
never can he, They dream Of a tarif which
exactly suits them individually. while a
real tariff bill i one which measurablv
satisfies the country as whole.
But can we not have, sitting in perpetual
session, a body of men, non partisan, Judi
cious, wise and incorruptible? Yes. in your
mind, You can have anything in your
mind. lima gination is unlimited, and il is
very delightful to wander round among
possible mpossibilitics. just think of
non-partisan free trader sitting on a tariff
tax, OF course he would 10 above auv
prejudice except his own. saw one Tariff
COMMISSION sH IN ioo3' ana It's report was
not enacted into law. All its mistake
we're and the result was satisfactory TO
nobody,
What We had better do il 10 remember
where We are and what our dangers are.
Enterprises Of business are not entered
upon by helter-skclter. They are tho
result Of calculation. One Of the frs, in
quries Of the promoter or maker il. How
many Of our present conditions are to re-
main? II there are To be uncertainties in
he future he will no; dare TO act What
cap vo,i INN pipn that v,ilJ ,tarn.,