The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-12-11

Is soon a. possible. Il an idea we
had better examine. What Il Il Is
foodf The medicine notion comes
from the early arguments for the &C.
lection Of infant Industries 10 be
tostered and cherished. Time and
experience have enlarged that no.
ton OF protection. They have
shown that protection Is not a priv.
llsge, but a system. A privilege
might be robbery. A system must
justify itself by results. The prin-
ciple which undeFhes protection Is
the securing az all times to the
american people the markets OF
America. II means that the work
Of this nation shall be done by the
people Of this nation. All wealth
comes from the marrying Of labor
to the raw material. In a country
like ours, extending over such vast
regions, there can be no lack of
materials. Amy system which ena-
bles u people to do our w work
is the system which give. and has
given, the best results. The enemy
have all along sneeTed at the idea
that taxes can make US rich. But
this is simply TO beguile by words.
Would it be any less absurd TO say
that taxes gave US good currency
And yet they dad. We tax state
currency. We do not raise n
cent by the tax II simply bars out
the state currency. We used the
tax as a way Of accomplishing a re.
suit--as meant to an end. In like
manner we used the taxing power
to create a barrier behind which we
could do our 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 q
very lively example of q people who
do their own work. What would
you say was the ideal Industrial
condition of q nationi Everybody
at work. Just now we have every
body at work. And yet we think
we want something else. II we
keep on fussing we shall get it.
With all the world, except England,
including her own colonies, of our
opinion, with success embroidered
on all our banners, we are anvised
to surrender our views ano give
place to Q beaten world.
Whvi Simply because of that
human unrest which is part of the
history of the race. We, being al
so of limited knowledge, are much
given TO be begviled by generalities.
Here is one line of generslisies. IL
the Dingley tariff bill the end Of
wisdomi II not, then Il ri be
improved. A tariff bill could be
framed, we think, which would be
free from all the errors of that eele-
brated bill and retain its virtues.
Where would you enact such a bill
Why, in your mind. of course.
Unfortunately, a bill enacted in the
mind has no extFateTritosial force.
A bill enacted by Congress, like
the progress Of the world, is the re-
suit OF a fierce conflict of opposing
human interests, and must be so.
When men talk earelessly of tariff
revision, they talk Of a tariff never
yet established, and one that never
can be. They dream of a tariff
which exactly suits them indiVidu-
ally, while a real tariff bill is one
which measurably satisfies the eoun.
try as a whole.
But can we not have, sitting in
perpetual session., q body Of men,
nonparsisan, judieioes, wise and In
eorruptlblel Yes, in your mind.
You can have anything In your
mind. Imagination is unlimited,
and it's very delightful TO wander
round among possible impossibili.
ties. Just think of = n%onpartisan
free trader sitting on q tariff taxi
OF course, be would be above any
prejudice except his own. saw
one tariff commission sit in 1889.
and its report was net enacted into
law. All its mistakes were, and
the result was satisfactory TO
nobody.
What we had better do "a 10 re-
member where we are and what
our dangers are. Enterprises OF