Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-01-25
DEEPLY SOLICITOUS.
FREE TRADERS W0R RYINo ABOUT
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM.
Because we Are Prospecting So Wen
Under Protection They Argue That
Love of Country Is Dying Out Among
the People of the United States.

This is the caption of the last article
sent out by the Free Trade League over
the, signature of Prof. John Bascom, of
Williams College. The two words. pro-
lection and patriotism. certainly go
well together, and are closely related
But. says Prof. Bascom, protection as
developed in the United States, is pro-
foundly opposed to patriotism" And
yet he does not prove 1t. or even at
tempt to- He tells us that it begets
personal strife. but does not tell us
wherein personal strife and ambition
become inimical to patriotism. Con-
tinuing, the professor says:
1.-The little kernel of sound theory
that may in the beginning have lain at
the bottom of protection was shortly
lost sight of in a greedy struggle be-
tween ever-increasing claimants to re-
tain old and win new advantages
1t is encouraging to see an old-time
free trader admitting that there was
ever even a kernel of sound theory in
the principle of protection, though il
has been lost sight of in the struggle
for advantage. Does the professor
mean to say that the strife to excel is
unpatriotic? Would he have our in
ventors stop thinking, our miners stop
digging, our farmers stop planting, Our
mechanics stop fabricating, and so
cease to retain and gain advantages
not only among themselves but over
the peoples of other countries? Does
be want us to go back to the habits of
the aborigines and live the lives OF
savages? He complains because I'VE
Lave set no limits to individual enter
prise" Why should we set a limit to
ambition, to attainment and accom-
rlishment? And then he complains
again because 1.-The policy of private
thrift, which gained such foothold i'll
protection, has spread everywhere.
II the professor is preaching social
ism or anarchy, that is one thing, but
Il he is preaching free trade because it
would do away with competition and
destroy commercial advantages, that Is
another. He concludes his little piece"
as follows:
patriotism cannot thrive in the at
r.ospbere we have provided for 1T. If
we would restore and strengthen love
of country, we must get back to the
prosperity of the masses of men--;he
people and the nation-as the true aim
of government
Does the professor question our love
Of country? Was he awake during the
Spanish war. when millions were an
CRY only because they could not fight
for the Stars and Stripes? Did he not
for months see Old Glory waving from
every Flagstaff. from every building,
and from every house? Who is there.
outside the little band of Amecican
Cobdenites, that does not think VIC
could lick any country on earth. or.
If needs be, all of them put together?
Does not the professor see any other
paper but the Springfield Republican,
AS for getting back to the prosper
ity of the masses of men"-back
where? Back to 1887, or to 1857, or TO
1856? When have the masses of
men-the people and the nation"-been
so prosperous as they are to-day?
1t seems incredible that a man of
average enlightenment could put forth
such twaddle as this paper of Prof
Bascom's. 1t is not worth noticing ex-
cept to show to what pitiable ends the
Free Trade League is Obliged to go 10
get matter to send out to the few coun-
try papers that will print its stuff
Surely the free trade issue in the Unit
ed States is at a low ebb indeed wnen
it must depend on such argument for
support Prof. Bascom knows no more
about patriotism than he does about
protection. He knows no more a5ont
the ambitions and national characters
tics of the people of the United States
than he does about the unciviiized
tribes of darkest Africa; or else. for
the sake of his pet theory, he would DO
away with an exertiOn and all lat or,
of mind or body. He should study the
strenuous life of his countrymen, from
the president down to the urchin with
his bundle of extras" He should take
| q progressive daily or weekly paper
and read the current history of his
country Or. he might take the presi-
dents message by installments and
gather few ideas concerning the prog
ress and achievements of our institu-
tons. He should get little American
| flag and count the stripes and then the
stars. He should get a portrait of Wash
| ington and of Mckinley. and little by
| little study the lives of our other great
men. 1t may be a hopeless case, but
| it would seem as if even Prof. Bascom
might be injected with little Ameri-
can spirit and patriotism