The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-07-25
WHAT PROTECTION is
TRUE PRINCIPLE THAT UNDER
LIES OUR PRESENT TARIFF.
II Fosters National Pride and Assures
Complete Industrial independence
Free Traders Have Nothing to Offer
in Exchange for It.

The protective tariff policy came
into existence under the first admins
tration. The protective principle was
the cardinal doctrine in the creed or
the greatest constructive statesman
America ever produced, Alexander
Hamilton 1t had warm advocates in
George Washington and the other
great men who surrounded the Father
of his country during the eight years
in which he served as chief magis-
trate. 1t has been aptly called the ma
tional policy for the reason that 1t
exalted America above every other
nation and proposed to develop its in
dustries and resources in order that
the nation might attain industrial as
well as political independence. 1t was
conceded at the beginning mat to es-
tablish this policy would involve some
sacrifices. 1t was conceded at the be-
ginning that there were to be higher
suit of protection; but it was argued
that the compensating benefits would
more than Offset this. Throughout the
development of this system these hopes
have been fully realized, so that where
as at the beginning we were absolutely
at the mercy of European manufac-
turers, we are to-day practically indie
pendent of them and through home
competition there has been a constant
decline in the price of all the great
staple articles of manufacture. Amer
lean labor has throughout the entire
period of our national existence COM
manded a higher price than similar
labor performed In any other portion
has grown in independence, intelli-
gence and opportunity with the de-
velopment of this system, until today
he occupies a place undreamed OF by
his predecessors of a generation ago.
The free-trader has from the begin
ming held to the doctrine of the sur
vival of the fittest without any inter-
ference on the part of the government.
They have contended that in the world
of labor the spirit of national pride
should not enter. That from bust
ness standpoint we should consider
the laborer or the manufacturer of
any other country as just as much
entitled to consideration as the manu-
try. The free-trader has always had
in mind first of all the interest of
what we might style the consumer
who primarily is not producer, that
is to say, the professional and sal
aried classes and those who live upon
the interest derived from securities.
The habit of mind can be discovered
in many fields outside those where
the protection and free-trade doctrines
ordinarily clash. For example, the
believer in free-traoe will naturally be
opposed to Chinese exclusion. To the
man who believes absolutely in free
trade doctrines the Chinaman is
worthy of as much consideration as
an American. If you say to this man
that it is dangerous to permit this
country to be overrun with cheap
Chinese labor, he will tell you that
if the American wage Garner cannot
compete with the heather Chinese so
much the worse for the former. The
set phrase, THE fittest will survive"
satisfies him at all points.
Periodically throughout our history
the free-trader by appealing to vari-
GUS selfish interests here and there to
vote for an era of chcapness has per-
suaded the American electorate to elect
a congress and president favorable
to the free-trade doctrines. Every
such triumph has been followed by a
period of industrial depression char
acterized by falling prices, business
failures, low wages and enforced idle
ness. There has been no exception.
This generation had its experience be-
tween 1898 and 1896. Almost every
man old enough to vote can remem-
Der very wildly what took place then.
Yet it is practically certain that in the
next national campaign, which is just
upon us, another appeal will be made
to the people to vote for a cheap era
and if sufficient number of them can
be caught by this stale bait it can be
confidently predicted that history will
repeat itself. 1t cannot be otherwise
Cedar Rapids Republican.