The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-01-30
FAITH is NOT LOST
PRoTEcTloNlST SENTIMENT IS
STRONG WITH THE PEOPLE.
i-ak of Tariff Tinkering Originates
Not With the Rank and File, But
With Certain Leaders Who Have
Ends to Gain and Ambitions to
Serve.

EHus u Sa'I anu T"SSS
Serve.
ANY tinkering with the tariff at the
present time can but jeopardize that
stability which our economic condl-
lions now enjoy and consequently
prove fatal to the continuance of that
prosperity, which for the past hve
years, or since the enactment or the
Dingley tariff in 1897, has made
every other nation on the globe look
upon us with eyes of envy. Can we
afford to let go an established GER
tainty for a doubtful experiment? Is
it Just? Is it wise? Is it statesman
like to do so? Manifestly any such
course is little short of folly, certain
political leaders to the contrary not
withstanding.
We all recall to our sorrow the no.
torious Cleveland era preceding the
election of Mckinley in 1896. Business
was at a standstill, labor was I'M
employed, and the nation was prac-
tically in the hands of Coxeys army
and bankruptcy. About this time
something happened. | was the cleo
ton of Mckinley, the cessation OF
senseless currency agitation, and the
enactment of what is known as the
Dingley protective tariff bill. We
know the result-abundant prosper
ity.
The history of this nation furnishes
several examples of like prosperity
following the enactment of protective
tariff laws. The citation of one Will
suffice. The seven years preceding
the year 1924 were years OF hard
times and business stagnation. But In
that year Congress passed a protec
tive tariff law, business Immediately
revived and until the year 1882 the
country enjoyed unprecedented pros
perity. In the latter year a revision
of the tariff agitation began. Henry
Clay was the leader of the protection
lists and fought with all the powers OF
his mastery intellect any measures
calculated to change the existing tar
if. 1t was at this time that he deliver
ed his famous speech, in the United
States senate, known as 1.-THE Ameri
can System" A portion of that speech
is in many respects applicable to the
present time and descriptive OF pres
ent conditions. After dwelling some
what at length on the hard times pre-
ceding 1924 and calling attention tc
the enactment during that year OF
the tariff law that brought on the
era of business revival he said: u
have now to perform the more pleas
ing task of exhibiting an imperfect
sketch of the existing state of the I'M
paralleled prosperity of the country
On general survey we behold Guilt
walton extended, the arts fiourishing
the face of the country improved, our
people fully and profitably employed
and the public countenance exhibiting
tranquility, contentment and happi
ness" This pleasing state of affairs
he attributes to the wise tariff laws
and he counsels their retention.
A review of the conditions immedi-
ately preceding and following the en-
actment of the Dingley tariff bill
would show state of affairs identical
with those described by Mr.. Clay as
existing before and after the passing
of the tariff law in 1924 The princi'
pie of protection is the same now as
1t has always been, and the fact that
great corporations have sprung up
does not change the fundamental
principles of this or any other gov
eminent. Corporations are not the
creatures of the tariff system but have
sprung up Independent of it, and the
fact that they reap a benefit from 1t
is an attendant circumstance incident
to the general application of that sys-
tenn. If the system of protection in
some few instances makes, not inten-
tionally but incidentally, a few rich
men richer, is not that evil, IL evil 1t
be. more than compensated by the
bringing of prosperity to the country
at large? The rich men are numeri-
cslly a very insignificant part of the
population and why should law that
they can reap a certain benefit from
be for that reason condemned when
it also brings to the common people,
of whom there are so many, an op-
portunity to exchange their limited
products and labor for the necessities
and comforts of life? The logic of
some anti-tariff agitators is about like
this: Corporations are bad; tariff
laws help corporations, therefore tar
if laws are bad! AS well say that
because the sun shines on corpora
lions and corporation promoters it is
bad.
This talk of revising the tariff is
uncalled for and if persisted in by
men of prominence in the party, will,
by a tendency to unsettle present In
dustrial stability, bring on business
depression. Let the tariff remain as
.. = e. N. Canotor Halo of Maine