Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-10-07
TRUSTS AND TARIFF.
Honest Treaties Would Expand Amer.
lean CO 'm.i..


Evening Post IN. ", the following in
teresting letter on Protection
Sir-The Republicans declaration
that I'VE insist upon the maintenance
of the principles of protection is a
challenge TO make the question
whether the principle of protection is
right or wrong campaign issue.
This leaves the clean-cut issue, IS
protection in principle clt or wrong2
The only argument that ( been adj
vanced for the former is that we seq
II accompanied by prosperity: and
similar argument would equally prove
that the sun goes around the earthi
An argument against it is that, simply
because something cannot be made out
of nothing, protective" duties can do
no more than to divert production from
its natural channels; that is, from the
lines of least resistance, and therefore
of least expenditure of effort. and so
of least cost of production. Converse
ly, such diversion from natural cham
nels must increase cost of production,
and, therefore, other things being
equal. lessen profit.
Tariff duty is only one of many fac
tors, but so far as it goes the argu-
ment is confirmed by the fact that
under the Walker so-called free trade
tariff, when our manufactures came
nearest to following the natural chan
nels of production, their ratio of in
crease, which is largely dependent on
relative profit. was greater than ever
before or since. Under the browning
infquity, so far, Of the Dingley tariff,
while the ratio of increase, and so the
profit to the Nation, is less, corrupt
legislation has diverted the lions share
of the DIMINISHED profits into the pock-
cts of tariff-privileged few-to the
building up of huge individual for
tunes, that by their evil example and
evil use in corrupting our legislators
and voters are endangering our repub-
lie. 1t is true that, thanks to abund-
ant crops, and to other causes with
which protection has nothing to do
except to do harm, there are crumbs OF
the resulting prosperity for the rest
of us; but under the Walker tariff,
while individual fortunes would not
have been so dangerously overgrown,
the people would have had full loaves.
Besides, despite the delaying of the
end by Trust combinations, the arti-
fetal stimulant is manifestly losing
its effect, and should the Republicans
win it is an open secret that to bring
about another boom it will be neces-
sary to increase the dose. at our further
expense; as well as to add ship subsi-
dies, and so on. If, on the other hand,
the Democrats should win, revision,
properly managed as it would be by
the friends of our country Gin place of
friends of the tariff Deneficarios, and
the Republican corruption fund.-, and
with honest reciprocity treaties, so far
from checking prosperity would give it
a healthy impulse by throwing open
to us the field of international trade;
in which, just as fast as our necks are
freed from the milestone of protection
ism. with our natural resources, in
Guiding brains, we would lead the
world. The rich employers would be-
come richer. Steel rails, for example,
at S2S would lose the IS we are now
robbed of, but til remaining profit
of SIS on the added enormous output
for the vast increase in the foreign
trade would more than make up the
loss. These employers, also, could OBJ
viously afford to land so long as Il good
ratio of our land to our inhabitants
continues would have to give as good
wages as now, OF better and instead
of the present alternating feasts and
famiues there would be more steady
employment
Best of all, perhaps, as the tariff
robbery was lessened its artificialy en-
HANGED cost of living would be reduced,
ard tsay) fifty cents would provide
what now costs a dollar. 1t has been
the writer's lot to spend most of his
grown life abroad, and although now
some years at home he still feels hui
inflated whenever, as often, he finds
that in his own enlightened country,
of Which he had been so proud, he
now has to pay for inferior quality
double what he has been used to pay
ing in the benighted word outside.
Besides the sense of hunilia ton, how
ever, there is also a distinct inclination
to kick somebody. What justice is
there i'll robbing us to make other men
rich or to swell the Republican cor
ruptiOn fund? From their own selfish
view point the Republicans do well to
fight tooth and nail against change,
except to make the duties higher.
Even ten years under a scientific tariff
would make my countrymen amazed
that they could have been so fooled.
After fifty years, our historians would
group the protection craze with the
tulip mania and the South Sea bubble.