The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12

believe what they say. then II IL precisely
10 the destruction and uprooting OF the
| Industry, that they are pledged. When
| our opponents last obtained power ~ was
/ on platform declaring protective
| tariff unconstitutional" and the enort
TO put this declaration into practice was
one OF the causes OF the general natlonaI
prostration lasting from 1898 TO 1877 III
a protective tariff is either unconsutu-
tionaI' or robbery" then IL IL just as
unconstitutional, just as much robbery,
| 10 revise IL down. still leaving it protee-
tive. as II would be TO enact II. In otner
themselves ea @ to opRRd tRe destruction OF the pro-
tective principle In the tariff, using words
which II honestly used forbid them frors
permitting this principle 20 obtain In even
the smallest degree.
DEMOCRATS AND RECIPROCITY.
our opponents assert that they believe
In reciprocity. Their action on the most
important reciprocity treaty recently ne
gotiated-that with Cuba-does not bear
out this assertion. Moreover. there can
be no reciprocity unless there is SUD-
stantial tariff: free trade and reciprocity
are not compatible. We are on record as
favoring arrangements for reciprocal
trade relations with other countries, these
arrangements TO be on an equitable basis
OF benefit TO both the contracting parties,
The Republican party stands pledged To
every wise and consistent method of -
creasing the foreign commerce or the
country. That it has kept its pledge Is
proven by the fact that while the domes-
tic trade Of this country exceeds In vol
ume the entire export and import trade OF
all the nations of the world the United
States has in addition secured more than
an eighth OF the export trade OF the
world. standing first among the nations
I'm this respect. The United States has
exported during the last seven years
nearly ten billions OF dollars worth OF
goods--on an average half as much again
annually as during the previous four
years, when many OF our people were con-
suming nothing but necessaries, and some
OF them a scanty supply even OF these.
Two years ago. I'm speaking at Logans-
port, Ind, ! said;
The one consideration which must
never be omitted In tariff change is the
imperative need OF preserving the Ameri-
can standard OF living for the American
workingman. The tariff rate must never
fall below that which will protect the
American workingman by allowing for
the difference between the general labor
cost here and abroad, so as at least 10
cqualize the conditions arising from the
difference in the standard OF labor here
and abroad--a difference which II should
be our aim to foster in so far as II repre-
sents the needs OF better educated, better
paid. better fed, and better clothed work
insmen OF a higher type than any to be
found In foreign country. At all haz-
ards and no matter what else Is sought
for or accomplished by changes OF the
tariff, the American workingman must
that s, In his standard of living. and
must be secured the fullest opportunity
OF employment. Our laws should In no
event afford advantage TO foreign indus
tries over American industries. They
should I'm no event do less than equalize
the difference in conditions at home and
abroad"
MATTER OF REGRET.
II is a matter OF regret that the protec-
tive tariff policy, which, during the last
fibre OF the country, Is not now accepted
as definitely established. Surely we have
a right 10 say that IL has passed beyond
the domain OF theory. and right to ex-
but those who at one time distrusted II
on theoretic grounds. should now ac-
quiesce In the results that have been
proved over and over again by actual ex-
r erience. These 10 odd years have been
the most prosperous years this nation has
ever seen: more prosperous years than
any other nation has ever seen. Beyond
question this prosperity could not have
como II the American people had not pos
sessed the necessary thrift. energy and
business intelligence TO turn their vast
ma ntcrial resources TO account. But II Is
no less true that IL Is our economic polly
as regards the tariff and finance which
has enabled us as a nation 10 make such
good use Of the individual capacities OF
our citizens. and the natural resources Of
our country. Every class of our people
Is benefited by the protective tariff. Dur
ing the last few years the merchant has
seen the export trade OF this country
grow faster than ever In our previous
history.
The manufacturer could not keep his
factory running III II were not for the
protective tariff. The wage worker would
do we'll TO remember that II protection is
''rt bbery." and Is to be punished accord
ingly. he will be the first to pay the
penalty; for either he will be turned
adrift entirely, or his wages will be cut
at
sively shown by the bulletins OF the bu-
ieau OF labor, the purchasing power Of
the average wage received by the wage
worker has grown faster than the cost
of living, and this in spite OF the con-
tinual shortening OF working hours. The
accumulated savings OF the workingmen
OF the country, as shown by the deposits
In the savings banks, have increased by
leaps and bounds. At no time in the his
tory OF this or any other country has
there been an era so productive of ma
terial benefit alike to workingman and
employer as during the seven years that
have just passed.
ALL BENEFITED.
The farmer has benefited quite as much
as the manufacturer. the merchant and
the wage worker The most welcome and
Impressive fact established by the last
census is the wide and even distribution
OF wealth among all classes OF our coun-
Ts hs Shs sre sSo%b sT IN
10 I've the development OF manufactures
and the application of new inventions TO
universal use. The result has been an
increasing iuterdependence OF agriculture
and manufactures Agriculture now as
IL always has been, the basis OF civiliza-
tlon. The six million farms OF the
United States, operated by men who. as
class. are steadfast, single minded and
industrious, form the basis OF all the
other achievements OF the American
people and are more fruitful than all
their other resources. The men on those
6,0000oo farms receive from the protective
tariff what they most need. and that is
tho best OF all possible markets, All other
classes depend upon the farmer. but the
farmer I'm turn depends upon the market
they furnish him for his produce. The
annual output Of our agricultural pro-
ducts Is nearly four billions Of dollars
Their increase In value has been prodi-
gious, although agriculture has Ian
guished In most other countries and the
main factor In this increase is the cor
responding Increase OF our nufacturing
American farmers have pros
pered because the growth OF their market
has kept pace with the growth OF their