Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-02
Folks Abusive Tariff Speech.

What may fairly be called a
malignant assault on the policy Of
protection was INDUCED in by
Governor Folk in speech at
Nashville. 1t had been noticed
before that Folk grows furious in
approaching this subject and uses
language recklessly, though he
has no experience whatever in the
business of practical legislation.
Speaking of the existing tariff, be
said: ''Masked is the guise of
protection to American industry,
assembling as a friend to Ameri-
can labor, the protective tariff
operates as a cloak for cunning, as
a shield for monopoly. tax upon
industry, a fine upon labor, and,
finally, in its last analysis, it is a
graft and a false pretence, con-
ceiyed in greed and brought forth
in avarice." Either this is a ribald
riot of words, or many of those
who have passed for great Aineri
can statesmen have been but hypo-
critics and cormorants. What a
life misspent must haye been that
OF William Mckinley if the Folk
estimate of his long legislative
labors is correct. What n monster
of machination Hamilton must
have been when the government
was set in motion, and how blind
Washington was to have been ac-
cessory to the greed, cunning and
graft of his secretary. American
history is full of birds Of l,rey in
high places if Folks description be
true: aud as nearly all the nations
earth apply the principle of pro-
lection in their tariffs; the globe,
as Folk sees it, is robbed and
scourged by huge conspiracy of
stealthy avarice.
''All the great factories of
of America" saws Folk. s'Dow
sell in competition with the entire
world abroad. The law of supply
and demand regulates the price OF
labor. The protective tariff can
not be for the benefit Of the work.
man." Our manufactured pro.
ducts are selling abroad to a much
greater extent than ever before,
but this has come about during
the period of the Dingley law, and
in the face of protective duties in
nearly all the countries in which
this augmenting demand has
sprung up. One of the main
Democratic arguments heard
against the Dingley bill was that
it would deprive US of the foreign
market. But what has happened
Our exports of manufactured ar
ticles have more than doubled.
The tariff, that is identified with
the greatest national prosperity.
has stimulated industry in every
branch as we'll as brought in abun
dant revenue, encouraging the
government to proceed with such
great works of improvement as ir
rigation and the isthmian canal.
In ten years our boundaries have
reached out 10 the far side of the
Pacific, the Panama zone, and the
eastern capes of the West Indies
The protective principle has beer
steadily maintained everywher,
under the flag for a decade, ant
nowhere in any branch of American
affairs has it been connected will
any conditions save those of phe
nomenal good times.
| The wages of American work
ingmen are much the best in th
best in the world. Employment
and opportunities are abundant
How different the situation unde
1.-THE Democratic tariff of u dozel
years ago. The change for tn
better is no accident. America
wages are protected BY placing
duty, with that intent, on foreig
products. Remove this protection
and how long would it take levia
than ships, like the Lusitauia an
Mauretania, to pour in enormou
e