Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-02
NInnher.on ON Tnrin.

Henderson ON Tartu.
OMAHA, Aug. 31.-To the Editor of The
Bee: The s~elf-imposed candidate Of the
democratic party for the presidency seems
determined to make the tariff question
one Of the paramount issues in the coming
political contest. This is well, for II Is
an Invitation to his defeat, for the Amer
lean people realize that we have never
departed ficm the doctrine Of protection
to American industries that national dis
aster has not come to us. The issue turns
up with pertinacious periodicity ana PERM
cious pertinaclty and brings to the per-
sistent perpetrators defeat. Looking over
some papers today, l found a letter writ
ten by me in January, 1907, when the tariff
question was forging to the front. The
suggestions in my letter are apt at this
time and II YOU wish to publish the letter
you are welcome to It.
CHARLES F. HENDERSON.
Omaha. Dec. 30, 19Oe.-Mr. Pierre DePew,
Nyack, N. Y.-Deer SIR: I have yours IF
the 26th inst. asking whether / am q tariff
revisionist. That depends upon what you
mean by the term. II you mean by 1t the
abandonment Of the principle Of protection
to American industries of production and
manufacture, l am uUr. IL you mean a
revision Of tariff duties to meet changed
conditions, l am.
l believe this country has grown great
by taking care of It's own by the protec-
tive system, which. while 1t has some ele-
ments of selfishness, is justifiable, be-
cause care for our own nation is our first
duty. The abandonment of protecting our
selves commercially, would be equivalent
to a policy that would destroy our navy
and ashland our army when war threat
ened. At this time, when labor Is de-
handing greater consideration than evel
before in our history, for us to open oui
doors of import by anything that ap'
pToaches free trade, would soon bring 9
condition of distress that might lead &c
revolution and anarchy. 1t would close thu
doors Of many OF our manufactures, wipe
out much Of our trade and injure not only
the capitalist, artisan and laborer, Blu
would bring down all values, including
producing farms, and the man to feel thu
change finally with the greatest severity
would be the ag~riculturist. Tariff seized
ules, however, do not remain perfect o.
desirable, and in the interest of the hes
and wisest protection of all our industries
they should be periodically revised. No
often, or hastily, but with care and afte
full investigation and patient hearing o
all interests. We have no board or tribuna
to make this exploration and l doub
whether 1t would be well to form one. w
have made substantial, indeed phenomenal
progress in agricultural, commercial an
manufacturing wealth, by permitting tn
congress to revise the tariff and have me
distress and disaster only when a part,
was in controlling power that would. Will
crying for a tariff for revenue only, los
sight of the protective principle, whicl
means protection OF capitalist and artisan
farmer and laborer. The founders of on
republic set the example for they wer
protectionists and loss and trouble has eve
come to us when We have forgotten tn
lessons they taught and under a cry 70
cheaper goods, by lower tariffs. have un
der the presexf Of revision, destroyed
The killing of the goose that lays tn
golden eggs is an easy task, but 1t Is tn
end Of the egg laying.
"In short. / am a protective revisionis
and not a protection destructionist an
the older / grow. and the more l study tn
questions of governmental policy, the NOR
firmly / am rooted and the more definitel
am / fixed, in my belief in the beneficif
results of a protective tariff. Disaster wi
come to this country Of ours when ou
capacity to manufacture in all possibl
lines shall be destroyed, because of our dc
sire to get goods more cheaply. The neces
sity for a tariff for protection as well a
revenue will be more pronounced as tn
days roll by; for shortly We will have t
guard ourselves, not only from the er
croachments Of low paid labor OF Europ,
but the pauperized labor of Asia. Japan
becoming a more active competitor day b
day and is adopting many of our method
and machinery. She has started to taxi
China under her tutelage' and when tn
millions of that empire have learned tn
lesson that Japan can teach them and wit
labor that works for nothing and finc
itself" has embarked in industries that "
now control, a day will come to us thS
will be a most trying one. We should pr
pare for that day by clinging close to prt
: lection and no demand for revision of II
tariff should permit us to depart from
policy that has permitted a developmer
and expansion hat has been the astounC
ing wonder of the last century. Let I
hold fast to that which is good and n,
confound revision with destruction. You
truly, CHARLES F. HENDERSON,"