River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-10-01
SHERMAN FOR PROTECTION
Experience Has Demonstrated that
a Protective Tariff Means Pros

perity.
(From Sherman's Speech of Accept
ance.
First, then, let me say that | am
protectionist. l am sufficiently practi-
cal to value the utility of fact higher
than the beauty of theory, and [ am
a prOtectionist because experience has
demonstrated that the application of
that principle has lifted us as a nation
to plane of prosperity above that oc-
cupied by any other people.
| especially commend that plank of
our platform which promises an early
revision of tariff schedules. That pledge
will be fulfilled in an adjustment based
in every particular upon the broad
principles of protection for all Ameri-
can interests; alike for labor, for CAPT
tai, for producers and consumers. The
Dingley bill, when enacted, was well
adapted to the then existing conditions.
The developments of industrial pros
perity in a decade, which in volume
and degree have surpassed our most
roseate expectations, have so altered
conditions that in certain details of
schedules they no longer in every par
ticular mete out justice to all. In this
REIMBURSEMENT the principle of protec-
ton must and will govern such duties
must and will be imposed as will equal
iZe the cost of production at home and
labrOad and insure Il reasonable profit
to all American interests. The Repub-
lican idea of such a profit embraces not
alone the manufacturer, nor alone the
capital invested, but all engaged in
American production, the employer and
employed, the artisan, the farmer, the
miner and those engaged in transpOrta-
ton and trade; broadly speaking, those
engaged in every pursuit and calling
which our tariff directly or indirectly
affects. During a statutory application
of this principle, prosperity has abided
with us. When q revenue tariff has
been the law, adversely and want have
been our portion. Our Democratic
brethren, whose memories are as short
as their promises are frail, and who
have always exhibited lack of capaci-
ty to profit by experience, unmindful Of
the distress and destruction that ar
rived and departed with the last Demo
cratic administration, declare in their
platform that they favor such imme-
as may be necessary to restore the
tariff to a revenue basis" A revenue
basis" tariff for revenue only, '"ulti-
mate free trade"-all have an identi-
cal meaning: that meaning being an as
sault upon the American industries, an
attack upon the American wage SCALE
lessening demand for the products of
American soil and American toll; less
work, less pay, less of the necessaries
of and comforts of life. In the light
Of history, what issue of the campaign
so vitality affects American citizens?
Experience, that effective teacher-ef-
fective save with the One-man power
now parading under the title of the
Democratic party-has taught the ma
ton valuable lesson and the result
Of the coming November election will
once more prove the American people
to be apt scholars. What the laborer
of the land, skilled and unskilled, de-
sires is the opportunity at all times to
exhange his brain and Drawn for good
pay in good money. protective tar
if and the gold standard, both now the
existing achievements of the Republi-
can party, in spite of Democratic uppo-
sItion. give the laborer that opportuni-
ty.