Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-11

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Past Experience.
We have seen tariff legislation wan
der very far afield In our day-very
far indeed from the field in which our
prosperity might have had normal
growth and stimulation. No one who
looks the facts squarely In the face or
knows anything that lies beneath the
surface Of action can fail to perceive
the principles upon which recent tariff
legislation has been based. We long
OF protecting the industries Of the
Country and moved boldly forward to
Ithe idea that they were entitled to the
Idirect patronage Of the government.
For long time--a time 80 long that
men now active In public policy hardly
remember the conditions that preceded
tive have sought In our tariff sche-
dulles to give each group OF manufac-
turers or producers what they them
selves thought that they needed In or
der to maintain a practically exclusive
market as against the rest Of the world.
Consciously or unconsciously. we have
built up a set Of privileges and exemp-
tions from competition behind which It
was easy by any, even the crudest
forms of combination to organize mon
opoly; until at last nothing IL normal.
nothing Is obliged to stand the tests Of
efficiency and economy, in our world OF
Dig business. but everything thrives by
concerted arrangement. Only new
principles Of action will save us from
q final hard capitalization Of monopoly
and q complete loss Of the influences
that quicken enterprise and keep inde-
pendent energy alive.
1t is plain what those principles
must be. We must abolish everything
that bears even the semblance Of priv
lege or Of any kind Of artificial adyan-
tage, and put our business men and
producers under the stimulation Of
constant necessity to be efficient, eco
nomical. and enterprising, masters Of
competive supremacy, better workers
and merchants than any In the world.
Aside from the duties laid upon articles
which we do not, and probably can not.
produce, therefore, and the duties laid
upon luxuries and merely for the sake
Of the revenues they yield. the object OF
the tariff duties henceforth laid must
be effective competition, the whetting
Of American wits by contest with, the
wits Of the rest Of the world.
Makes Haste Slowly.
4, It would be unwise to move toward
this end headlong, with reckless haste.
or with strokes that cut at the very
roots of what has grown up amongst
US by long process and at our own in
vftation. 1t does not alter thing to
upset It and break II and deprive It Of
a chance to change. It destroys 1t. We
must make changes In our fiscal laws,
in our fiscal system, whose object Is
development, q more free and whole
some development, not revolution or
upset or confusion. We must build up
trade, especially foreign trade. We need
the outlet and the enlarged field Of en-
ergy more than we ever did before. We
must build up industry as we'll, and
must adopt freedom in the place Of
artificial stimulation only 80 far as 1t
will build, not pull down. In dealing
with the tariff, the method by which
this may be done will be matter OF
Judgment, exercised item by item. To
some not accustomed to the excite
ments and responsibilities Of greater
freedom our methods may in some re-
spects and at some points seem heroic,
but remedies may be heroic and yet be
remedies. It is our business to make
sure that they are genuine remedies.
Our object is clear. If our motive Is
above Just challenge and only an oc-
casional error Of Judgment Is charge
We are called upon to render the
country great service In more mat
ters than one. Our responsibility should
be met and our methods should be thor
ough, as thorough, as moderate and
well considered, based upon the facts
as they are, and not worked out as II
we were beginners. We are to deal
with the facts of our own day. with the
facts Of no other, and to make laws
which square with those facts. 1t is
best, indeed It Is necessary, to begin
with the tariff. will urge nothing upon
you now at the opening Of your session
which can obscure that first object or
divert our energies from that clearly
defined duty. At later time may
take the liberty Of calling your atten-
ton to reforms which should press
close upon the heels Of the tariff
changes, II not accompany them, Of
which the chief Is the reform Of our
banking and currency laws; but just
now refrain. For the present, / put
these matters on one side and think
only Of this one thing-of the changes
In our fiscal system which may best
serve to open once more the free chan
nels of prosperity to great people
whom we would serve to the utmost
and throughout both rank and file.