Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-04

- in the few months since the
Underwood tariff law went into
effect, because manufacturers every
where are putting up a brave front
and striving by every means in their
power to stave Off the evil effects of
this pernicious legislation, we are told
by gleeful press agents of the Wilson
administration that the new tariff
regulations are all that they were rep
resented to be and that marvellous
prosperity for the country is assured
under their operations.
Without endeavoring to point out
that the full effects of the law will not
be felt for some months or @ year to
come and that we are now doing a
fairly good volume of business despite,
rather than because of, the Demo-
cratic tariff slashing, it may be in
structive to pause for a moment and
observe how broad minded business
men of Europe, and of England es-
pecially, view free trade and what
they think of the results of a pro-
tective tariff in America.
The London Times of February is
publishes full-page statement of the
European Unity League. The purpose
of this organization, in the language
of its president, Sir Max Waechter, is
ito bring about the alliance or fed
GRAFTON of the States of Europe on an
economic basis.'
Whether or not the organization will
ever attain the objects for which it
was formed is question apart. The
advantages of protection over free
trade and the erection of q tariff wall
about the States of Europe to the
exclusion of American products, as set
forth in one of the paragraphs of the
leagues official statement, is the point
to be considered in relation to the re-
cent lowering of our own barriers to
the trade of Europe. This tenet of the
new organization follows:
To bind the nations of Europe
firmly together all inter- European
ally eliminated. All Europe should
form one great free trade market
protected by tariff against the
nations without, Free trade within
great State, the possession of
valuable home market, has ever
proved a most powerful binding
medium of nations. At one time
nas;r the sates OF GeHrm}a1y' H,}ta9y those com.
America. and the Cantons of Switz-
erland were Independent States,
and State was divided from State
boundaries. The federation of
Germany, of the United States, and
of Switzerland gave to all Ameri-
cans, all Germans, and all Swiss q
against foreign nations. The free
dom of a large market greatly in
creased the prosperity of the citi-
zens dwelling in each of the indi-
The great value of common mar
ket induced those American States
which did at first not intend to join
the union to change their mind. The
common home market made the
United States, and common home
market should establish for ali
time the unity of Europe. The unity
of Europe should be founded on the
firm basis of great and lasting
prosperity.
Here we have a picture of President
Wilson killing the goose that has laid
the golden eggs of American pros
perity; an English appreciation of the
truth Of the contention of the Re-
publican party. that protection spells
prosperity and free trade depression
and hardship for our business and
working people.
Imagine the United States on a free
trade basis competing with o union of
all Europe protected by tariff wall
such as that which surrounded our
own country until a Democratic Con-
gress sent it topping about our ears
and left us open to the hungry hordes
of cheap foreign competitors.