New-York tribune., 1916-02-17

war we would day he in the depths
oc the blackcst kind Of industrial de-
presSion.
Ruin Turks in Future.
Just rs the American people realize
that many Of our industries are ah-
normally and ar,ificially stimulated. so
also do they realize that when the war
comes 20 an end these same industries
must collapse. and that the conditions
of the early summer of 1914. dreadful
as they were. must be restored. and
they know. too. that our whole indus
trial fabric will then be called upon
TO with stand an attack such as II has
never suffered before. When that time
comes. n the Democratic tariff law
remains upon the statute books. all OF
those great industrial nations whose
energies are now devoted exclusively TO
the waging of war, will transfer their
every effort. organized and concen-
trated. 10 an extent never before nt-
taincd. 10 a rehabilitation and rcstora-
tion Of their suspended industries.
Millions Of soldiers will leave the
trenches and 20 to work in the fac
tories Of Europe with an eagerness and
avidity and concentration of purpose
which will Astound neutral nations.
The goods which they will manufacture
must be sold and most Of them. when
that time comes, must be sold abroad
IN order 10 bring back into those coun-
tries the gold of which they have been
drained and 10 recs.ablish AT any cost
their worldwide trade which. 70 n con
siderable degree. has been suspended.
Their greatest and most inviting mar
ket will be the United States.
AT that time We will be the only
great nation possessing the wealth with
which TO buy and, Furthermore, if the
Underwood law remains upon the stat
ute books. our gates will be left wide
open. inviting and welcoming invasion.
IL will not do for the spokesman OF
this Administration 20 say that we can
prevent the dumping of goods into our
ports by the setting up OF rules and
regulations governing Invoices fun
nishcd by American consuls in 10 Ign
ports.
Government Lacking Power.
Every one knows that our govern
ment is without power 10 fix or control
the price at which the foreign manu-
facturer offers his goods for sale in
this country. Any such suggestion is
idle talk and illustrates once more the
incompetence Of the Democratic party
TO comprehend great industrial fact.
We hear much discussion and advocacy
of q proper military defence of the
United States against war of aggTes-
sion. II is a healthy discussion and
the Republican party is sincerely in
sympathy with this vitally important
movement. But tht party insists that
along with military measures. the ma
tion must prepare itself industrially
for the peace which is TO come. And
we declare that the only instrument
for such defence and the only barrier
which can check this inevitable invs-
sion and save our whole industrial life
from utter destruction is a protective
tariff.
There is something more vastly i'm
pOrtant in this issue than merely the
prosperity of the people Our
cons liberation Of il should not stop at
the dollars and cents phrase. Money
and property are but evidences Of GER
tain kinds Of progress: they do not
tell the whole story. The all-in. portant
thing to find. TO establish and to main
tain is the happiness of people. We
hold it as an axiom that no people can
be genuinely happy unless they are
at useful occupations.
Employment means opportunity for
progress and development Without il
no man can proceed upward toward his
ASPIRATIONS; without it no man can lay
out his scheme of life. establish his
ideals and work toward them. It is
not a proper function of government,
according to the American conception.
TO direct the individual in his choice
Of a life work; it is high function Of
eoFernment to legislate so as to leave
the way unobstructed along which,
through employment, the individual de-
sires to proceed. II is its function and
duty 20 give him free choice, and
then. when he has made it. to protect
} m In his legitimate occunatinn