Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-08
Of righteousness to all the people of
The Protective Policy.

The Protective Policy.
Subsistence is the first requisite of
existence, and we have the higher
American standard of living because
of the Republican protective policy
which makes of Americans the best
paid workmen in all the world, ont
of the abundance of employment and
higher compensation, together with
the reckoning opportunity which offers
every reward, we Americans have at
tracted the laborers of the earth and
set new standards here
1t is not for me to put the stamp of
relative Importance on pending issues.
The intelligent voters will determine
that for themselves. But know what
they are thinking, and they believe
that the protective policy which made
us industrially and commercially emf
nent is necessary to preserve that emf
nence. know they want It restored
and maintained. For myself | prefer
protective and productive tariff
which prospcrs America first.
Moreover, / like the abiding consist
ency of our unchangins position upon
this policy. The Republican conyen-
ton of 1860 which gave to the nation
and all history the nomination of Lin
coin made this simple and ample ut.
terance
THAT. while providing revenue for
the support OF the general government
by duties upon imports, sound policy
Il
imports as to encourage the develop
ment Of the Industrial interests of the
whole country. and we commend that
policy Of national exchanges which Sc
cures to the working men liberal wages,
to agriculture remunerating prices, to
mechanics and manufacturers an ade-
quate reward for their skill, labor and
enterprise and to the nation CONNER
cial prosperity and independence.
We might fittingly reiternte that ut
terance today. The failure of revenues
under existing Democratic policy, the
necessary resort to the imposition of
direct and offensive taxation--war tax
es on n people at peace--to meet de-
fciencies which ever attend Democrat
ic control. the depression and disaster
which followed Democratic revision
which were relieved rather than caused
by the European war. all these argue
the Republican restoration.
Temporary Prosperity.
No one disputes temporary pros
perity in our land today. But it is sec
tional in its factory aspect, abnormal
in Its feversh rush, fictitious in its es-
sentials and peryerting in its tenden-
cy. Worse, it is the gold sluiced from
the river Of blood, poured out by the
horrifying sacrifice of millions Of our
fellow men. God forbid that we should
boast prosperity wrought in such
waste Of human life. We had rather
rejoice in the prosperity Of peace. We
had rather boast our good fortune won
from the world as it stands erect, in
fair contest. where men openly con-
tend for the laurels of industry and
the garands of trade. do not mean
that we must sharpen our wits in
competition with the world" for we
tried that and involuntarily turned the
blade to cutting our production and
severing thousands from American
payrolls. There was no cut in the
cost of living. but a visible hack at
the capacity to live.
The Democratic party is always con-
cerned about the American consumer.
Our Republican achievement is the
making OF nation Of prospecting pro-
ducers. Far better a high cost Of liv-
ing and ability to buy than lower
ing of cost attended by destruction of
purchasing capacity.
The Cost Of Living.
1t is worth while to recall the mag
nified importance given to the high
cost Of living four years ago, first, to
emphasize Democracy's failure to re-
duce it, though it risked and almost
accomplished the ruin of our good for
tune in attempting 1t; second, to de-
clare there is no such thing. What
was thought to be the high cost were
only the higher demands and the lar
ger capacity to buy, which were the
natural rehexes Of the higher standard
Of living reared under Republican pro-
lection
The one notable advance in cost has
protited the American farmer. for
whose befitting share in good fortune
we have stood unfailingy and sincere
ly. His reward is Republican
achievement, and we prefer to cling to
the conditions which brought to agri-
culture it's delayed but deserved re-
ward and hold it secure in Republican
maintenance of home market I'M
matched in all the world. More we
want our basic prosperity to be home
created and home sustained and not
dependent on conditions abroad
Democratic Repentance.
The nations abroad and the Demo-
cratic party at home are bearing wit
ness to Republican wisdom German
Industrial self reliance is the sequence
to her adoption of a Republican pro-
tective tariff, and Englands manifest
conversion to this fostering plan will
magnify the prophetic wisdom of Re
publican protectionists. Even the
Democratic party is penitent now and
makes confession in action If not in
words. The proposed destruction of
American sugar has been repealed, and
simulated grief about the American
breakfast table has been put aside.
With that facility for changing posi-
ton which has been made manifest