, 1922-05-05
Don't Destroy TO Help
UE HAVE BEEN hearinr considerable

WE HAVE BEEN hearing considerable from the
w Democratic free traders, internationalists and
similar influences, about what America "owes the
world" and how incumbent it is to help rebuild
Europe, with the conclusion always drawn that in
order to rebuild Europe it is essential we do not enact
Sny protective tariff worthy of the name, thus enab-
Ing Europe to flood this country with her cheap
products and obtain control of the American markets
for her own enrichment.
It is that those advancing such argument are not
going to stop short of gross Misrepresentation of the
attitude of the Republican administration and even of
the president
Isolated sentences from official messages are being
quoted in a connection which entirely robs them of
their correct meaning. It is well, therefore, that
what Mr.. Harding really has said officially upon the
subject of the tariff and upon the relative importance
Of building up Europe or America should be set down.
Els two official utterances upon the principle and
policy of protective tariff may be found in his mes
sages to congress-
In his message of April 10, 1921, the president said:
81 believe in the protection of American industry
and it is our purpose to prosper America first. The
privileges of the American market to the foreign pro
Queer are offered too cheaply today, and the effect on
4uch of our own productivity is the destruction of our
self-reIiance. which is the foundation of the independ-
Gree and good fortune of our people. Moreover, i'm
ports should pay their fair share of our cost of gov
Gnment.
zone who values American prosperity and main
tained American standards of wage and living can
have no sympathy with the proposal that easy entry
and the flood of imports will cheapen our costs of
living. It IS more likely to destroy our capacity to
buy.
"The maturer revision of our tariff laws should be
psseu on poncy OF proteclon, resisting Cnat SELF
ishness which turns to greed, but ever concerned with
that productivity at home which is the source of all
abiding good fortune. 1t is agreed that we cannot sell
unless we buy, but ability to sell is based upon home
development and the fostering of home markets.
There is little sentiment in the trade of the world.
Trade can and ought to be honorable, but it knows no
sympathy. While the delegates of the nations at war
were debating peace terms at Paris, and while we
later debated our part in completing peace, the COM
mercial agents of other nations were opening Their
lines and establishing their outposts, with a forward
look to the morrow's trade. It was wholly proper and
has been advantageous to them. "
"Tardy as we are, it will be saferrto hold our mar
kets secure and build thereon for our trade with the
world"
In his annual message at the opening of the resula,
session December s, 1921. speaking of tariff legisla,
ton, we find this:
1"There is before you the completion of the enact
raent of what has been termed a permanent tariff law
I cannot too strongly urge an early com
pletion Of this necessary legislation. It is needed I.
stabilize our industry at home; it is essential to max,
more definite our trade relations abroad. More. it i
vital to the preservation of many of our own indu,
tries, which contribute so notably to the very If
blood of our nation.
There is now, and there always will be. a storm
OF conflicting opinion about any tariff revision. w
cannot go far wrong when we base our tariffs on In
policy of preserving the productive activities. whic
enhance employment and add to our national pros
perity.
again comes the reminder that we must not h
unmfndfui of world conditions that peoples sty,,c
Cling for industrial rehabilitation and that we c.nno
dwell in industrial and commercial exclusion and =
the same time do the just thing in aiding world recop
milton and reimbursement. We do not seek a sa,fis
aiooiness' and we could not profit by it, were it DO.