Year: 1870

PROTECTION IN THE VEST


What the cause of Protection to Home In
dustry requires is time for reflection and dls-
cussion Only let the question be brought
home to the iiresdes and neigbborhood gath
erings of the masses, and they will decide 1t
as their fathers did in 1824-2S. We have been
over the ground, and know. Let the issue be
made broad and clear, and absorbing, and the
decision cannot be doubtful


What we ask of our friends in Congress IS
Time. Let the debris of Slavery, Rebellion,
Reconstruction be cleared away, and then let
us 90 straight to the masses on the question:
"Shall there be Protection for American
Industry or not f"-and we cannot fail.
Our only difficulty of old was the Cotton grow
ing interest and, now that CottOn-growlng
has passed from shareholders into the hands OF
free labOrers, we can carry the South as easily
as the North. The former is full OF Coal,
Iron. and other valued metals she has mil
lions of women willing to labor for a living,
but ayerse to the exposure and hardship
of blowing and hoeing in the cotton field; she
ought to spin and weave her own fabrics, and
can do so far cheaper than she buys them;
she has not an acre of land that would not DE
increased i'm value by thorough dlverslhca-
ton of her Industry, while the earnings OF her
Labor would thereby be doubled She will
never educate her laborers' children until her
population is rendered more compact than 1t
is or can be while Cotton growing remains her
almost exclusive industry.


In the West, the friends of Protection have
been betrayed, but not discounted. A few
leading journals have been carried over to the
enemy, but the People do not follow them.
DESPITE the clamOr of the wOuld-be oracles,
the popular instincts are true-the popular
heart thrObs responsive to the call for Pro-
lection. In St. Louis, the great newspapers
are bitterly hostile; yet the masses have de-
clared for Protection. So it is almost every
where. At q meeting held on the 12th inst. at
the thriving young city of Oshkosh, WiscOn-
sin, whereat Judge Washburn presided and the
mOusly proclaimed that


l. Whereas An earnest and determined effort, aided by
abundant capital is being made to adjust tariff
laws destroy all Protection Lumber, IrOn Steel,
Salt, Wool woolens, and other staple industries which
vital TO the growth and prosperity OF the West be-


evng that the effect Of such policy would be simply
to relieve foreign competitors from paying just tax
to the United States Government while would add to
the burdens of home taxation, depress wages and in
hict rreparable harm most important industries





therefore,


Resolred, That we are opposed to the general
mendatons Of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue
which would impose heavy tariff on tea, coffee, and
such articles do not produce and merely nominal
duties foreign Iron Steel Silks etc., which represent
foreign food and labor and into direct and nur
GUS competition with farmers and artisans.


2. Resolred That while we believe the time has come
when further reduction may be made in taxation with
out mpering the sacred duty of paying our National
Debt in full and in good faith in favor Of making
this reduction chiefly Internal Revenue taxes and
such customs duties levied upon articles which
cannot produce at home


8. Resoired That find cause for honest pride and
great encouragement for the future in the wonderful
growth during the past nine years OF Protection, of
Mining and Manufactures in the West, furnishing en-
ployment to many thousands OF our people who else
would be idle, and laordng profitable market for the
fuel straw, and food which before worthless


Whereas, The Special Commissioner OF the Revenue
has sought to cast odum upon the manufacturers Of Pig
Iron and place them at the mercy OF British capitalists
and also to prove that the increase Of supply is not equal
to the demand therefore,


Resolved, That, inasmuch as they are furnishing us
with better and cheaper Iron than England under Free
Trade, and yearly lowering prices, afford
to trust them for the future, and that tender
special thanks to those enterprsng citizens, whose
furnaces already built and projected will the yield
Of Pig Iron in Wisconsin, from 2 tuns in 1850 to no
less than 5000 tuns per annum.


g. Whereas, We have in Milwaukee the best appointed
rolling mill in the United States afOrdng better and
cheaper rails than England sold under Free Trade and
phereds capitalists undisturbed ready introduce
the CHER branches OF iron among u.s. there
fore,


Resoiced That opposed to any reduction in the
Protection afforded TO Iron and Steel and recommend
that Government follow the example Of England and
hold these duties firmly till they have ceased to be
sary.


G. Whereas Commissioner Wells has asserted that the
manufacturers OF lumber have raised the price far be-
yond the average increase In the price of labor and
other commodities, that the tariff OF 20 per cent has
been direct tax upon the to that amount and
that its repeal would cheaper lumber the of
GIG 100000 therefore,


Resolved That, far this market s concerned his
statements false In every point and tend TO bring
into dsrepute large class OF manufacturers who claim
equal honesty with the officers OF tho Government and
who have been selling large portion OF their products
for the past year below the cost OF production.


Resolved, That In favor OF having com
plete and candid exhibit OF Western industry than Is
found In the Report Of the Special Oommisoner OF the
Revenue and t0 this recommend tho formation o