Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1889 — THEWORK OF PROTECTION. [ARTICLE]

THEWORK OF PROTECTION.

America’s Shipping snd Foreign Trade— The Cause of Its Decline. Paul D. McDonald, of Attica, Indiana, writes as follows to the Indianapolis Sentinel: There is nothing, perhaps; which shouli engage the attention of the people more than the present condition of America’s shipping and foreign trade. Compared with patt years the contrast is amazing and the decline has - been more rapid during'the past twenty-five years of high tariff than at any other time in the Country’s history.— Our wide domains, with an extensive sea coast and uur excellent facilities have, it seems, done nothing 4 o prevent its destruction. — Under the most favorable circumstances, when the country has been prosperous, this one great element of power has continued its downward march. The fertile soil and mild climate furnished the ancient Egyptians with the necessaries and comforts of life in such profusion as to render them independent of other countries. On this account thev renounced all intercourse with foreigners, but this idea being too contracted for Sesostros, he strove to make them a commercial people. To this end he conquered all the countries stretching a’ong the sea to India with a fleet of 400 ships. But Egypt was not to remain their master . Sesostris dying she returned to her anci nt policy, and ages elapsed before her commercial connection with India could merit any notice. The Phoenicians held a higher position. Although this territory was small, it was from commerce they derived their opulence and power, and m manners and policy they resembled the great commercial states of modern times more than did any people in the ancient world. If the possession of large territory had been essential to making a nation powerful, many of the ancient powers and even England would have been comparatively nothing; but th« great seas furnisned an unlimited field for work. From the beginning of ship-building they profited by the advantages afforded them on the high se?s for extending their commerce.

Ages ago, if they were excluded from a port it was bj force of arms, and it was necessary to conquer the opposing party in order to obtain a share of the product. Now a mare d structive system drives other nations from our ports which not only affects a few but throws its blighting influence over millions. The protective tariff lias been and is now more destructive to commerce, than warfare. N a tions onee driven out do not ra* turn. The great markets of other countries afford ample opportuni ties for the fair exchange of commodities and then they direct their fle< ts, leaving America to fail back, as Egypt dil, out of sight, Not one American merchant vessel can be seen sailing the seas outside of those engaged in coast trading, and they do not give us access to the markets of the world. Ever since 1860, the beginning of a high tariff, the tonnage of American vessels huT steadily decreased until in 1867 only 16 per cent, of our foreign trade was carriea by American ships. Less than thirty years has cleared the seas of American vessels engaged in foreign trade. This is what the protective system bas done for our merchant marim. Every market of the world is open to England, because she is the cheapest and most unhampered producer in the world. Her vessels can sail for any port with a miscellaneous cargo and return home with an equal amount. If not from one place they can exchange at another. Ships cannot enter American ports and depart with a full cargo. High prices will not permit them to take our manufactured goods as exchange for their cargoes. They, therefore, instead purchase the raw

material and often sell it back to us in the shape or the manufactured article. When this is not done, ships do not deme unless subsidized by the government to pay the expenses of the return trip. South America, where there are very few manufactories, has to import machinery, tools, linen, cottoj, woolen cloth, furniture, medicine and iinea. Of this trade England has the greatest part and the United States the least. The raw material must be admitted free in order that our manufactories may famish articles at prices which will take them .o all parts of the world. Purchasing foreign goods and paying for them in American goods will give a stimulus to all the industries in this country and keep the laboring classes busy in preparing articles for exchange. Ship-buldwg will revive and in every port of the world will be seen the American merchant marine, keeping p<»ce with the most powerful in controlling commerce. Nearly all our bravest sailors were reared in the merchant service. They began life amid the perils -of the sea in trading vessels, where they gathered that experience which made their service so valuable on ships of war. They are the persons who compelled respect to the flag in every port and on every sea.— in 1850 there were 100,618 men and 3,732 boys employed on American vessels, over 12,000 more than c uld be found upon ail foreign vessels combined. In 1880 there were only 14,284 hands in the ocean, coast and river service, and since that time the number h.s gradually decreased. If the merchant service is permitted to remain as it is now, what will become of this school for seamen? In 1810, notwithstanding the depredations of England and France, the tonnage of American vessels increased nearly 50 per cent., and during the war of 1812 it was but slightly diminished. — The high tariff, during the fifteen years following, nearly destroyed our shipping, and had accomplished what England, with her thousands of ships, was unable to effect. What has become of the beneficial results to be realized from commercial restrictions? Do our exports exceed our imports? A tariff on all articles which could be manufactured at home, and especially on those from countries where the balance of trade was unfavorable that our exports might exceed our imports, was the chief object of protection. A balance of trade must be maintained even if a pertion of our foreign trade is cut off. Has this system beon beneficial in its results and have we always maintained a balance of trade? From 1878 to .1107, under the highest tariff known, our imports of woolen and Cotton goods exceeded our exports more than $300,000,000. It is no wonder that our factories are idle a Urge part of the time and thousands of workmen are thrown cut of employment. Cut off from the markets of the world by protection, the surplus of our products, especially in manufactured goods, remain in large storehouses for want of purchasers, and there they are left until either sold out or diminished so as to enable the mills to resume work. The Indian inhabitants of Peru could boast of a system which guaranteed to each individual the comforts of life. Not one in that vast number of people was permitted to suffer. Agriculture, the only source from Which they derived their subsistence, was sufficient to provide everything. Now, when civilization has reached such hight, carrying with it to perfection every art and every science, opening up hund reds of avenues of employment, can it be said that there are none in want 9 In this age of sober, practical reality, with the increased facilities for production, there should b» a different outlook. The Peruvians could not count one poor subject and we can count millions. It may not be possible to obliterate the number entirely, but

it can be reduced, and comturt and happiness brought to thousands cf homes where now there is nothing but penury and want. Legislation for the few and against the many has brought about this state of things, and during the twenty-five years of republican rule it has been steadily increasing. The destruction of the pernicious system of protection must come, and with this destruction the revival of American ship-building, which will be the beginning of America’s advancement to the position of the leading commercial nation of the earth.

You will not think times are hard if you will watch the loads of Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes, Millinery, Tinware, &.c., <fcc., carrud away from the Chicago Bargain House. Prices tell the story. > Nearly everything is now influenced in price by the trusts that honeycomb business. The following accrostic made up of trust articles, expresses the prevailing public sentiment: Sugar, Match, Axes, Salt, Honey, Twine, Hominy, Excelsior, Tin, Railroads, TTpoers (of shoes), Staich, Tobacco, Skewer.

When one builds his. house with lumber or pressed brick, drinks beer or milk, uses flour or lard, or even when he dies and needs a •Loffin, he is paying tribute to some trust. We have first class Boots and Shoes that were bought under the auctioneer’s hammer at one-half price, and that is the reason we can uell them one-half cheaper :han our competitors. Chicago Bargain House. —— I »■ My son, deal vith men who advertise. You will never lose by it. Benjamin Franklin . Men’s and women’s shoes 75 cents ;er pair. Children’s shoes 25 cents per pair. Men’s calf and leavy boots $1.50 per pair at tjre Chicago BargainlHouse.