Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1890 — Protection is a Necessity. [ARTICLE]

Protection is a Necessity.

History shows that whenever the tariff on foreign products has ‘ been materially reduced, the industrie! B engaged in making corresponding. products , here have languished; that when the repeal ' inimical of laws was long, delayed disaster has ensued, and iu some instances the affected industries 'have been abandoned altogether. 1 In view of such facts, it is important that voters should not lose sight of those results of Protection without which a diversity of industries would be impossible, except through reduction in wages to tne level of other countries. The free trader admits this by his contention that Protection encourages, by enhanced prices, the building up of industries that otherwise would find no footing iu this country .. Among the benefits resulting from Protection is a largely increased demand for labor, by which it is possible ldi every man to get work of some kind if he really wants it. This comes from the diversity of employments affortltd. We, have now some sixtysix millions of people in the United States, about of them bends of families. All these cannot be farmers and earn enough to bur tire necessaries of life. . •“V . - " . *• ■ They could raise enough to eat; a;ul a large surplus in addition; but there is not in all the world a demand for farm products sufficicient to pay for'their other household as clothing, furniture, cooking utensils, can- ; pets, etc.—if these were made in foreign countries. Outside of farming, there is absolutely no employment at which the majority of those who are compelled to work for a liviug could engage, enough to keep themselves and familes from want. It is that diversification of indus- | tries, which can be secured only through the policy of Protection, is a necessity to individual comfort and family maintenance as well as j to national growth and independ-! ence.