Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1891 — WHY I AM A PROTECTIONIST. [ARTICLE]

WHY I AM A PROTECTIONIST.

By Hon. B. F. Jones, of Pittsburg. Written for the American Economist. I am a protectionist because our country has prospered with protection and languished without it Because revenue can more easily, more surely and witlj less objection be raised by judicious protec-, tive tariff laws than otherwise. Because protection diversifies employment aild largely relieves wage earners from foreign competition, thereby ynabling them to be liberal, consumers as well as producers. ■ - v "

Because, as has been demonstrated, the effect of protection is the cheapening of products. Because defense against injurious importations is as necessary and justifiable as is in an army and Because the theory of free trade between nations is as fallacious, impracticable and utterly absurd as is that of free love between families.

That the editor of the esteemed Pilot has a realizing sense of the interesting character of his own personality he has furnished ample evidence. And therefore in view of this evident willingness to discuss himself, we are emboldened to ask him to graciously favor the people with a few particulars in regard to certain subjects he has already touched upon—the matters of his age and his army career, for instance. As a gay widower, it might have been thought that the

subject of his years on earth was oneiie wouldprefer to leave modestly in the background; but the freedom with which he alludes to the matter himself, is conclusive evidence of his willingness to discuss it at length. He states in his paper that he was a Union Soldier, and is a “past” Grand Army man; and it must not be assumed that he is merely one of those “Ninety day heroes” his admired co-worker the Nashville American speaks, of, for he has stated that he was “all through the war.” Inasmuch as he declares himself to be younger than another individual He mentions, and of whose age he

SpcaK cIS Ollt) pUSltlVc KLIUYYledge, and whom he therefore knows to have been considerably less than fifteen years old when the war closed, it follows that to have “been all through the war” he must have “shouldered the musket” anc begun his wild career of destruction among the enemies of our country at about the age of 10 years or less. Let him descend from the hights of vague and glittering generalities and tell us just how old he was when he became a soldier; how long he was in the service and in what, companies and what regiments. If he can establish the truth of all he has claimed in these matters, the question of who was the champion boy hero of the late war will be soon set at ; rest, and the decision be in favor of none other than the accomplished editor of the People's Pilot.