108 WHY OUR MANUFACTURERS WANT PROTECTION. 



It was idle for us to endeavor to perstiade other nations to join with us in adopt- 

 ing the principles of what was called "Free Trade" Other nations knew, as well 

 as the noble lord opposite, and those who acted with him, what we meant by "Free 

 Trade^^ was nothing more nor less than, by means of the great advantages we 

 enjoyed, to get a monopoly of all their markets for our manufactures, and to prevent 

 them, one and all, from ever becoming manufacturing nations. When the system 

 of reciprocity and Free Trade had been proposed to a French ambassador, his 

 remark was, that the plan was excellent in theory, but, to make it fair in practice 

 it would be necessary to defer the attempt to put it in execution for half a cen- 

 tury until France should be on the same footing with Great Britain, in marine, 

 in manufactures, in capital, and the many other peculiar advantages which it now 

 enjoyed. The policy France acted on was that of encouraging its native manu- 

 factures, and it was a wise policy; because, if it were freely to admit our manu- 

 factures, it would speedily be reduced to the rank of an agricultural nation, and 

 therefore, a poor nation, as all must be that depend exclusively upon agriculture. 

 America acted, too, upon the same principle with France. America legislated for 

 futurity legislated for an increasing population. America, too, was prospering 

 under this system. 



Here we find plenty of reasons why our manufacturers want Pro- 

 tection, even though it operates to cheapen prices. They are re- 

 lieved thereby from foreign fluctuations and excesses, from foreign 

 machinations and interference. No matter how capable or how 

 energetic any people may naturally be, nor how favored in posi- 

 tion, or climate, or soil, their industrial capacities can never be 

 fully developed under a vacillating and uncertain public policy. 

 Men do not em.bark either capital or skill in enterprises liable at 

 any time to be defeated by inconsiderate or unfriendly legislation. 

 A stable order of things and a well-founded confidence in the 

 future are all-essential conditions of manufacturing success. Such 

 stability and such confidence are supplied by sufficiently Protect- 

 ive legislation. Under it, prices have always, in general, exhibited 

 a downward tendency as regards all finished products, while farm 

 ers have received better prices for their produce. So long as the 

 Protective duties remain upon the national statute-book, there is a 

 guarantee that British aggression can not be made effectual for the 

 ruin of American establishments. Assuredly these are valid and 

 cogent reasons why our manufacturers want Protection, and why 

 it should be both granted and maintained. More than that, these 

 are equally strong reasons why American consumers should sustain 

 and continue the beneficent tariff system now in operation. 



