all protected articles. In
the whole range of productions this result has been universal.
Whenever it is apparent that a new industry can be established, as
is the case now with the manufacture of tin plate, it is good policy
to give to the industry a liberal degree of protection, with the
assurance that if we have the raw material on equal conditions we
can after a time compete with the imported article.

"The policy of a nation upon economic questions should be fixed
and stable. The McKinley law, as now framed, though it may be open
to criticism as to details, is a strictly protective measure, fair
and just as applied to all industries, with ample provisions to
secure reciprocity in the exchange of domestic productions for
articles we cannot produce. It ought to be thoroughly tested by
the experience of several years. It is not good policy to disturb
it or keep the public mind in suspense about it. It will, as I
think, demonstrate its wisdom, but if not, with the light of
experience, it can be modified. The highest policy and the greatest
good to our people lie in the full trial of this effort, to establish,
upon a firm foundation, the domestic production of every article
essential to American life and independence."

These two letters, on the "free coinage of silver" and the "McKinley
tariff law," frankly expressed my opinions on the salient questions
of the day. With respect to the principles that underlie the policy
of protection, I have already stated my opinions in commenting upon
the Morrill tariff law. No general tariff bill has passed during
my service in Congress that met my entire approval. It is easy to
formulate general principles, but when we come to apply them to
the great number of articles named on the tariff list, we find that
the interests of their constituents control the action of Senator
and Members. The McKinley tariff bill was not improved in the
Senate. The compact and influential delegation from New England
made its influence felt in support of industries pursued in that
section, while the delegations from other sections were divided on
party lines. The tariff law was not, therefore, consistent with
any general principle, but it was nearer so than the one in force
before its passage, and the necessity of passing some law that
would reduce taxation was so imperative that the differences between
the two Houses were readily compromised. The execution of the
McKinley law under Pres