the
tariff now. But for the protectionist that time never comes. When the
depression in business was universal, they said you must not disturb
the tariff now, because the times are so hard and there is so much
suffering. Now, when business has improved, they say you must not
interfere with the tariff, because times are good and you may bring
suffering again. When the present tariff was first levied it was
defended as a temporary expedient only, required as a necessity by war.
Now that a quarter of a century nearly has passed by and peace has
been restored for fifteen years, the advocates for protection are as
determined to hold on to the government bounty as ever. If they are to
be consulted upon the subject as to when the people shall have relief,
the system will be perpetual.

It is said we must not disturb the tariff because we must raise so much
revenue. I do not propose to disturb it to diminish revenue, but to
increase it. The plan I propose will add one fifth at least to the
revenue of the country. It is protection I propose to get rid of, not
revenue. It has been well said that revenue ceases where protection
begins.

It is claimed that by taking away protection you will embarrass many
industries by compelling them to close up and discharge their employees.
I do not believe that the changing of the present tariff to a
revenue tariff will produce this result. I believe that at once every
manufacturer will make more in the diminished cost of production than
he will lose in the taking away of protection. But if there should
be danger to any industry I would provide against it in the law which
changes the tariff so that if there should be any displacement of labor
there will be no loss in consequence.

No more perfect illustration of the effect of free trade has been shown
than in the history of the United States. Very much of our prosperity is
due to the fact that the productions of each State can be sold in every
other State without restriction. During the war the most potent argument
for the cause of the Union was found in the apprehension that disunion
meant restriction of commerce, and particularly the placing of the mouth
of the Mississippi River under foreign control. The war was fought,
therefore, to maintain free trade, and the victory was the triumph of
free trade. The Union every day exhibits the advantages of the system.

Are these due to the accident of a State being a member of that Union
or to t