The people of this country are led to suspect that whenever a free trade crusade starts here, no matter how carefully hidden the wires may be, an Englishman stands at the other end of the line.—Giles B. Stebbins, Michigan. The cry of the free trader is for a cheaper coat, an English coat, and he doe^not seem to care that this involves a cheapening of the men and worsen who spin, and weave, and cut, and stitch.—Getter al Ben. Harrison, Indiana. As an abstract theory the doctrine of free trade seems to be universally true; but as a question of practicability, in a country like ours, the protective system seems to be indispensable. I am for a protection which leads to ultimate free trade. I am for that free trade which can only be attained through a reasonable protection.—President Garfield. Self-Preservation is the first law of nature, as it is and •should be of nations. We ought to protect as sacredly and assuredly the labor and the industry of the United States as we would protect her honor from taint or her territory from invasion.—Hon. Wm. McKinley. Wages are unjustly reduced when an industrious man is not able by his earnings to live in comfort, educate his children, and lay by a sufficient amount for the necessities of age. The reduction of wages inevitably consequent upon throwing our home market open to the world would deprive them of the power to do this. It would prove a great calamity to our country. It would produce a conflict between the poor and the rich, and in the sorrowful degradation of labor would plant the seeds of public danger.—James G. Blaine. The chief benefit of a protective duty is that it secures to the working men and women of this country good, fair wages for honest labor. It is not good policy in this country to have men and women work for the bare necessaries of life, without means to improve their condition, to educate their children, and share in the benefits of social life.—John Slurman. Though England is deafened with spinning-wheels, her people are not clothed; though she is black with the digging of coal, her people die of cold; though she has sold her soul for grain, they die cd hunger.—John Ruskin.
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