Lectures on the History of Protection in the United States

By Sumner, W. G.

Description
Economic Theory Literature

Excerpt
Preface: The following lectures were delivered by me before the International Free Trade Alliance, in New York, in the spring of 1876. They are here republished exactly as delivered, although there are certain points which I should like to elaborate, if the opportunity were offered. I have endeavored here to combine two things: 1st, the history of our own tariff legislation, showing its weakness, ignorance, confusion, and oscillation; and, 2d, a discussion of the arguments for and against free trade, as they have presented themselves in the industrial and legislative history of the country. I have summed up in the last lecture the convictions to which such a study of the subject must lead. Suffice it here to say, that when one clean one?s head of all the sophistries and special pleas by which protection is usually defended, and looks at the matter as a simple matter of common sense, one must be convinced that an industrious people on a fertile soil, so abundant in extent that population is inadequate to the highest organization of labor, must enjoy advancing wealth and prosperity. They will owe this to a diligent use of their natural advantages. They will reach the maximum of production when they produce and exchange most freely. Certainly no application of taxation can possibly increase their production; that is their national wealth. Every tax or other interference with the freedom of production or exchange produces restraint, confusion, delay, change, risk and vexation, and these, as every one knows, cause loss of time, labor, and capital, that is, diminish the product which may be obtained from a given amount of labor. The amount of this loss can never be measured in figures, because we can never get statistics of ?what might have been;? but when it is shown here that the legislation of the United States has been constantly vacillating, not only in its policy, but also in the degree to which its policy has been pursued; that it has laid burdens on production and exchange in a clumsy, brutal, and ignorant disregard of possible effects on the delicate network of modern industry; that it has had in view, from point to point, only a single interest, and has had no national stand-point or conception of the public interest (much as it boasts to the contrary); then, I think, any one must see that such legislation has lamed the national productive power, wasted the natural advantages which the nation enjoys, diminished its wealth, and contracted the general status of comfort for the whole people.

Table of Contents
Contents Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Lecture I: The National Idea and the American System. .............................................................................. 7 Lecture II: Broad Principles Underlying the Tariff Controversy. ............................................................... 10 Lecture III: The Origin of Protection in this Country. ................................................................................ 14 Lecture IV: The Establishment of Protection in this Country. .................................................................... 25 Lecture V: Vacillation of the Protection Policy in this Country ? Conclusion. ........................................ 35

Book Id: WPLBN0000662035
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 132.69 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2005
Full Text

Title:

Lectures on the History of Protection in the United States

Author:

Sumner, W. G.

Volume:

Language:

English

Subject:

Political science., Economics and literature, Economic & political studies series

Collection:

Economics Publications Collection

Subcollection:

Historic
Publication Date:

Publisher:

Archive for the History of Economic Thought

Other Books I Looked at: Click to view all Books in my History

Lectures on the History of Protection in... (by Sumner, W. G.)
(155)

People also read these books: Click to view all Additional Books

Principles and Reforms for a Citizen Ser... (by Bush, George W.)
(200)
Read the Label First!
(175)
Quick Facts about Medicare Prescription ...
(132)
Questions, Anyone
(200)
Questions, Anyone
(132)
Questions, Anyone
(175)
Questions, Anyone
(200)
Questions, Anyone
(118)
Questions, Anyone
(155)
Questions, Anyone
(200)
Questions, Anyone
(132)
Questions, Anyone
(118)

Other Books by Same Author: Click to view all books by Sumner, W. G.

Lectures on the History of Protection in... (by Sumner, W. G.)
(155)

Other Books with Same Subject: Click to view all books in Political science., Economics and literature, Economic & political studies series

A History Medieval Political Theory in t... (by Carlyle, Robert Warrand, Sir)
(175)
Chapters in the Administrative History o... (by Tout, Thomas Frederick)
(132)
Chapters in the Administrative History o... (by Tout, Thomas Frederick)
(175)
Chapters in the Administrative History o... (by Tout, Thomas Frederick)
(200)
A History Medieval Political Theory in t... (by Carlyle, Robert Warrand, Sir)
(175)
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund... (by Burke, Edmund)
(2)
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund... (by Burke, Edmund)
(2)
Burke's Writings and Speeches (by Nimmo, John C.)
(2)
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund... (by Burke, Edmund)
(132)
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund... (by Burke, Edmund)
(2)