James G. Blaine Quotes
It is vastly more important not to lose our own great market for our own people.
James G. Blaine, 1830-1893, U. S. Congressman & U. S. Senator (Republican, ME), Republican Nominee for President, U. S. Secretary of State, Quoted in David Seville, James G. Blaine: A Political Idol of Other Days, 1934
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
It is interesting that the first national women’s political party was a strong advocate of protectionism and saw free trade as an unfair hurdle for mostly male workers. At the time, the Republicans were staunch protectionists, and the Democrats, the free traders thus illustrating that the major parties continuously flip-flop on major issues.
A self-contained market would be one in which a country only makes products that it sells within its borders, and only sells products that in makes in the country. Very primitive cultures were self-contained markets, but trading generally takes place whenever two cultures interact unless politicians artificially prevent it.
This historical quotation shows us that the nation under Republican control at the end of the 19th century was highly protectionist. In addition. It shows us how a party can flip flop on its most cherished principles. A century later, free trade was the cornerstone of Republican philosophy and opponents who held to the Republican 19th century principles were accused of being detriments to the American growth and economic system.
James Gillespie Blaine was an American statesman and Republican politician who represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 to 1876, serving as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and then in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881.