ABSTRACT
The circle of reaction which confronts democracy will be quite as vicious and more complex in its arrangement. For the vicious circle is organic and alive. It is a poisonous co-operative interplay of parasitic organisms, feeding on the life of the peoples by mastering and perverting to their own base purposes the political, economic and moral activities of humanity. It is so important to realize the nature of the bonds of sympathy and mutual support among members of the circle, that we may profitably recite the part played by such a typical force of reaction as Protectionism. Protectionism enjoys a direct community of interest or sympathy with almost every other member of the circle. Its connection with the economic taproot, improperty or capitalism, is of course the closest: for its essential activity consists in looting the unprotected consumer and the weaker trades for the benefit of the strongly organized capitalist trades.
