The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-24
The wages OF Labor.

nopoiss who are constantly annoying the nation with
their ceaseless camor for additional protection in the
shape Of increased taxes upon the people At one time
they pretend and argue that high duties make low
pces and therefore the people, who the consumers
will be benefited by increased duties upon the articles and
fabrics which they consume. This was the pretence
when the tariff of 1912 was debated in Congress Then
il was gravely argued by the monoposs, that additional
duties would have the effect Of reducing the prices Of the
commodities on which they were levied, and thus the
consumers who embrace the great body of the people,
would be benefited in proportion
Now, they have new string TO their bow, or rather
they preach new doctrine. It is not the consumers
who are to be benefited Even the monopolsts are not
sufficiently brazen faced to pretend that they want
higher duties, in order to reduce the prices OF The fabrics
which they manufacture to the consumer. On the con-
rary that humbug exploded They have abandoned the
poor consumer his fate, and pouring out their
paronzng sympahies for the laborer and the operative
II is TO increase the wages of labor that they desire
increase of duties All at they have conceived a
most tender sympathy for the wokngman whose wages
they have discovered, all of sudden too lows and
hence these dsinerested and philanthropc monoposs
desire that they may be increased by additional taxation,
to be imposed upon the people in the shape OF additional
duties on all articles OF foreign production imported into
the country and additional bones the manufacturers
on all articles OF domestic productions which increased
duties will enable the monopost to levy upon the con-
sumer Such is the artful expedent 10 which the
noposs now resort order TO persuade the people to
submit 10 the restoration Of the tariff Of 1s42 and the
unequal unjust and exobitant duties which imposed
upon the laborng and consuming masses. And hence
thew contend that low revenue tariff like that OF 1916
which is advocated and sustained by the democratic
party, which enables the workingman to purchase
every article Of consumption imported under it, and
every similar article of domestic production coming in
competition with the imported article, cheaper prices
than they could be purchased under the tariff Of 1872
reduces the wages of labor; whereas by increasing,
through the fundamentally of additional duties, the prices
Of those articles and thus increasing the expense to the
workngman, Of maintaining his family, they contend
that the wages OF labor would also be increased.
Thus the pretending and shallow philosopher OF the
New York Tribune discourses upon this subject:
The prices of labor of wages, affecting the
money values OF products constitute an element polti
cal economy which raders habitualy shy of They
know-those among them who understand what they are
abouthat the triumph of their policy involves grea
reduction of wages but they do not mean TO let iheir LABOR
ing sup porters know it.
The profound and reconcile economist OF the Tribune
alleges that the free radersthat is, the advocates OF
moderate revenue tariff which is very lar, in fact from
free tade-know .'that the triumph OF their policy in
wolves great reduction Of wages" Now apprehend
that the advocates Of the constitutional revenue tariff
neither know nor believe that any such consequence will
follow The establishment OF their system. On the con-
trary they believe will have effect the very reverse
of that ascrbed to their policy by the Tribune II will,
in the present condition Of the country increase instead
OF diminishing the real compensation OF the workngman
II wH not reduce his wages, while il oW reduce The
prices OF articles and commodities which he wants for
the consumption OF his family II will enable him to
purchase more yards OF cloth and pounds OF sugar
with the wages OF his weeks labor than he could pur-
chase under he system advocated srenuousy by the
monoposts who are endeavong TO resusctate The tariff
oil 1912.
The sage of the Tribune who discourses profound
ly upon the wages OF labor really TO comprehend
but very imperfecty the true circumstances which inu-
ence and control them and them TO rise and 10 fall
Labor like any commodity Of commerce in the MARKET
depends upon the demand and supply supposng that the
currency remains stable and there great calami-
ties or political events influence the state Of things II
there greater supply Of labor in the market than can
be pro6tably employed, wages will fall On the other
hand, il there is greater demand than supply, wages
will rise The price OF labor depends precisely upon the
same laws and principles those upon which the prices
OF all commodities depend
Now, in the United States there is such constant de-
mand for labor, that its price is not affected, as in older
and more densely populated countries in which exist
greater inequality Of rank and condition, and much
larger proportion of laborers TO employers than in this
county In the United States-except, perhaps, when
there is temporary financial revulsion-there is
siaat demand for labor In fact the supply does not
equal the demand and hence the wages Of labor higher
here than they in any other country 10 the world.
In this country labor i employer, and does not
except in few cities and large towns, depend upon
capital The mass OF il is employed in the cultivation Of
the soil and IL is The owner of the soil eutiuates 10
perv great erten Therefore il is at the mercy OF
capitalists in this country, Il is in older and more popu
lous countries; and while this state Of things shall exist
the wages OF labor be reduced materially in the
United States The is the great protector
Of labor in this country, and not capital. through the in
strumenlality Of monopolizing tariffs. The PUBLIC
MAIN prevents the capitalist from expressing the man OF
labor and reducing him that state OF destuion and
necessity which compels him to accept the pttance
that capital condescends to give for his toll !;
for while land is cheap, and every man can
get farm who is willing 10 go and cultivate IT.
capital can never enslave labor. The workingman
ali 90 % ,ba pupttr noMar m nav the small which