The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-23
American industry to be Betrayed.


Mr.. David A. Wells, the gentleman ap-
pointed by the Government to prepare a
report on the requirements of the revenue
service. We have avoided all reference to
the subject because of our opposition to
seeing the financial affairs dragged into the
arena of partisan politics. Ii there is one
subject which should be treated with states
manlike ability, and on which all the bitter
meas of prejudice should be laid aside, it lis
that of the revenue of our country. We
therefore, avoided as long as we could
impairing the confidence felt in Mr..
Wells, and bringing question be-
longing rather to fnanciers than the
Dopulace, before our readers. To continue
longer our silence would be dangerous to the
cause of protection. There seems to be no
reasonable doubt but that Mr.. Wells intends,
in his report, to sacrifice the interests OF pro-
lection to the advocates of free trade. He
will not do this openly, and thus at once
cause such alarm among the protectionists
as to cause pressure which could not be re-
sisted, but we will be told that a tariff is
necessary for the purpose of raising revenue,
and, therefore, it is adopted. Yet because we
want gold to pay the interest on the national
debt, therefore a tariff must be imposed.
This will be the argument employed, but the
meaning is the same. We do, indeed, want
q high tariff, because we need gold,
but that is not the main reason
why it should be secured. If we had no debt,
and no interest, we would need a tariff Just
the same as now. One OF the incidents in
this system is the procurance of coin; but
the object Of the system is the protection of
American home industry. We do not intend
to 60 into an argument in favor Of protection;
the future will be time enough for that. If
we live long enough, we shall yet see the day
when the great issue before the country will
be this same protection. The political map
of the United States will be redistrcted, and
we will find ourselves battling against those
who have fought with us so long. The in
terests of New England call for free trade
the interests of the South do like
wise, while those of the Middle and
Western States demand protection; and
the day will yet arrive in which New Eng
Land and the extreme South will stand to-
gether in their subservience to great Britain,
while Pennsylvania and the Great West will
be battling in defense of American industry.
But the time when the mask can be thrown
aside has not yet come; and so we will have
a tariff recomm ended .'for the purpose of
raising revenue" The truth of our state
ment that MIR. Wells intends to urge the
sacrifice OF Pennsylvania, has been declared
by himself In his speech in New Haven, a
month since, he said:-
"The further extension of the iron manu-
facture in Pennsylvania was actually I'M
possible, because OF the scarcity OF skilled
labor. The want of this no amount of
capital could compensate for. Some very iu-
teresting facts were touched upon in this cou-
nection relative to the main feature of one kind
of steel. In making this it was necessary that
the workmen should not only be able to dis
tnguish the crucible as it stool on the furnace,
but also to remove the lid of the crucible and
examine It's contents. English workmen skilled
in this were the only ones who could do the
work alluded to, and it had become necessary
to import them for this purpose. One manu-
faoturer in Pennsylvania had told Mr.. Wells
that after persevering efforts, he had got so far
as 10 be able to see the cruclble In the furnace,
but he could go no further than that, and he
had been able to train but single American to
examine the contents of the crucible ITSELF In
England, the workmen had formed guilds to
prevent any Of those who could perform this
work from coming to this country"
If this curious phenomenon, as stated by
Mr. Wells, is true, we think some learned
Oculist should examine the causes which
enable English eyes to see what no American
can be educated to look at. But this is not
rue. The simplest law OF political economy
must tell any one that it is not true. Mr..
Wells tells us that workman's wages are
enormously high, consequently it must fol-
low that the wages of skilled operators in
ron are almost fabulous. A demand will
always secure a supply, and if England has
such operatives the inducement of wages
will draw them to our State. Guilds are not
Ormed to restrict the advancement of the
members, but to protect their interests. AS
soon as they cramp their actions, the Organi
EatiOn will be dissolved.
The great iron works Of our Keystone
State offer field to induce foreign immigra
tion, and If protection, adequate protection
be meted out, in a few years we will not neeC
any foreign supply, even if we do nova fac
not yet proven.
We have made these remarks on Mr.
Wells, because we consider him unsound OF
the great question of home industry, and i
behOyes all friends of protection to be read,
for the fight on that issue at any day during
the next Congress. The present tariff doe
indeed need revision, but not in the man
ner In which Mr.. Wells seems inclined II
amend it.