The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-08-18

lof course, it is far from being-still it i
Itrue that unsettled lands may be opened
too fast for profit, much more for rea
Iprogress. Indeed, this random AND
thoughtless cry for cheap labor is one q
the great mistakes of heartless anG
superficial economists. Seldom has there
been greater mistake. We assert IN
hesitatingly that cheap productions are
an unmixed good, cheap labor is an un
mitigated evil. Human progress shows
| itself in fall of prices and rise .oi
wages. Although labor makes one hall
of the cost of production, still it is true
that the world gains just SO fast as prices
fail and wages rise. To insure progress
the cost Of everything but human muscle
and brains must fall. The remuneration
of these two elements of production must
rise. In William PENIS time it took 1877
days toll to buy ton of flour. In 1890,
1875 days labor would buy it. In 1885,
80 days wotk suficed. Now, in 1870.
probably 40 or so days wages would buy
a ton of -four. That fact measures and
explains the social industrial, moral and
political progress of Pennsylvania In
view of such rule we claim the rights
of Government to check any force
and unnatural importation of labor.
Against such claim the advocate Of q
protective tariff cannot consistently open
his mouth If Government may and
should protect nation against pauper
labor in other lands, this surely-this
immigration of pauper labor-is the
most threatening danger. If you would
be consistent, Mr.. Protectionist, join with
us in devising efectual methods to avert
it. If the free tender assails US with h,s
objection, HAS not the laborer right
to buy his coat or -four in the cheapest
market? Has not che capitlist the same
fright to get his stock or his labor in the
cheapest market?" We answer, !" es,
under certain restrictions" To purchase
the products of the earth, manufactured
or otherwise, whenever you can get
them cheapest, is good good for the
seller, andgood for the purchaser. But
artificial combination, no plot of power
full men, or classes, to flood the market Of
one land, with the surplus Of another
Every competition that comes in natura
currents, from individual enterprise, is Z
healthy tend ency to average. Secondly
this restriction is to be still more
stringently enforced in the purchase" O.
human labor; since the artificial anG
forced antagonism of that, derange,
society, undermines government, obstruct'
progress, brushes individual effort, ano
drags the highest type Of human attain
ments down to the murky level of the
lowest and idlest barbarism. Against
anything which threatens such results
Movement has the right to defend so
ciety by appropriate laws.
| The rate of wages is said to depend
on supply and demand. The rule is
sound, but so equivocal that it is worth
little. Rate of wages really depends or
what the workman thinks will buy hin
the necessities of life. There are men in
England whose highest idea of life is tt
work sixteen hours day, go naked, ca
meat once year, herd both sexes and al
ages like cattle under one roof and neeC
only two hundred words to express al
enough to supply these natural wants
When wages fall below that, they steal
starve, or wake TO an intellectual effort tt
better themselves Their idea of neces
saries does mnch to fix the rate of wages
A Yankee farmers boy must have goo6
clothes, schooling, ample food, and some
/ thing over. These are his necessities
| When wages will not buy them he ceases
to belong to the rank of "supply," anG
carves out a new career. There is goot
food and wages in the kitchens of New
York; more than many trades afford. A
great" demand" there for American girls
No !. supply " nevertheless. We know
| it is only sentiment that prevents, blu
that sentiment is rigid as iron and in
exorable as fate. "Supply and demand,
therefore, are to be understood with
qualification. The ideas of the q sup
Iply" are most important element il
the calculation. What are the ideas O
the supply :" These regulate his wages
The Chinaman works cheap because b
is barbarian, and seeks qualification O
only the lowest, the most inevitable wants
j The American demands more because tn
Iages-because Homer and Plato, Egyp
and Rome, Luther and Shakespeare, Crom
well and Washington, the printing pres
and the telegraph, the ballot box ant
the Bible, have made him ten times a
much man. Bring the Chinese to u
slowly, naturally, and we shall soon lif
him to the level of the same artificial
and civilized wants that we feel. Their
capitalist aid laborer will be both equal
ly helped. Fill our industrial channel
with imported millions and you choke
them ruinously. They who seek to fooC
us artlfclally with barbarous labor arr
dragging down the American home te
the level of the houseless street herds o.
China. If the workingmen have moi
combined to prevent this, it is time they
should. When rich men conspire pool