Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-05-25
HOME LABOR,

The Pittsburgh RerieV md Price Cur
rent, of last Thursday, commenting on
the character and import of the proceed
ings had at a workingmen's meeting in
that city, a few evenings previous, says:
The fact that the meeting was composed
exclusively of workiugmen is itself suf-
fcient to correct a misrepresentation
circulated industriously by the adyo-
cafes or free trade, who have sought to
convey the idea that the workingmen of
the United States are opposed 20 a pro-
tective tariff. There can be but one
Interpretation placed upon the proceed
ings of the meeting held on the 18th
instant To the impartial reader, it must
be plain that the workingmen of Pitts
I burgh are fully impressed with the fact
that their interests are inseperable from
those of their employers, and that they
view with repugnance the policy which
I favors the importation of foreign manU-
] features to the detriment of home labor.
The resolutions adopted express a hearth
ness and ea~rnestness not to he misinter-
preted. In expressing their disrelish for
! the views advan ced by the advocates Of
! free trade, and the ir keen appreciation Of
I the insidioGs aid furnished free traders
by British manufacturers, they do not
take counsel Of eXpedieney; there is no
mincing of words, nc ALTERING in the
avowal of their convictions. 1t is as
though these workingmen in council
I should say to the agents of English
manufacturing establishments, who are
( located on the seaboard, and who are
/ indGSFiously engaged in disseminating
views pFeiQdici2l to American manu-
featuring interests, il the skGps Of PAM
phlets, papers and circulars; Your per-
sistent efforts to advance the interests
of British manufactures, and to damage
American industry, are fully appreci-
ated. We are alive to the necessities of
the hour. Perceiving wherein you have
! already inflicted grievous injury upon
the woskiEgmen of the United States,
by the free use of gold, with which you,
as agents. have corrupted our representa-
tIves, we are determined to exert all the
power we possess to the sole aim of free
ing the country from your evil infu-
ences. As n of the readiest means to
I secure this result, we propose hereafter
to hold our representatives to a rigid
account. We viii answer your sophis-
tries with the facts embodied in an expe-
rience which warns us to beware 81 ,
policy, the operation of which has q
direct tendency TO pull down the wages
of American workingmen, and inuTes
only to the benefit of foreign manufac-
lures. We will counteract your brides
with ballots. We will make the subject
of protection to home labor a test ques-
tion-a political shibbolsth if You will.
1t is a question that rises superior to and
overrides all others. for upon its decision
depends not only u present welfare
but that of our children. We are aware
Of the difficulties which lie in our path,
and Eealize keenly the fact that the advo-
Gates Of free trade haye misrepresented
US; but We VIII carry into the contest
upon which we are entering the spirit
that enabled our forefathers TO establish
an independent government, and We are
abundantly able TO demonstrate that the
slurs cast upon the intelligence of Ameri-
can Yorkingmen have no foundation in
fact. Tina IS 2W fight; the battle be-
tween the Drawn and brain Of the Ameri-
can workshops and the established policy
of a government whose successes have
invariably been achieved at the expense
of other nations. In a word, whatever
course orr employers may adopt, we are
now. and alEaYs Yil be animated by a
hatred of any system tending to degrade
the workingmen of the United States "
the condition Of the poorly paid laboring
/ classes Of the Old World.