Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-03-11
FREE TRADE vs. PROTECTION
NO. 2.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:

aud before referring to or examin-
ing the case of"lumber" Cshould we
find time to do SOY we would like
to present a few practical thoughts,
simple and easily understood by
your readers, and drawn from near
at-home applications of the principle
and effect of any protective policy.
1t is claimed by protectionists
that Iron Masters are not the only.
ones benefited by the tariff. but that
they divide this bonus with their
hands by paying higher wages now
than formerly. True, they do pay
more. And what branch of indus
try does not pay more now than
forhierly? The mechanic formerly
received scots to 81 so per day ow-
ing to his skill. He now receives
from 81 so to s5, per day. The
writer once 'clerked' in a store six
months after he was twenty one
years old at 85 per month the next
six months at 8S per month; and
the next twelve months at $40 per
month and boarded himself during
those last twelve months! Can you
get help at such wages now? Farm
ers paid $40 per month for good
hands How is it now? Twenty and
more per month! The writer, also,
taught school at SIS per month, the
highest wages then given. How is it
now? Forty and more! He also
cleared land at Scots per day! How
is it now? More than double! So
it is with all labor, clerkships, teach
ers &c; and why3 Because there is
a thousand times more demand for
labor than there was years ago. Di-
versity of employment and increas-
ing demand from the various bran
ches Of business has done it.
Then why should not the Iron
Masters advance tue wages of those
employed by him, much more than
he has9 His are not yet up to the
standard. We do not speak Of the
Iron Master merely Because he is
such, but because his business i.
made special favorite at the ex
peuse of every consumer of his
products, by the bonus guaranteed
to him in advance. by almost pro
hibitory duties in his favor.
Another fear Of the projections
is that American labor must be Gu
down, as in England, if the tariff OF
iron is reduced, ,or the manufacturer
will fail and the country be ruined
We are fully sustained in an oppo
site view to this by the recent "re
f, port of the special CongressioDa
r Committee onNavigationInterests.
ThatC Committee says, That, although
the wages of labor are higher wit
us than in Europe, yet we shoul'
have an advantage in the fact tina
the higher rates paid for America
I labor would be more than counter
: balanced by its greater efficienc
e and skillr' Now, if this is so i
e building ships, is it not much NOR
t the case in making iron, when tn
Creator piled our coal and ore frol
: the base to the mountain top, il
stead of burying it deep in the bow
c els OF the earth, probably for tn
8 very purpose of enabling the new t
compete with the old world Eithe
c this committee of congress is wron
o and it should not be) or else th
: nations bone and sinew are bein
robbed,and its vitality being sucke
r like blood by few hungry leeche
J, and to such an extent, that all tt
's political doctors in the land will NJ
be able to restore the blood to i
l. normal circulation, and the wea
8 and Impoverished bones and mu
n cles to the vigor Of prosperous mai
hood, until ruin stands at evel
If door, excepting those favored |
m this ruinous policy, whose posts a
d marked by the blood of the slail
a Then will it be too late for even Il
is protectionists to escape the terrih
lc results of this certain ca.amit
which now surrounds and hang
e over US, and when it's storm do
N burst, all he can expect to get
IN the hour of dire calamity from /
n favored, and now smiling and pal
e pered iron Lord and Master, is t
il cold indifference sho wn by such IN
to those who have made them wh
IN they mostly are.
70 But protectionists say that CIR
a Men" can not take advantage of t
tariff to the extent Of the duty il
b. posed. Let us see, now, by a Fl
n simple illustrations. Let US c.
ne Pennsylvania England, and Oh