Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-10-14
CHEAP LABOR Oh CHEAP
GOODS.

If We admire II trait in the modern
Democratic party more than another,
it is its consistency. This is always
executing its honesty, for which our
poor words 4 find no measure OF ad-
miration. The Democrats like many
things, but they love free trade. II
thew must tolerate, under the pressure
of unhappy circumstances, n tariff Tor
revenue, 1t must not give so much as
one little Of protection. For "buy
where you can buy cheapest Is the
cardinal principle of Democratic free
traders. But they most decidedly do
not like Chinese cheap labor, for many
reasons. In fact, they are opposed to
all sorts Of cheap labor, for which they
have also their multitudinous reasons.
And it Is at this precise point that their
consistency sparkles like any rare
level. The consistent Democracy re-
solves. writes and spouts against the
introduction Of cheap labor into the
country, while 1t clamors for such a
radical change in the tariff as shall
tile employment OF the
cheapest labor In those countries which
are our rivals In production. Who
shall tell us the difference between the
introduction of cheap labor and the
cheap products Of cheap labor? The
difference. If any, would be found ON
the side of the cheap laborer. 10 close
our doors to tho cheap foreigner, and
mt the same time invite and admit his
cheap wares into direct competition
with the products Of our higher labor,
seems to us the very depth OF folly.
The cheap laborer may not come here
to cheaper the products of our artisans,
but he may send without let or him
drance his cheap wares to undersell
theirs. So long as he remains at home
and fabricates his cheap goods, we will
buy them In preference to those of our
own workmen - because they are
cheaper. For, as we have said, "buy
where you can buy cheapest Is the
Democratic maxim.
The specific opposition to Chinese
cheap labor Is only u dodge OF these
artful dodgers. John Is the latest bug
bear of the Democracy. They will toy
with him as with q sweet morsel.
Once, not n long time ago, the negro
was its strongest card, but the rebel
lion and its consequences shelyed him
He Is now q citizen, armed with the
ballot ; and his shin-boneL woolly
locks, and far-smelling aroma, nc
longer grieve the modern Democrat,
to whom his vote Is a sweet and pre-
cious boon. Cuffy has passed away
but John will prove "a good enough
Morgan"
1t Is the grave blunder Of the Dem
ocracy that while 1t opposes CHEAP
labor it opposes also everything IEt
protection to high labor. 1t demands
q tariff which shall be substantially
free trade. Free trade, be 1t under
| stood, which will admit the CHEAP
fabrics of cheap John, or any othel
cheap foreigner, into competition Will
the productions Of our own better pait
American workmen. "Cheap lab0l
and free trade" are cardinal points II
the Democratic faith. They are EN-
bodied in their platforms, whether
connected by the veteran denlagoghes
of New York, or the raw, o~ver-zealou:
prentice hands which lately illuminet
| the Democratic world from little ElEo
From the stump and the barroom rise
the shout, "Cheap labor and free
trade!" 1t is heard from every Dem
ocratic quarter. Throughout the con
fines Of this pcrplexed Union 1t Is now
the prayer Of tile hitherto unprayine
Democracy. 1.-THE prayer were grant,
ed the logical result would be to close
our shops and factories, or to reduce
wages to the cheap-John standard ; fol
the cheap productions Of cheap foreign
labor would .oon fill our cities to re-
pletion. Capital would "buy where
il could buy cheapest" the rich would
grow richer, the poor would grow
9oorer, and Democracy would flourish
on the ruin Of the majority.