The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-06

be acceptable to the Republicans, and hum
dreds of Conservative voters would fall IN
the RANKS.
Conclusion of Secretary Boutwelrs Great
Speech at Cincinnati.
The line which marks the difference be-,
tween the Democratic and Republican par
ties on the subject Of the tariff is perfectly
clear. Heeding the resolution adopted by
the Democratic Convention, which | have
already read, the only result aimed at is the
collection of the largest amount OF revenue
from each imported article, without re-
ference to the effect which may be produced
upon the business of the country by the
rate of duty fixed. Apply this principle,
for example, TO iron. Assume thai iorei2n
pig iron, Tree of duty, may be delivered at
Cleveland, with reasonable profit to the
manufacturer, and the cost Of tfnneporta-
ton paid, at $50 per ton. Assume, also.
that the cost of manufacturing pig ron M
this country, and delivering 1t al Cleveland,
would be 825 per ton. IN order that the
| largest amount OF revenue should be derry
ed rom duties on pig iron, it woald be es-
sential to place the duty just at tlat pont
which would prevent she manufacture and
| sale of dome site iron, for every ton OF do
mestic iron manufactured and sold would,
under the circumstances, diminish the
revenue just to the extent Of the duty
which otherwise might have been collected
upon it if it had been imported from an
other country. The Democratic party
would, therefore, Place the duty at s4 or
$3.50 a ton, just low enough to prevent the
manufacture in the United States, and high
enough to secure the largest revenue upon
the imported article. The duty being thus
fixed, the manufacture of domestic iron
must cease, or the cost of producing 1t
must be diminished. The manufacturer
will not, for any length of time, waste his
capital in attempting to compete with the
foreign manufacturer. Whatever else may
happen, the domestic manufacturer will
seek to preserve his capital. His only re-
course is to reduce the wages OF the
laborer. The effect, therefore, of this
policy, is to bring, the presence OF the COM
petition between the manufacturer of the
domestic article and the manufacturer OF
the foreign article directly upon the labor
ers engs ged in the manufacture OF domestic
iron. If they yield to the domestic manu-
facturer to such an extent that he can COM
pete with the importer, the policy marked
out by the Democratic party would lead to
a further reduction of duty, because every
ton manufactured in the United States
dminishes the revenue just to The extent of
the duty which might have been collected
upon the imported article. The result OF
this policy is that laborers in the manuiac-
ture of iron would find their wages cur
tailed, and they would finally be obliged to
seek employment elsewhere.
Upon the same state of facts as to the
cost of imported and domesticiron, the pol
icy of the Republican pm would be to fix
the duty at such a rate-something, oi
course, greater than the difference between
the cost of the foreign and domestic article
as would enable the domestic manufacturer
to pay fair wages TO the laborers, and OBJ
tain fair remuneration for the capital in
vested; and when, by domestic COMPETE
ton, or by improvements in machinery, OF
the diminished cost of the raw material, the
difference between the actual cost Of the
foreign article and of the domestic article
should be reduced, the duty on the foreign
article would be proportionately reduced
also. In fine, it may be said that, without
committing ourselves upon the abstract
questions of protection and free trade, We
are disposed 10 deal with the existing IN
terests of the country in such manner as
not to peril our manufactures and mechanic
. arts nor, on the other hand, by excessive
duties, to give them advantages over Other
forms of industry.
cannot doubt that the last five years
constitute the most prosperous period IL
the nation's life. Judge it by the exten
sion of manufactures, the construction o
railways, the growth of cities in every par
of the land, the wages of the laborers, the
deposits in savings institutions which repre-
sent truthfully the condition of the labor
ing classes, the improvement of farms ant
farm buildings, the decrease of pauperism
and, finally, by the prosperity of the rail
way system, which tests, as by thei
9 mometer, the prosperity of every section Q
!, the country trasersed by it. The wages G
: labor are nearly as great as they were du
ring the war, while most articles of neces
9 sity and comfort are barely more expensiv
: than they were in 1859 and 1860. | mer
4 ton low-priced woolens, cotton cloths
: flour, and grain generally, in support {
!, this statement.
u of one fact there can be no doubt, til
y present wages of laborer, and if he be
l. skilled laborer, then is he striking exam
y y pie of what say, will procure at least
= per cent. more of the comforts and nece'
. saries of life than he could have obtaine
= from his labor in 1853.
= I, am now dealing with the labor que
q ton, or seeking to unfold the relations
Z. employer and employed; l only now pr
. sent an array of facts known to all, again
the error that the country as a whole
now prosperous.
Yet forsee even greater prosperity ths
is now enjoyed. Cheap communicate
at between the East and the West will be
il, mutual benefit. The Western farmer ms
G. receive more for his crops while the Eas
le ern consumer pays less, the difference
ne the cost OF transportation being divided b
nd tween them. As consequence, the pr
e, ducts of the East will be delivered to t
al consumer at prices reduced by the dimi
he ished cost both of production and transpc
o- tation.
to The growth and standing of the Unit