New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-15

W0QlO, t0e1e4Oe0y place the duty az lou
dollars or four dollars and fifty cents
faeture in the United States, and higl
enough to secure the largest revenue upo
the imported article. The duty being thu
fixed, the manufacture of domestic iro
must cease. or the cost of producing
must be diminished. The manufacture
will not, for auy..~leQgth Of . time
waste his capital in attempting I
| compete with the foreign manufacturer
Whatever else may happen, the dc
mestic manufacturer will seek to pre-
| serve his capital. His only recourse is t
reduce the wages Of the laborer. The effect
therefore, of this policy is to bring the pres
| facture of the domestic article and the man
ufacture fthe foreign article directly upol
| the laborers engaged in the manufacture O.
domestic irol. II they yield to the doMes
tic manufacturer to such an extent that hi
can compete with the importer. the pole,
marked out by the Democratic party woull
lead to further reduction Of duty, because
every ton manufactured in the United States
d:minishes the revenue just to the exten,
of the duty which mi ht have been collected
upon the imported article. The result OF
this policy is that laborers IN the manutac
ture Of iron would find their wages cur
t6lleu, anu tUtN WOuiu AudliNS CpA4SCO ~
seek employment elsewhere.
Upon the same state OF facts as to the
cost Of imported and domestic iron. the pol.
icy of the Republican party would be to tx
the duty at such rate-something, OF
course, greater than the difference between
the cost of the foreign and domestic article
as would enable the domestic manufacturer
to paw fair wages to the laborer, and OBJ
tain fair remuneration for the capital in
vested: and when. by domestic competition,
or by improvements in machinery, OF the
diminished cost Of the raw material. the
difference between TIE 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, /. may be said that. without
committing ourselves upon the abs tract
question OF protection and free trade, we
are disposed TO deal with the existing in
terests Of the country in such a manner as
not to peril our manufactures and mechanic
arts: nor, on the other hand. BIZ excessive
duties to give advantages over other forms
of industry.
There is a reasonable interest in the civil
service. and while the Republican party is
not pledged to a particular line of policy.
yet the action of Congress, the course of
the President. and the voice of the press,
clearly show that whatever is practicable
in the wav of reform will be accomplished
by the party now in power.
1t is not for NE TO say what viii be done.
MY own views as 10 what ought 10 be done
are clear. Within certain limits as TO
classes OF public officers. candidates should
be subjected TO examination and every rea-
sonsble test "a to their fitness tor the duties
sought. should incline to 60 very far in
that direction.
My opinions as to the tenure of office are
equally clear. We have permanent Judi
.iary. Tha. is wise. The officers Of the
army and navy are upon a life tenure. /,
'or one. an firmly opposed to any increase
# life tenure Offices in the public service.
Can you give one reason why a clerk in
he Treasury Department should he KEEP, in
'fice during lite that does not apply TO
very clerk in the Office OF the mayor of
Cleveland
3 to 60 out and new one is to 20 in. Put
hat power where you think 1t will he most
wisely exercised. But the power Of change
$ the chief security which We can take for
he faithful performance Of the public
business
No one has right 20 at Office: but it is
he right of the people IN Tie manner
'ointed out IN the constitution. to secure
he services Of those who, in their judg-
neut, are hes. qualified to do the work
hey desire 70 have done. This IS the ex.
en-, of the right. and all else is within the
outrol of wise ar / public policy.
There are persons who assert that the
ountry is not prosperous: that the people
re heavily taxed: that the laborers are
oorly compensated: that the cost of living
disprOport:onate,y high: that the rich are
rowing richer and the poor are growing
oorer.
II these statements We're supported by
le facts, il would he difficult to say that
le government is not in some degree re-
1onsible tUr them. I shall not attempt a |
,futation OF these errors by an appeal to |
atistics. HAPPILY the evidence control |
ng these statements is on every hand. The |
mple truth "a. the poor are growing rich. |
zen though il be also true hat the rich are |
rowing richer.
can not doubt that the last FIVE years
institute the most prosperous period in the
atoms life. Judge it by The existence Of
the construction Of railways.
e growth Of cities in every pay. of the
nd, the wages of the laborers. the deposits
saving institutions. which represent
uthfully the condition of the laboring
asses. the improvement Of farms and tar.ll
'ildings, the decrease of parperi-m. and.
tally, b: the prosperity Of The railway
stem, which tests as by thermometer
e prosperity of every section Of the coun-
: traversej by it. The wages of labor are
arly as great as they We're during the
n. while most articles of necessity and
mort are barely more expensive than
ey were in 1859 and 1860. ! mention low
iced woolens, cotton cloths. -four and
ain generally, IN support Of this state
ent.
Of one fact there can be no doubt. the
esenr wages of laborer. and if be be a
lied laborer then is be striking example
what say, will procure at least twenty
per cent more Of the comforts and ne
ned from his labor in 1859.
am not now dealing with the labor cues
n. or seeking to unfold the relations Of
ployer ard employed; only low present
4 array facts known to all against the
or that the country as whole is not
'sperous.
let toresee even greater prosperity than a
low enjoyed. Cheap communication be-
cen the East and the West will be of mu-
i benefit. The Western farmer NAV re- Z
We more for his crops, while the Eastern
t of transportation being divided be- ?
zen them. As consequence. the pro- 4
It's of the East will be delivered to the q
sumer at prices reduced by the dimin e
ed cost both of production and transpor- n
on. G.
he growth and standing of the United a
ties, politically and financially, will v
aulate emigration from Europe The '
ent war and the present unsettled con- n
on OF affairs are causes operating in the 81
he direction. # we preserve the peace: Il
'c protect the national honor: if we pro- Il
for general education; if we secure to n
~ citizen his constitutional rights. Eu- d'
3 must either accept republican insti- CT
ons, or the best part Of Europe will
e to America.
Le civilization Of slavery could not ~
lstand the civilization of freedom. and sc