The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-01
a VERY INTERESTING LETTER.
YRRE TRADE VS.. PROTECTION.
IN. Y. Freeman's Journal.)

a.
constant reader of the Ffseman's Journal since
was able to understand it; and, as hold it as
unquestionable authority on all SUBJECTS, have
therefore thought could take the liberty of
intruding on you for information. have just
become voter and the traditions of Democracy
inherit from my father. But now fear / will
have to discard the traditions of which my
father was firm advocate. Free Trade is the
rock on which we split as am told that Tilden
10 q free trader, and that it is one Of the first
things he will try and accomplish If elected
President. 1, therefore, believe that proteetire
tariff s indispensable for the welfare of the
country, and will cast my vote for Hayes, unless
am otherwise convinced. believe free trade
would impoverish the country by lowering the
wages of those Who have to work for a living
to the starvation point, which is at present
sharp ut the door of thousands in this valley.
My ground for thus believing is simply this ::
Goods can be manufactured in Europe for less
than half the cost that they can in this country.
and if we have no protective tariff and have to
compete with Europe in prices, the natural con-
sequences, as l see it, wonld be, that in o short
time this country would be ruled entirely by q
thirsty aristocracy, and the wages of the labor
ing class would he reduced 80 low that they
could never lay up q doll and those who are
rich wonld become richer, and those who are
poor would always remain The above is
the conclusion that have come to- some time
past but see in the last issue of the Freeman,
in an editorial entitled 1.-The Politicsl Pros.
pect,' that you hold an opinion the reverse of
mine. Hence this letter, which seeks for q ray
of sunshine, which 1 pray you will be kind
enough to throw across the track of An honest
plouRh-boy, who wants to cast his first vote,
and always. not for the sake of any party, but
FOR the wel!-being of our country.
Your sincere friend,
EDWARD J. NELL
REPLY.
We could not receive more welcome
letter than that Of our young friend, Mr..
Neill, who writes us from the Wyoming
Valley. Reading the first part of his letter,
we anticipated that his interests lay in the
direction of mining. The answer would be
the same, but little more complicated in
its elucidation-a sort of equation of the
second degree Our interesting correspon-
dent. in modestly calling himself a "plough-
boy" iDtimates that be is an agriculturist,
OF, as it ia called in our Northern States, q
farmer. This simplifes matters greatly.
The wheat, the Indian corn, the potatoes,
etc, ETC., that his honest plough prepares
She ground to raise, and that he gathers in
their several harvests, are not protected I!
He has to sell the products Of his farm for
less, in gold, than the same products were
cold for in the old Democratic times, when
the tariff was for revenue, only, and not for
protecting any favored classes. But our
friend has to pay more for his shoes, stock
jngs, pantaloons and drawers, shirt and
pndershirt, waistcoat and coat, and over
coat. Also, for his shirt collar and necktie,
and for his hat, and for his pocket handker-
chief Also, for his watch ard pocket book
=
20 pay more than hs did in Democratic
times, white he receives less for his farm
products.
But there is Il great brotherhood in honest
GnbOr. The mechanics, the employees of
great industries, are not benefited by pro
2ective tariffs. A tariff is made to pro
lect" the halter. But, to be equal, every
other trade must be "prOtcctea." So every
employee of the halter has to pay to the
shoemaker. to the spinner of uuGerclothes,
80 the tailor, to the stove maker, aud to the
coal furusher, etc, etc, a bonus, above
what he wOnld have to pay, it it were free
for whomsoever, admitted to a brotherhood
Of honest Christian labor, to offer what he
could produce.
AT this moment labor is standing idle
Why is this The question seems beyond
the reach of those that call themselves our
" statesmen Most of them are satisfied
with saying We are suffering from cover
production !" Over-productIon of what
Over production howl The hundreds of
thousands of willing hands, made to pro-
vide for hungry stomachs, are not to be put
OF by a studied phrase; We are enjoy
sag ~ the benefits of a high protective tariff.
What is tho condition OF the IaborinQ
elASses9 What is the condition of the aqrG-
eSIturdl classes Z Twenty years ago
special dispensations of Providence, or
faults of personal improvidence, apart
there was plenty in the homes of all indus
for protection" but, only, a very mode
ERSe one for revenue.
Under our existing System of high pro
tective tariff the manufacturers are pro
teeted. They have man ufactured ! Capital
has rushed in to enjoy the benefit of " pro-
lection" in manufacturing. What have we
seen Abundance of products of manufac
ture-but no market! Why not 2 o, fools
that work as biindly az moles You have
shut up your dvenues of exchanges! Tou
Aaue compelled commercial peoples to seek,
eLsesChere, the agricultural products that you
could hare furnished them. Nations taught
in political economy seek trade with those
that can trade with them to mutual ad-
vantage. 1t is only for tea, in China, and
other prod not otherwise to be had, that
merchants will send coin to pay for products
of Industry. Tho great merchants of the
world Geek to trade an kind, and use coin
only to settle balances.
From the teeming and honest fields of ouI
rich and virgin soil, labor has been seduced
nv Ulittarinu and lrCeutiVe PROMISES O