The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-10-07

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this question was on June 5th, 1878.
when the Wood Tariff bill, so-called,
was voted on in the lower House of
Congress. The Wood bill was not a
tariff for protection to American
labor. On the contrary, it was a
tariff for revenue only" 1t proposed
very large reductions in the duties on
foreign goods from the existing rate.
A vote was taken to strike out the
enacting clause, or to kill the bill. Of
the 121 names recorded in favor of
the bill, one hundred and fourteen
were Democrats, among them every
Democratic member from Ohio. in
cluding Southland, Ewing, Rice, Ban
ming and Mcmahon. The last two
are now Democratic candidates for
Congress.
OF the 1874 votes given to kill the
bill, one hundred and fifteen were Re-
publicans, among them every Repub-
lican member from Ohio, including
General Garfield.
The present tariff was passed by
Republicans. 1t has been maintained
by Republicans in the face of repeated
attacks by Democrats. Should a
Democratic Congress and President be
elected this year, American manufac-
turers and their workmen must pre-
pare to face the results of the adop-
ton of a tariff FOR revenue only"
A tariff for revenue only would be
tariff with the duties so lowered or re-
duced us to promote the largest i'm
portation of foreign goods, regardless
of the effect on our home factories and
the men working therein, thus rails
ing large revenue for the Govern
ment.
A tariff for revenue only" would
throw the American market open sub
stantially to the European manufac-
turer with his goods made by pauprr
paid labor. On goods made in this
country the Republican party has
uniformly insisted upon such a rate of
duty on the foreign article as shall
protect the American manufacturer
and enable him to pay fully double
European wages for like work, and
yet compete-with the European man.
ufacturer in the American market.
The tariff, as affecting the American
manufacturer, is question Of wages
solely. With wages in this country
from ten to twenty per cent. only
above those current at Europe, he
would need no protection, nor would
he ask any on his own account. How
ever reluctant he mi ght be to see his
workmen have to toll for the poor
pittance paid abroad, yet it is fact if
foreign rates Of wages, or any rate
near those, should prevail here, he
could manufacture goods in competi-
ton with all the world without any
tariff. If the tariff be reduced, as the
Democratic party propose and will
certainly carry out, should they Sc
cure majority Of the Congress and
the President at the coming elections,
the American workman must accept
greatly reduced wages for his work or
cease to ply his vocation. No manu-
facturer. however disposed he might
be, could pay wages above those war
ranted by what his goods will fetch
in the market.
No future event can be more certain
than that large reduction of the
wages of American wOrkmen, es-
pecislly skilled mechanics. The ques-
ton resolves itself into this. simply: |
Shall the American workman be pro-
tectpd in the enjoyment of the wages
he is getting, or shall he be compelled |
to labor for substantially the misera-
BILE pittance paid for like work III Eu-
rope?
The Republican party has made a
consistent record on the question of
the tariff. It has protected, and be-
lieves in protecting, the American
artisan in his wages. It will continue
to protect him while it has the power
The Democratic party, when it has
held the power, has struck repeated |
blows at the wages of the American
workman through its tariffs for rev
enue only" and the party propose
now, in substance, that he shall be
required to toll in competition with
the wretchedly paid laborer of Europe. |
These be not idle or unmeaning
words. They embody the simple
truth. The past history of the Dem
ocratic party and its present avowal
on the tariff question fully Justify the
statement.
Workingmen of GAINESVILLE. in view
of these facts, can you afford to vote
the Democratic ticket for Congress
man and President at the coming cleo
tions?
In casting your vote for Mr.. Ath-
erton for Congress, or General Han
cock for President, you strike direct
blow at your own wages.
To show you that the danger to be
apprehended from foreign competition
is real. and not imaginary, | shall ask
the Times to publish from time to
time tables Of foreign wages. as col
lated by the United States Consuls
resident in the countries named, and
published by the Government in book
form. NJ CHURCHILL.
If any Republican should be per-
shaded To scratch Evans and vote for