National Republican., 1880-10-20
-1'~ -
The Tariff-How IL Oporates,

TO The Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR; As the tariff question is now promi-
nently before the people, the followingmay not
be unacceptable to your readers: The first
tariff law was passed July A, 1888, and was
signe by George Washington. 1t was advo.
Gated and voted for by the very men who
framed our constitution. It contained the
memorable declaration that ii was necessary
for "the encouragement and protection of
manufactures" This was u favoritc doctrine
with Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
and Jackson. Each of these ilustrous states
men in their messages aud public speeches
earnestly and ably advocated, not tariffs for
revenue only" but tariffs for protection
Never was n more statesm aulike sentiment
uttered than that of General Jackson whe II
he said: "Plant your manufactures by the
side Of your farms, and you will cover your
country with blessings" Sanctioned by the au-
thOrity of those great names, tested by the eX-
perienCe Of nncty-ono years OF American his
tory, and proved by the beneficial results to
home labor, tseems hardly possible that any in.
telligent man can Obj ject to a protective tariff
unless he has foreign gold in his pocket to pur-
chase that objection. Yet the leaders of tho
sham demOcracracy for some unaccountable
reason are so committed to the policy OF FREQ
trade rs to have inserted il as plank in their
national platform.
An erroneous impression prevails to some
extent, especially in the rural districts, that Il
protective tariff benefits only the manu- tacturer,
whereas the fact Is that the latter class is tho
least benefited by protective laws. 1t is Il
well established fact that in the manufacture
of all kinds of goods, fifty per cent. of tho pro.
ducts oftbe farm enter into the composition us
labor in the shape of food, WOOL leather,
etc. Supposing for arguments sake, We pay to
England $50 100000 year for man Il ,aCtured
goods, then from fifty to seventy-hVc millions of
| il go TO the farmers Of England who feed the
workmen. Now S7j, 600 600 saved to our farming
interests for beef, pork, VIII eat, corn, poultry,
/ eggs butter, cheese, etc. aud that amount
changing hands every week, would not take
/ long 10 make $500 100000. A II this our farm
ers would lose did democratic freu.trlde keep
our workshops 5000 miles away from home.
| Here are facts the leaders of the sham demOc.
racy do not invite our farmers to listen to,
while they constantly say, Don't encourage
the rich manufacturer at the expense OF the
| farmer
| But the labor question is the great question
Of tariff. The value ofany commodity Is nc.
/ cordiug to the labor bestowed upon it. The
whole difference between the value of a ton
| ofirOn or u yard of wool en- cloth and the ma
terials in the bowels Of the earth or on the
sleeps back Is the product Of the labor ofman.
Ascertain the ratio between capital aud labor
| in tho manufacture and we have the proper
tion of benefit to each. Tako u ton Of pig
metal, sold now for say 500. The cost OF It's
constituents, the limestone coal, ore, etc, may
be g so leaving $3.50 for labor. The quar-
rying and hauling material, with the labor of
the furnace hands, constitute seyen.eighths OF
| the whole. These are facts which the work
| ingmen should consider aud ponder well.
The rewards of labor in England are better
than elsewhere in Europe; yet what q picture
of misery aud wTetchedness is presented by
largo clusses Of her working people-huddled
together in cellars and garrets in defiance OF
comfort, shame and health; work k-houses
crowded; jails resorted to for shelter and
maintenance; women and children of tender
ago subjected 10 the severest and most
| constant tolls men harnessed, upon all
fours like animals, In the mines; whole
classes stunted In growth, and perishing before
the meridian Of life is reached; industrious,
skillfu and temperate artisans only able IN
prosperous times to obtain a scanty subsist
ence, aud plunged into an abyss OF misery by
every recurring revulsion in trade. The
whole question may be stated thus; Free
| trade aud low wages, leyeling American Ia
borers 10 tho degradation of foreign paupers, OF
protection and remunertiye wages, preserving
their manhood aud Independence.
The general effects Of tariff laws may be
seen in the following table: