The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-10-28


ing and rpet wools jute, ramie and the like, In
the production Of which no American interest
concerned except to have them freed from duty,
in order that the manufactured products may De
produced at q cost so low as to enable us TO sell
them abroad.
It's the worklng-man who has the deepest In.
terest in securing the modification OF thst tariu
He wants the area of employment enlarged the
demand for labor increased. He knows that the
rate of wages depends upon demand and supply
He understands that he is and will be well paid
when business is active He knows or ought to
know that 1t is not the tariff which determines
the rate of his wages but the net value of the pro
duct of his labor. II the tariff takes any portion OF
that net value by imposing tax on the raw ma
terial which enters into that product the tax must
come out Of his wages, for II can come nom no
other source. Either portion OF that product is
sold abroad or 1t Is not II 1t is sold abroad, then
the precise amount paid in taxes or raw material
ought to have been added to his wages and If no
portion is sold abroad by reason OF these taxes on
the raw material then the field for employment is
narrowed and his wages fail in consequence,
Moreover the wages of labor are not fixed by the
tariff but by free trade, whether we like It or not
The wages of labor in every country are deter
mined by the amount which can be produced
and carried in the largest field of industry In that
country. Wages, like water seek level. But
let me not be misunderstood when assert that
wages in this country are fixed not by the tariff
hut by free trade. am not unminoiul OF the "a
yorable influence of duties imposed for revenue
upon the rate of wages in periods Of stagnation
when there is surplus or glut Of manufactured
In, r1ya OF 40 wnPld Suph
duties then perform most useful function. They
do not then, iudeed, yield revenue but they tel
10 prevent the surplus OF the rest OF the world
from being poured into market already over
stocked, IT, during the lorg period OF depression
between 1878 and 1879 our markets has been open
to all the world without the obstruction caused by
the tariff there cannot be doubt that fewer
manufactures would have been kept in operation
here, and the distress would have been greatly
aggravated. Revenue reform does not look to the
abolition OF such duties, but, on the contrary, de
mands and requires that the minimum duty
shall be established, which will, In seasons Of
glut, preserve our markets for our own labor But
anything beyond the duty necessary for this pur-
pose is not only revenue duty, but Is an unnec-
essary tax upon the consumer. This tax is not
for the ben fiji of the lsborer, who will not ge'
either steader work or higher wages in conse-
auence of duties thus unnecessarily high, but for
the sole benefit of manufacturers, who are thus
assured monopoly of the market when the sup
ply of goods is not equal to the demand 1t L
then that the consumer wants the relief OF the
h. althy competition with foreign producers, and
the Government wants The revenue which will
thus result. At such periods unnecessarily high
that is protective duties, stand in the way OF bus
iness restrict the undertaking of new enterprises
by adding to their cost, and limit the field OF la.
Dor, without any benefit whatever to the people
at large While tariffs are powerlsss to raise the
nDrmal rates Of wages, they are powerful to re-
duce its compensation by narrowing up the de.
mand for labor or by making deductions for the
net proceeds of labor In the form Of unnecessary
and obstructive taxes on raw materials Now 1t
was against these impediments to the growth of
business against this unnecessary interference
with the normal demand for labor, which caused
the Democratic Convention to protest against the
enormilies of the existing tariff, aud the words,
tariff only for reform" were intended to emphs
size this just demand for revision OF the tariff
and a reformation of Its abuses and is simply a
Cry for revenue reform.
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR ON THE TARIFF,
As to the position of General Garfield he advo.
Gated precisely this policy in the famous speech
which procured his election as a member Of the
Golden Club, and in the following language: II
hope we will not reduce the duties on tea and
coffee. In the first place 1t is the genius Of our
whole system, and the experience OF the Govern
ment has approved It, that the best way of raising
revenue ia to impose duties the fewest possible
articles" How he must blush when his advocates
allege that he is high protecionists and does not
believe in tariff for revenue only |" But Gen.
eral Garfield made another tariff speech IN 1873
portions of which were reproduced In the New
YORK Tribune few days ago. have been curl.
GUS to examine the portions omitted Among
them find the following sentences: II freely
admit that revenue is the prim iry project of tax
alton (Then protection is not the primary OBJ
ject which is The exact position Of the Democrat.
ic party) IL do not affirm that all The provisions
OF the existing tariff are wise and just (How
does this differ from the Democratic position thai
some of these provisions are unwise and urjus
and should he repealed y "In many respects
they are badly adjusted and need amendment"
II all the kingdoms Of the world should become
the kingdom of the Prince Of Peace, then l admit
that universal free trade ought to prevail" Here
he puts his objections to free trade only on theo.
logical grounds He then recites a conversation
with Horace Greely, In which that great man.
said to him: "My criticism of you is that you
are not sufficiently high protective In your vie VS."
We can see now why the Tribune did not repub-
lish this certificate from Horace Greedy. 1t Seem,
that Garfield was not prOtectionist enough 20 meet
tho uiaws oF tho 1ata Demonratin candIdata for
President. And finally he says: 1T was my
hope at the beginning Of the present session tina
the Committee of Ways and Means would enter
upon a revision of the tariff in the spirit have
indicated The Secretary of the Treasury sug
gested In his annual report that considerable
number of articles which produced but small
amount Of revenue and were not essential 10 the
Of our manufactures could be placed
upon the free list thus simplifying the law and
making 1t more consistent In its details. was
ready to assist in such a work of revision" Do
not these extracts prove that Garfield iAdones the
necessity for reform and revision Of the tariff. but
from his final remarks it is evident that like the
man who takes three m lie start TO jump over
Weehswken Hill, he found II convenient 10 halt
and take rest at the base, for he says: "when
the first paragraph has been read will move to
strike out the enscting clause" He kept his prom.
Sc snd the bill was killed. II he had been sin.
cere in his profession, why, instead Of moving to
strike out the enaetiug clause, did he not offe
amendments correcting the abuses of which he
complains and endeavOr to perfect wise meas
ure OF legislation l was prepared to help him
In this labor Of statesmanEhip, but the II Auence
OF steel rails and other monopolistic interests
were too powerful, ard G rfield concluded to take
rest until these interests had placed him in the
Presidential chair,
How for Arthur, who has been Collector Of this
port and was removed as he says for doing biz
duty, and has, therefore, been nominated by his
party for the Office of Vice President He has had
experience ami ought to know. In his letter o,
acceptance he says "such changes should be
made in the present tariff and system OF taxation
as will relieve any over burdeued industry or
class and enable Our manufacturers and artisans