Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-03-26
Projections.
Milwaukee, Nrws.

the paper manufacturers had not
frightened the reins hy their increase
III the price If paper there would
not ho 50 much said about the dis.
astrous effects of protection, rs we
now hear
There is truth III the remarks Of
our correspondent, and it is per-
haps fortunate for the country that
tho paper kings have shown their
teeth. The whole system Of protec-
tion is wrong and a fraud upon the
people, and we trust that the sub
| iect, now that ii has been stirred
up, will not DO allowed to settle
until full revision of the tariff
laws is made, and the lobbyists who
represent the monopolies at Wash
ington. taught that oven the people
have some rights that even their
masters are bound TO respect. II is
amusing to hear the arguments Of
these agents Of manufacturers seek
ing to influence the people to give
them larger lease of the right to
extract their life. blood from them.
Don't you want to sec tho indus.
tries of the country built up" say
they. II SO protect our manuhc-
turers,' Bosh, who protects tho
| farmer and the working man ?
What benefit do they receive from
n tariff that adds from 25 to to 100
per cent. to the cost Of the necessary
articles of life, the things that 30
into every days use? Does pro-
lection add one cent TO the value Of
n bushel Of wheat, or give the labor.
ing man ten cents u day more for
his labor; on the contrary, by the
shutting out Of impqrtations, IL
drives the trade Of other countries
away from our doors, and reduces
the laborer's pay by increasing the
cost Of what he has to buy with his
wages.
We, as a people, want to buy
where we can buy the cheapest,
and sell whore we can get the
highest pr ice. The United State
is fast becoming tho granary OF the
world, The agricultural interests
Of the country are its most impor-
tant ones, and II protection is to be
the motto, let il be for the farmer
and working man, and not for the
monopolist.
This question Of protection and
anti-protection has lain dormant
for many years, blinded by poll
ticians, the people have looked on
without becoming alarmed by the
aggrcssions that have been made
by the manufacturing interests Of
the country. At the time tho in
ternal revenue tax was levied on
manufa tured articles, general in
crease Of the tariff SO as to put the
manufactures upon fair footing
with the importer; gradually the
internal revenue tax has been en-
tircly removed or modified, but no
reduction has been made ia the
tariff. While the people were
asleep the monopolists were active
and succeeded in shaping matters
to suit themselves. They have
succeeded in getting themselves, or
their creatures, elected TO Congress,
appointed on Committees having
the whole matter Of arranging the
tariff under their control. The
game was entirely in their hands.
The recent effort 70 decrease the
duty on paper has reveled the fact,
that two members Of the conn
mittee on ways and means, are
owners Of paper mills. Push the
investigation n little further, and |
doubtless it would be found that
all or nearly all Of that committee
are interested in some monopoly,
or arc agents or attorneys for man.
ufacturcrs. No wonder these men
have had things all there own way
in the past No wonder the people
have been bled 10 death, and the
manufacturers have waxed rich.
The issue must DC made before
the people, iii the coming presiden.