Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-21

kind are always attracted by self inter
est, and, as yet, no protective tariff hal
ever been enacted in this country against
immigration. This being so, what il
there to prevent the great mass of Euro
pean workingmen from immigrating
to the United States, if, as is asserted
their condition would be vastly bene
flied by so doing? Skilled labor in
any department would find no difficulty,
at any time. in obtaining employment,
and the fact that the European workman,
as a rule, remains where he is, is conclu-
sive proof that he is cOntented with his
lot and that he, at least, does not believe
that he could improve his condition by
taking up his abode in the United States.
But more than this, if this statement
and argument of the profectionist were
true, it would be the very worst thing
that could happen to the American work
man; for then foreign workmen would
come over, in mass. to compete with him.
and the result would be that the labor
supply would be greater than the de-
mand, and, tariff or no tariff, wages
would fall in America, while they would
rise in Europe
We think, as we have said, that this is
of itself conclusive proof that the argu-
ment thus advanced to the workingman
by the protectionist is specious and
flimsy, and only utt cred for the purpose
of deceiving and misleading the thought
less and unwarY. But suppose we admit,
for the sake of argument, that the pro
tected American workman, because be
receives higher wages in dollars and
cents than does his European brother, is
better off, how will such admission stand
in the face of known facts ? Let US see
/ We have before us a book entitled
Labor in Europe and America; Especial
report on the rates of wages, the cost of
subsist ence and the condition of the work
ing classes in Great Britain, Germany.
/ France. Belgium and other countries Of
Europe; also in the United States and
British America" This is a very elabo-
rate work, and was compiled in 1875
while protection was an all powerful
idea in this cOuntry-by Edward Young.
Pm. D, Chief Of the United States
Bureau of Statistics, and it was printed
at the government printing office in
| Washington. 1t has, therefore, in every
respect, received the sanction of the
United States Government, having been
compiled by an United States official,
and having been issued as an authentic
public document by the government
In this book, on page 3S2 under the
heading cost of clothing" appears the
following extract:
From a careful computation made in
| London, it is believed that clothing can
be purchased there at so per cent of the
gold and 56 per cent. of the currency
prices in New York. From a tailor in
| High HolbOrn, who makes more cloth
ing for citizens of the United States than
any other in London, the following
! prices were obtained: Good business
suits. made to order, of good and fash
iOnsble material. cost from SIS. to Co.,
from about $14 to $50; the lowest
| price of similar quality in New York
reddy-made.. being $2S to $50 Suits of
fine blue cloth So. Cd ($19 96), which,
4 It is believed, could not he obtained in
/ the United States for $40. Fine black
/ cloth dress vests, los; dress trowsers, of
| the best black dOeskin, Dos fTOck coats
Of the best black cloth that could be pur-
/ chased in London. silk lined, sos
/ (S19 3G); OvercOats. from sos. to Cos =,
the latter of good beaver cloth, with silk
velvet collar.
Ready made clothing is sold at lower
rates. Good looking trousers were seen
at various clothing stores with the prices
Of lis Cd and 12s Cd. from about
| So 20 to so affixed. LabOring men are
not only able to purchase their clothing
at about one half the rates paid in the
/ United States, but are in the habit of
wearing, at their work. fustian or cor
! durOy suits, SO that az English aoOrking
mans clothing costs but about one third
he price paid bg his brother ScOrkmdR in
the United States"
Clothing is an article of vital necessity
Every man is obliged to have it, and
here is shown upon indisputable authori
". sanctioned by the United States, that
| the English workman can clOthe himself
aud family at third of what it costs
an American workman. Hence the ques
ton naturally suggests itself: "Of what
advantage is il to an American workman
to receive double the amount of wages
Of his E glish brother, if the latter is
able to obtain the necessaries of life for
one-third of what is required to procure
them IN American" And when it is con
sidered that this reasoning does not ap-
ply to clothing alone, but to food, house
rert, blankets. etc, as well, the pertinen-
CIV Of this question becomes still more
apparent.
As we said at the beginning of IT,.
article, if the wOrkingman will reflect
for himself, he will readily perceive
that no class of people in the country
would be more benefited by the aboli-
ton of protection than he, for he, as is
every one else, is, under protective tar
i'll, doubly -taxed-frst to put money in
the pockets of the protected monopOlists
who. by protection, secures absolute
control of the market for his produc-
tons, and second, to make up to the gov
eminent the losses sustained in customs
duties through shutting out the protected
articles from our ports. So long
as the workingmsn permits his
protected employer to play upon
his feelings by specious arguments,
advanced solely and purely for the
benefit Of such employer, so long will he
vote and act for monopolies and monopo.
lists. When, however, he begins to use
his judgment and reason for himself. he
will change his views, and consult his
own interests, and that of the people al
large, by striving TO secure the greatest
comfort at the smallest cost. by means OF
free trade, or, at any rate, by means of q
tariff as low as may be consistent with
the public welfare.
/
The 1u.taess Mania Rest Rrfand