The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-08
Protecting Labor.

conference held in New York city, the Nor
folk Ledger asks But ~hy does not some
one explain that while the representatives
of the infant industries are becoming
richer and richer, under protective tariff,
the American mechanic is becoming poorer
and poorer under the same blessed dispen-
satiOn? ''
This is the sublilnity of fallacy. The pro-
tective tariff policy is a protection to Amer
lean labor, as we'll as to American capital.
The vast difference between the wages paid
in the United States and in Europe to the
mechanic and the laborer is the result OF the
protective policy. II the capital invested
in manufactures were not protected and thus
made to yield remuneratve returns, it
would seek other chan nels OF enterprise, in
many instances outside of our limits. Cap
tai goes where it can be made most protita-
BILE, and II the policy OF free trade were
adopted, it would 1--WE to European enter
prise the advantage. and draw American
capital. The protective tariff Is peculiarly
favorable to American labor. Examine the
statistics and it will be found that for the
same quantity Of manufactured productions
the cost is at least 25 per cent. greater in
America than in Europe, and this goes to
the laborer and mechanic. The result that
follows is that the mechanic and laborer are
able to pay better prices for home products
and home market is thus created for home
productions. The Ledger ought to know that
in no country on the globe is the mechanic
paid better wages than in America, and in
no country is the mechanic more prosperous
or maintains more respectable social posi-
tion. For the past fifteen years this has
been noteworthy the case, and it is within
that period that the protective policy has
been fashioned Into system of operations
and results, stimulating American enter
prise in all departments of endeavor, and
giving the entire country prosperity never
before known in its history. Free trade is
an impracticable sentiment. evolving theo-
ry destructive to home industries. impover-
shing labor and subordinating Amer lean in
terests to foreign interests. The teets Of
experience show that under the protective
policy the mechanic and laborer have pros
pered; the farmer and merchant have been
benefited; all descriptions of industries
encouraged, and the credit of the govern
ment raised to standard unsurpassed, if
not unequalled, by that of any other nation
on the globe. Should it be the policy of
the United States to abandon a system
which has given such results, developing
our own resources. converting dead wealth
into active values, giving employment to
labor at living prices. creating market for
farm products. and in every way enrich
ing and making independent our country,
and adopting another which would do for
Europe what protection has done for
America, and at the expense Of this
country? We do not think the American
people can be deluded by any such fallacy.
Nor can we understand why intelligent
Journalists should endeavor to educate the
public against policy which has done so
much to build up American independence,
in every sense. simply because the principle
upon which the policy is based happens to
be cardinal with party they do not sup
port. The South. OF all the sect ions OF the
Union, should be the last to raise a voice
against the protective policy. for in its OPP
Grafton is involved the future development
and prosperity of our section. Without it, |
we would be compelled TO remain hewers
OF wood and drawers Of water, and help
lessly look upon our wonderful natural
wealth. stagnant. dead, proftless. and our
labor idle and debased,