, 1882-01-28
The Question Of the Day.

IL the editorial correspondence to the
last Argonaut, Mr. Pixiey. who is in Mem
York and has splendid chance to view
our national workings, has this to say
There are two questions thst are 10 be-
come Of national importanee-the tariff,
and the question Of corporations The
question of free-trade IS gathering heaiway
and 1t seems TO HE that the Protection SIS
are being pa; upon the defensive. |; Is
urged here that the protective tar Il is
working for the benefit Of the rich that
1t is The gceat and wealthy manufacturers
who are reaping all the benefits of the OK.
isting laws; that the working classes, Ia
berers, skilled artisans, and the farmers
in fact, none except manufacturers are
benefited by the present tariff laws. The
IRON Interests and the ship-builders, 1t Is
claimed, are making exorbitant profits,
while our commerce Is suffering. Gave us
the opportunity to GO into The world ; mar
ket to purchase ships, and We VII bnild
up commercial marine thar vii equal
that of England, is the argument OF the
merchants. Allow us 70 so into the worlds
market for iron, say the railroad men, and
the result viii be less Costly railways, and,
as a consequence. reduction In fr,ights
and fares. We have no protection for our
agricultural products, say the farmers, and
We need none Give us free goods in re
turn for those products Everything is
protected except labcr, say the woraiug-
men. There is an Unrestricted immigra-
ton allowed from Europe and from Asia
There IS no tariff on bone, and sineY, and
muscle. Protection they say, is for cap
iral, and capital only. Oar wages tor
skilled labor are not greater than in Eng
land, or Belgium, or France The man
ufacturel g ,sds of those countries can not
enter our paAs without paying enormous
duties, while the men who manufacture
them are permitted and encouraged to
come to this country and enter into free
cnmpet!tion with us in The very factories
in which We labor
Mr. Pixiey purposeIy avoids giving his
own opinion ON the very Important sub
jeet of protective tariff on free trade /;
but As he ITALY says this question is just
becoming one of national Importance, the
iclay in takin. The buii by the horns, can
not he forced Oft much longer by every
man Whp has an opinion # his ovn.
Some Of the community val say "e have
but little need To- worry over question
that can be Of ro essential importance to
us. Tais question Is important 10 every
lnhabi,2nt of our country. The'hoasands
of niles Of rAi'r"ad that are being built
on the northwest coast, must tiGaliy he
paid for by the citiZans If the countries
through which they pass although cap
italists are furnishing the really money
NOW for their ou'npicUion W.;h treet trade
such as Democracy as party has always
advocated, the indirect tax upon rs would
be lesssned by millions OF dollars, for the
construction Of or railroads Protective
tar + is the fully ripe fruit Of unwise or
dishcnes: legislation; and II found birth
and is cherished IN narroa and unscner-
ous minds such as has Ike paper king sen
atCr of New York. Democratic leaders
who are now advocating pr. tsctive
tariff, are dicgiag political graves with a
shovel that resp, ctable thinking men
would no more handle th,u they w"nld
the foul tools # "A COMMON grave rpbber-