New-York tribune., 1882-02-16
rPtrrECTION FOR LABOR.
THE WORKING CLASSES EDCCATED ELEVATED AM
ENRICHED BY PROTECTIVE TARIFF.

| THE WORKING CLASSES EDUCATED, ELEVATED AM
| ENRICHED BY A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
To me LdttOr Of me TrtbHne.
SIR: /" Iron is the production of labor are
the words used IN your timely editorial in todays Issue
entitled The Tariff on Iron" Permit me. one who
during his whole life has been engaged in the use ana
manufacture OF ron say that there is more in that
statement than some Of our most intelligent mennclud
ing Members of Congress-think. The question has
often been asked hOW Is 1t that manufacturers mere
cannot make iron cheapy asst is made IN Europei The
question is easily answered: Iron Is made from ore
and coal limestone and rebrick make up largely what
is required in it, manufactures Have we as good ore,
and in quantity in tins country 10 warrant us in trying
to compete with foreign production Yes; and as for
the appliances in ard machinery, are in aG
vance them We do not make armor plate. nor heavy
guns and other work required the Navyor the reason
that the market not demanded them In such quanfl-
ties as would pay the manufacturer to make the invest
meut of time and money required to produce them
When the that such iron steel is required
in quantity the country viii have to wait long be-
fore il Will be manufactured here. II it fact that
have all the maerIl required and are equal IN our mp
piances and machinery Why them should We require so
much protection The answer Is, that an amount equal
to the duty paid imported iron IS paid TO the labor
gagged in the work. The minors OF ore, coal and lime
stone get their proportion; the train hands railways
thai transport the material minel, get theirs; the
heaters rollers and mill hanCs, theirs; in word the
whOlc amount Is absorbed IN iObor If the treeraders
or those who think that protection is " an indirect tax
upon theln would furnish The manufacturer Labor at the
price per ton IS paid III Europe, he could then
dispense with protection.
The question arises, Woull il he well for the county
10 have labor at such prices that we could hold the
market without protection ! answer no! The only
way It could done woud be by abOishing orr system
free education tits one of the laws Of nature that
the more intelligent man becomes the more numerous
are M wants aud lac VIII have them supplied. lgnor-
nce and poverty 20 hand IN hand ana rs education ad
yanccs in our and labor must advance with IT, that
The wants Of the educated may be supplied and II II
that very want thar cansrs the demand for the goods
manufactured II Is said that in the civ OF Paterson
here are from 1900 to 5000 hands employed ~ the
ma. .lc'uI of SILK goods aud the very persons that
work at the looms and manufacture the 81 s, are able
and worthy 10 wear them. IL is not the rich alone tha
ear the goods that manufactured. but largely the
laboring class and that their wants ma! he supplied,
WAGES must be paid and know OF no way IN which
urop'c can maintain That feeling OF independence 80
charactcrisc Of the American well by being well
yad Tor services rendered; and TO DO IT, manufacturers
must be protected. w :.
IaferS1H, y. j., Jan. 6, 1882.