The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-09

English and American WorkinRmen.
During recent visit to Pittsburg, Mr.. Cas-
son, the general manager OF Lord Dudleys
iron works in Stafordshire, Eug, speaking vi
iron manufactures in America, said:
II find that In many respects you have tie
advantage OF us rs regards mechanical appli-
ances, while In others we are greatly ahead OF
your manufacturers"
In other words, SO far as mechanical appli-
ances are concerned, England and America
are about equal. But he added:
ave can manufacture iron at just One-half
the cost, as far as the price of labor il con-
cerned. / find that your rate OF wages is
about exactly double what we have to pay"
And this observation ia true of nearly all
manufactures. The English can manufacture
everything at just one. halt the cost that we
can, 90 far as the price of labor is concerned,
because we pay the American workman double
the wages that the English workman is paid.
Now, why is it that the American workman
gets twice the wages that the English work.
man gets? Because of the rates of duties
charged by us upon English articles. Iftbese
duties were not levied those articles of Eng
llsh manufacture would flood our markets,
and articles of American manufacture could
not he sold at all unless at the same price as
the English goods. Our manufacturers would
have to shut the doors of all our factories in
the face OF such foreign competition unless
they cut down the wages OF all the hands at
least one-half How would the American
workingmen and workingwomen like sud
denly to find themselves offered half wages or
no work? Yet that is precisely the alternative
that would be offered them if these duties on
English manufactures were swept away. Pro-
lection means keeping these duties in force.
Free trade means doing away with them. Free
trade is called free trade becausei it would give
freedom to the trade of England to ruin Amer
lean trade and destroy the high wages OF
American workmen. Protection is called pro-
lection because it protects the American work.
ingman's double wages and secures him the
opportunities of labor at those high wages.
Free trade is what the Democratic party de-
mand, because its leaders desire to cut down
the pay of American laborers and to degrade
the working classes 80 that they will the more
readily do their masterful bidding. The Re-
publican party. on the other hand, insists on
protection of the wages of labor, because il
desires to keep free the masses of the people
from oppression and lift them up to the high
est plane of good citizenship. 1t knows that
so long as the laborer here can have double
the wages given to the English laborer he will
be able to eat better food, wear better clothes,
have more comfortable home, with better
Cn6nCe 10 euucato nlHlStlI auu nls cnliuItH,
and better chance for him and them to think
for themselves and to rise in the world than
the English laborer and his children could pos
sibly dream Of having. 1t wants to- improve
the quality, condition, and means of every
citizen Of the Republic who needs advance
ment, and thus hopes to place and keep this
Nation on so high plane Intellectually, NOR
ally, physically and financially, as to distance
ell other nations on the course OF progressive
civilization. Every vote that the workingman
gives to the Republican candidates is a vote
in behalf Of his own comfort, elevation and
happiness and of the progress Of the Republic.
Every vote he gives to the Democratic party
Is vote TO destroy progress and ruin himself.
In the one case it is self representation, in the
other, suicide.