Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-06
Proteotlon-capital aud Labor.

lneut, uenneu anu CaIIleu Out Tue
principles which accomplished these
objects and gave us position among
the foremost governments OF the
earth. Jefferson. Monroe and jackson
all declared the promotion of agricul-
ture commerce and manufactures to
be among the foremost considerations
of a government; and the fostering
care which heretofore has been extend.
ed by the government to these sources
of industries and enterprise has con-
tributed largely to our greatness. In
late years, however, especially during
and since the war, capital has con-
trolled and diverted all the impulses
of Legislation and protection has
crippled agriculture and killed COM
merce The tariff policy of the coun,
try, which had been settled on basis
Of most substantial and healthy pros
perity by tine political contests of 1914
and the legislation of 1916, was COM
pleteiy destroyed and its benifcent
effects ruined by the Morrell tariff,
enacted as a war measure, and made
hundred per cent. worse by subse-
quent legislation, until at present it
amounts to absolute prohibition of i'm
portation, destroys revenue, gives the
manufacturer a complete monopoly of
articles of general consumption, de.
stroys commerce, pauperizes agricul-
ture and distresses labor
These outrages have been perpe-
trated by capital upon labor and in
dustries by the spacious cry Of "pro.
lection to labor"-that without this
"protection' our manufacturers could
not compete with the pauper labor of
Europe. An examination Of facts
soon dispels this claim. Statistics
show that actual wages in cash paid to
English employees are higher than
those paid for the same labor in this
country. In the woolen mills of Mas
sachusets operatives received in 1880
$3.50 per week, sixty hours work; in
the iron and steel industries, IN 1880
$7.4O per week was paid-and during
the last five years labor in these EN-
ployments was idle about one fourth
of the time. In Manchester, England
$500 per week, fifty-six hours labor
was paid in woolen mills, and there
was no loss of time; so that, without
going into detail, we can safely asser
that, especially when the reduced price
of the necessaries of life is considered
the wages paid in England under fret
, trade are larger than in America undel
protection.
But the hypocracy of protection ii
most thoroughly exposed in the course
taken by the protectionists on th'
Chinese immigration bill. Protection
to labor is entirely destroyed and it
dignity polluted when brought int
contact with heather pauper compe
> tion. This the bill restricting Chimes
S emigration is designed to prohibit
) The Kearney labor troubles in Califor
MIA were brought about and mad
). possible by the importation of Mon
e golian cheap labor by the capitalists o
1 the Pacific slope, and its restriction
has been loudly demanded from a
parts of the country. Yet, those pre-
d Tossing so much regard for the welfar
h of labor and asking protection fc
y manufacturers so that labor may h
properly rewarded, both in and out
e Congress, are doing everything
1t their power TO prevent the restrictio
IS of this class of laborers, and laborin
!, to further the importation OF Cooli'
:, and to reduce the reward of labor to
pauper claiming that in labt
'e there should be free trade and tn
If the employer has the right to secu
a his labor where he can get it for I'll
: least money.
ID Is it not time that the producer al
~ ~ laborer should receive some of tn
s. protection7 1t is indisputably demo
If strated that the party in power, whi'
y has become the exclusive represent
lf If tive of capital, will not give this pr
lis lection nor that promotion to indu
co co tries which the founders say are t
Id strength, support and greatness of t
III government. These objects must
sought in a political organization
20 sympathy with the people and not
ID one organized in the interest of a
tb Il, controlled by capitalists.