Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-13

interest OF the country at large. per-
haps not to the people Immediately
out OF our neighbOrhOod. We rep
resent the ruling sentiment Of our
community; another newspaper
represents the ruling sentiment in
some ether community. 1t is now
impossible to be anything in the politi
cal world of Pennsylvsnia without
being high tariff man. ALI the money
is on that side, and the money carries
votes in the manufacturing districts.
where self interest rules labor the
same as it rules capital"
80 capital and labor are a unit in
this instance?"
Practically so. But the interests
are only seemingly identical. The day
is soon coming that will nut an end to
the protective system. There are few
American industries of Importance
which cannot stand alonN and those
which cannot ought to iall."
| suggested that my friend was
verging on free trade. "Oh, no." he
replied, there is no such thing as free
trade in this county, and the term is
misnOmer. Revenue by direct tax.
alton is more odious than indirect
Nobody wants the customhouses
pulled down and a land tax substi.
tuted, with myriads Of assessors and
other government officials penetrating
to the interior of every house. What is
wanted is the entire abolition &c the
protective features Of the tariff sys-
TEN, and to reduce the duties on
everything that will encourage instead
OF prohibiting importation. | believe
we will one day reach this idea, but,
unfortunately, it is not in the near
future. The political hucksters have
imbued the laboring classes of the
manufacturing communities With the
idea that protection of American labor
is identical with the protection of a
few big iron masters and glass manu-.
facturers, etc. But, | tell you, even
these laboring people are beginning to
find that low or high tariff makes
very little difference in their fortunes
the capitalists grew richer and they
grow poorer"
And as for the laboring men out
side of these communities
well, they pay for it." added my
friend swallowing his last crystal drop
and gently clinking the empty glass ON
the. empty bottle1 THE men who
made this glass and lmade this bottle
were poor lahoreFsi theyprobably made
living. We are making Just the
same sort of wares in my city, and the
men who de the work make living.
But the capitalists who 0nnloy the9e
meA are as rich as best pay dirt. They
have built magnificent works and live
Ia palaces. DePauw, you know, the
Indiana glass man, has been endow-
ing colleges and placing immense
sums with campaign committees.
"All OF these men you speak of
have expensive and importunate lob.
bies here to fix the new schedule to
suit. "
YES, and got an advance ON the old
rate, too" said my editorial friend,
And every nan, woman and child
who uses a bottle, from the poor, sick
laborer to US fellows who drink cham
payne, pays the additional tax into
these already rich fellows pockets"
suggested that be and his were
building up monopolies that all of US
must soon go to work to pull down,
You are right" said no, "and
there are thousands Of people in Perm
sylvania who besiR 70 feel as / do.
Monopoly Is the bane Of the republic
slreAdy, aud it grows SO fast with what
Y leeds upon that, as you say, we shall
AL have to turn 10 and make war upon
IT,"
IN tho meantime you will 20 on
building up these monopolies and
preaching the protective tariff" l
silly suggested.
GpThq tRriR Hal local issue, General