Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-23
high protectionist, in a like report,
made to congress June 18th. 1881,
SAWS.

MADE 10 congress June 10th, 1881 /,
says:
| Undoubtedly the inequalities in the wages
| of English and American operatives are more
than equshzed by the greater efficiency Of the
| latter and their longer hours of labor. II this
should prove to be fact in practice, ii would be
| q very important element In the establishment
Of our ability 70 compete with England for our
/ share OF the cotton goods trade Of the world.
IN the two prime factors which may be said to
form the basis of the cotton manufacturing in
| dustry, namely, raw material and labor, we hold
the advantage over England in the first and
| stand upon an eqality with her in the second.
Having the raw material at our doors, it fol-
| lows that we should be able TO convert it into
manufactures. all things else being equal, with
more economy and facility than can be done
| by England. which imports our cotton and then
| Of handling, transportation and commission must
be an important item in this regard as compared
with our turning in the fiber from our cotton
fields to our mills, and shipping il in the ad-
vanced form OF manufactured goods, Add to
this the secondary fact that il costs US no more
! to handle and manufacture the same than it
costs In England. and we stand on an undoubted
equality this far in the race of competition.
The inequality of wages between
English and American operatives is
"more than equalized by the con-
ditions mentioned by Secetary
Blaine. His testimony is clear and
fully corroborates that of his i'm
mediate predecessor, Mr.. Evarts.
The statements of both these emf
nent ministers of state specially
charged with the conduct of our for
eign relations, clothed with all
means of procuring the most accu-
rate and reliable information, and
having before them reports of our
consuls, on this subject. from every
station in the world, is so conducive
that little is left to be said on the
subject. 1t may, therefore be as
sumed that American operatives,
considering the hours they labor,
their great efficiency and the results
they accomplish for their employ
ers, and the cost of living here, as
compared with that Of Europe are
receiving the same wages. or prob
ably less, certainly not more, or
higher, than are paid in Europe for
like service.
Add to these considerations the
fact that we are twenty-five years
ahead of the most advanced country
in Europe, in mechanical appliances
and labor saving machinery, through
which manufactures are greatly
eheapened, the argument it would
seem that our manufacturers require
in addition to natural advantage no
further protection in the home mar
kets is incidental to a purely rev.
enue tariff, becomes unanswerable.
The illimitable productions or our
republic so favored of heaven, the
matchless energy and enterprise of
her people, speak trumpet tongued
in favor of fir edom of trade. 1t is
replete with blessings and benefits
for ourselves and our PROSPERITY. It'll
cultivates amity between the distant
portions of the globe, binding them
together by constant interchange
of kindly Office in a thousand ties
of interest and affection. 1t shows
men their mutual dependence on
each other and cherishes feeling of
brotherhood for the whole human
race. 1t breaks through the sordid
barriers which, without its influence,
would confine each being to his own
narrow spot of earth. making the
inhabitant of the most ungenial eli
mate a commoner of the world,
supplying him with its various pro-
auctions and opening to him all its
magazines of science, literature and
art.
But time and space forbid that l
should further tax your columns or
the patience of your readers. In
the bonds Of free-trade l am your
brother and friend, A. C. DODGE.