New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-07
AIR. PoRTERs FACTS And INFEREYCES.

To fhs Editor Of The Trt6uRe.
SIR: have read the editorial IN todays TRIBUNE
the article from the Leeds newspaper, and also Mr. Por
rers reply TO the letter from Dundee. But am stl Of
the opinion that MIR. Porers letters misleading.
They represent the condition Of the working classes in
GRAFT Britain as miserable and Wretched. From what
know Of the working people the other side consider
Mr. Porters letters gross misrepresentation OF the sub
Iect There is great zeal OF misery ond wretobedness
admit, hut Mr.. Porter. who must have seen IL and
learned all about &c. said very little ABOUT the
OF the same. viz, intemperanee Drunkenness is the
crse and the shame OF industrial classes the other
side and s the cause OF the wrtcbedness and poverty
40 prevalent there The SECURING burn In Dundee, Ia
district largely inhabited by the drunken and lawless
class Of the town. and might well lay great stress
on what Is to be around Muberryst in describing
the condition OF the working classes in New-York =
The extract from John Brights speech with which Mr.
Porter winds up his letter from Lynn also onesded
and misleading. John Bright did confess failure
OF the promise he and Mr. Golden made forty years
II YOU refer his speech, you will find he says pre-
yious part:
II must be admitted that go back say for the last
fy years shall find that the condition of the people
at nome steadily aud greatly improved. The labor
Is becoming Rote constant, more steady and more
highly Temuneratlve. All over tue country there has
teen steady ard very considerable advance the
OF wages The food eaten by the people II more abuu
dlpt more cheap, beautiful their clothing Is more
able healthy ard becoming or their education
/ need scarcely speak. We have, lhen think greater
w,
Of line people 10 Is charming % think as NO many proph
eces have led In another direction, that becoming
more political they have become more moderate the
rich become less disliked ana blamed ard poor
Gene less disgustsd and, altogether, bold say
that the condition Ot the people OF Great Britain s now
in avery respect greatly better than IL forty y
years ago. aud that ali our institutions that are worth
considering and worth supporting rest how more
solid foundation than they did during my youthful
years.
That's honest John Brghts testimony Of the result Of
free trade in England. As Brilisher dont want
tba Irplf. -
a free-trade country I believe 1t would ruin
England manufacturing nation. England has
TO import not only large quantities of food stufs
but also largo amounts OF materials for her
features The United States raise almost thing
food products WOOL cotton, gold silver iron. etc. Com
rem country. Were 1t not for the absurd policy OF pro-
lection. America would soon become the greatest
aoolshed the cost Of living would be greatly reduced
wages would be correspondingy reduced, aud as you
raise almost everything IN this country you would be-
come almost ipvincb,e as manufacturing nation. With
reducea cost Of living ann the reduction OF taxes !by
would be as well on with reduced wages and save a.
o. living mere is very hgn and nigh Wages have hrre
fore be paid 10 the working classes here That Is what
connn oa1tr male EnSsn5 as s"s hs sSss - In
world outlet for her goods For the sake OF lay
dear old country therefore, hope America will con-
tinue protection country. ScOTCA REslDkNr.
Nelc York. April IL, 1883.
III there pc great zeal or misery ana wretehed-
ness among the English and Scotch working-peoDle,
as this correspondent admits, Mr.. Porter stands
acquitted of the charge of gross misre presenta-
tom in describing their condition as miserable and
wretched. The correspondent finds fault. not with
Mr. Porter's facts but with the inference which tho
American public draws from these facts, namely,
that the misery and wretohedness are the result OF
free trade. whereas incompetence Is the main cause
Now Mr.. Porter has not neglected to describe the
working classes as too ofian the victims Of drink,