The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-03
AN ATTACK ON AMERICAN MANUFACTURES.

AN ATTAUk UN AMERlOAN MANUFACTURES,
In his speech at Logansport, on Tuesday
evening last, the Hon. Joseph E. Mcdonald,
taking decided Democratic ground in favor of
free trade, said:
'1t 1.-THE tariff has made the American ar
ticles of manufacture so costly that they can
not be sold in any other market than the
home market. There is no people in the
world that will buy them but the people of
the United States and they would not buy
them if they were not forced to-"
Passing over the patent and admitted fact
that every article of manufacture, without ex-
eeption, is from Is to rs per cent cheaper
now than in the good old Democratic days of
free trade, let US call attention to the last
clause quoted from Mr.. McDonalds speech:
'They 1.-THE people of the United States]
would not buy them American made articles]
if they were not forced to-" This is the
Democratic idea pure and simple. The marked
tendency of that party is toward legislation
that shall enable that party to buy other than
American manufactures. This was the pur-
pose of the Morrison bill, and this is the in
tent of the Democratic platform, that de-
clares that "taxation shall be for public pur-
poses exclusively,"'a sneaking paraphfase of
"a tariff for revenue only" To please coterie
of professors of political economy and pro-
fessional theorists who couldn't distinguish
between pig-iron and Stag, and in the hope Of
being elevated to power through their assist
ance, the Democratic party is emboldened to
boldly proclaim its free-trade intentions. The
Morrison bill for the reduction of wages,
known as the bill to reduce the tariff by 20
per cent all round, was in this direction.
Under the tariff as it is over $685., 000 900
worth of goods that ought to have been made
in America was imported into the country
last year. There was $4,000 900 yards of
Donald declares that not yard of American
cloth would have been bought had the people
not been forced to-" But for this forcing"
Democrats would go to England for their
boots and shoes; but for this forcing" they
would go there for iron and STEEL for trace
chains, made by women who realize fifty
cents week working at the anvil; but for
this 'forcing, hats, caps, clothing and under
wear would be made in England for the Amer
lean market; but for this Forcing our
crockery ware would be made in England, our
glassware in Belgium and France, instead
of at Pittsburg and New Albany;
but for this forcing" our cotton
goods would be manufactured at
Manchester instead Of at Lowell and Atlanta;
but for this forcing" the Democratic party
would be enabled to give more employment to
the worllingmen of Birmingham, Sheffield,
Leeds, Liverpool, Staffordshire and Hull, and
less to the workingmen of Pennsylvania and
Indiana. The American mills that are now
idle from one to three months in the year
need not be opened one day in atwelvemonth
If, under the existing tariff, it pays to buy
$1,000 900 yards of wooden goods in England,
how much better it would be to buy all such |
goods there under free trade. The men in
American wooden mills could then be finally
discharged; those in the cotton factories and
iron and steel mills would suffer the same
fate shoemakers and watch and clockmakers
would be turned adrift, and the trade of Eng
land would grow brisk while that of the
United States languished. Mr.. Mcdonald |
does not want to buy American manu-
features. Unlike the men who founded |
this Republic, Democrats are anxious to be
allowed to buy abroad. In 1889, as has been |
shown in the Journal, it was different. The |
first act of the First Congress was tariff act
for the protection of American workingmen.
1t was drawn and Endorsed by the men who |
had fought the revolution to successful is
sue, and was signed by George Washington.
The men who Endorsed that act probably had |
as good idea of it's constitutionality as have |
the Democrats Of to-day. Believing it
measure demanded for the good not only of
workingmen, but of the entire people, and |
with no question as to its constitutionality, it |
was passed without serious opposition. The
Republican doctrine of to-day is in perfect