Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-02-12
Ee,ter Hold %. 10 Projection.

sincere in the stand he takes against
protection, and in favor of free trade,
but like many other debaters cham
pions the weak upon the general princi-
pies that create sympathy for the
under dog in the fight When we
were young and attended a country
lyceum, we once voluntarily took the
part of Napoleon in a debate as TO which
was the greater man, he or Washington
and to our great surprise we gained the
decision, but we felt real mean about it
afterwards, and knew very well that
the victory by rights should have been
given to the other side. We have no
doubt whatever that our esteemed
friend of the Star would have pretty
much the same feelings if free trade
were TO triumph and we have no doubt
also that if he had trial Of free trade
awhile, he would be very glad to hurry
back and bask under the inyigorating
sunshine Of protection.
1t is unfortunately true that wages in
many branches Of industry are very
low in this country. 1t is a crying
shame that miners in the Schuylkill
region only average Slxty-iive cents a
day 1t is only too true also that many
men are thrown out Of employment al
together, and have not the opportunity
of even working for siXty-tive cents u
day, and that as general thing, those
who have work are compelled to accept
reduced wages There are two causes
for this revcl ii N in the manufacturing
industries of the country. One Of these
causes is an production of manu-
featured articles. In short, there are
too many in the manufacturing bust
ness and not enough engaged III agri-
culture. Another reason is that the
tinkering at the tariff always resulting
in reduction has let III an avalanche
of foreign manufactured goods-manu-
featured by cheap labor, and which
undersell home manufactured goods for
the manufacture of which decent wages
were paid.
We agree with our esteemed CON
temporary that it is all wrong for our
manufacturers 10 send to Europe and
import cheap labor to undermine AmerI-
can labor Our attention has been at
tracted to few of his arguments, how
ever, that will not hold water. We
are informed that as soon as the duty
on earthenware was increased the Lead
ing manufacturers in ONO combined to
reduce wages, discharged their Ameri-
can workmen and sent to Europe Tor
laborers who would work at the re-
duced wages offered 1t strikes Us that
this is an unfortunate allusi1A for our
friend, for it proves concluSlvely
two important things III favor OF pro
lection.
One of these things is that instead OF
free immigration to this country there
ought to be high tariff on imported
labor as well as imported goods. The
other thing it proves is that there are
plenty of laborers in that blessed boast
ed land of free-tr across the sea,
where we are told labor is better pro-
tected than in this country, who are
only too glad Of the opportunity to be
imported to this country to work fol-
the reduced wages offered What great
fools they are to leave land Of plenty
where they have on the average higher
wages, more employment, better living
and cheaper rents and come to thiS
country and esteem it favor to accep,
the wages offered in the pOtteries which
American labOrers refused to accept
But as if this instance were still not
enough to convince us Of the tallacy o.
the Stars argument our attention i.
called 70 the glass industry, the leading
manufacturers of which followed the
example of the pottery men and sent t.
Belgium, one of the leading free trade
countries Of Europe, for laborers wh'
would work at reduced wages.
We are not told that they had an,
difficulty in procuring that labor. Tn
fortunately there were fools in Belgium
who sacrificed the comforts and ble@
sings of free trad" at home and darc'
the dangers Of the ocean to come to TIL
country and gladly take the places q
those - no would not work ut he reduce
wages.
And further we al" tull that wOmrl
in large numbers have been imported t
take the places Of orr American "um"
in our cotton mills " 10 unir"tci TO
-, a. 81 ftl
further that u mill in MaSsachu,ett
has reduced labor 20 siMty-iiv" cents
day, and that one il Connecticut in
ported nos that at first were oNl
given furty-two cents Il day, and whr
they became skilled they only got sixty
two cents, and are compelled 10 W"r
thirteen hours. Foolish virgins, VIII
did they leave the land blessed ~jihtr
trade and come to the land Of protct
ton? Poor misguided mortalS, the
came by thousands and tens Of tho'
sands and still they come. W" hol
England and her financial policy I
worthy Of emulatiou," says the Sta
and during tn" last year NOR" irn
grants came from England than trol
any Other nation,
by her policy she (England) is b'
Ter able TO keep at better average wag
and in constant employment about ii,
times as many people 10 the square mi
as the United States" says the Sta
Then why in the maine Of ,rnsr do Ii
people not stay at HON" aud enjoy tho
,.r,1 = / Z,