New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-18
THf PAkrf roR ro0Ne MEN

A great army If new voters will chst Their htet
ballots for President this fall, Nne'tcnths of
Thorn are Young men who have to make thrif
own way IA the world with brains AMI industry
for their capital The Older men who have
saved somethng have an advantage u mat
tors less to them whether days work brings
good wages or poor Hat the young man VINO
has to start ut the foot OF the ladde'-hoW ~ ho
to climb, II the wages of labor are 10 DO o"'
down to his cost of ivingf
The question whether American or bri''sh
wages shall prevail here, therefore Is more
vital one to the young men than to anybody
else. British wages do not even ill the stomach,
and leave nothing for the pocket or the savings
hank American wages enable the thrifty and
capable man to support family deceh'y' anu
to put aside something for the children OF ipr
time of misfortune British wages, at the Dest'
keep sturdy worker lowering on the border
between independence and servitude; the hrst
sickness, or loss of employment, or other as
aster that comes, is apt to leave him quite at the
mercy of employers, and he falls into the ranks
of the helpless and hopeless toilers. Those VINO
want to try British wages in this country ought
to have their pockets well lined first.
British wages come with British free trade.
The main object of that system is to produce
cbeaply enough to undersell all the world-and
that means to get more work for less wages than
other people. The system suits the rullng
classes ia q country where the millions nave
little part in the Government. 1t does not
suit this country, where the worker Is also a
ruler. Hence the American system protects
the worker so that he may remain as Tar rs
possible independent, and free to cast his vote
as he pleases, and to put his work where he
pleases. 1t is the American system of protection
that gives the Young man the chance to make
his first savings, even though times abroad are
hard, and the manufacturers of many countries
are struggling to undersell us and to get the
utmost possible out of their wOrkmen.
British free trade is the Democratic policy.
Where that party dareS to tell what 1t wants, IL
souarey opposes the protective theory. But II
does not dare in this State, and therefore at
every election for twenty five years it has raised
a clatter about something else, which 1t pre-
tended to regard as the main issue ltwanted
to - save the Union in 1850, and it wanted
"peace in 1864 it was excited about NEGRO
suffrage" i'm 1865 and about carpct-baggeIs
in 1872: it wanted "reiorm in 1876, and "A
change in 1SSO-but all the time it fought FOR
British free trade, and whenever it could get
majority in the House attempted at once to tear
down the protective system, as 1t did last
winter.
The American policy of protection was cstab-
shcd and has been maintained by Republican
votes. and that party makes no attempt to cheat
anybody about its intentions. 1t means to de-
fend the system which has given working peo-
pie a fair chance and enriched the country.
Therefore the free trade boilers go TO MI
Cleveland-though they do not dare to tell the
truth about il now. ms they did six months ago.