Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-27
Nv to be In this proportion I:

These figures are grossly incorrect,
as can be proven but allowing them
to stand as true, they upset the theory
that protection alone makes the differ
euce in favor of the Chicago workman.
Austria is not free trade, and it cannot
be said that free trade ever brought
the wage-workers of Vienna to such
rates of compensation as the Tribune
shows. On the contrary, Austrian
workmen are protected" by heavy
tariff, almost equal to that paid in this
country; whom they are protected
against is not easily known, but there
may be "pauper laborersn over there
whose competition they fear, and
which they exclude by a protective
tariff.
Yet, waving that point, and admit
ting the figures to be correct-in fact,
after conceding twice what the
strength of the protectionist case calls
for, their argument falls to the ground.
There is not single trade enumerated
in the published list that can be ben
Gifted by protective tariff or injured
by absolute free-trade. How does a
tariff make higher wages for brick
layers? If It were not for the tariff
does anybody suppose our brick houses
would be built in Europe by "pauper
workmen," and shipped to this coun-
try? Would the work Of hod-carriers,
plumbers, gas-fitters and carpenters
be done abroad and then sent we're
duty free? The most virulent pro-
tectionist is not Ounce enough to say
so. Then how could free trade hurt
the workers at those trades, and how
does protection make for them higher
wages The only competition they
need fear is the competition of the
"paupern laborers themselves, who
= come TO this country without let Of
= hindrance, and add their numbers &c
the army of workers, thus increasing
the supply and the competition fol
3 work, which brings down wages.
The same may be said of the othe
0 branches of employment named. Will
= free trade our blaeksmiths would no
have their mending ana horse-shoeinI
A done in England our bread woul,
; still be baked at home, as it would b
o very incOnvenient to bake ii il
c Europe and thip to this country, eigh
e or ten days on the way; butcher
5 would still butcher meat-and bones
}, without interference out draymel
d and teamsters would still drive thei
l. teams, which could not well be drivel
e in England, nor even in protecte
n Austria; their work would go alon
I, the same, there would be as much {
o ii and the pay would be as large If til
2 tariff tax were abolished.
s. Whatever causes may be assigned fC
3, the relative highness of wages in thi
h country, 1t is very plain that the caus
d is not prohibitory tariff. There al
Is several causes which will occur 10 an
ot Intelligent man, not blinded by prejI
s, dice, far more powerful than the tsrif
ID We do not expect protectionists to az
IA NIT these facts; the San Antonio 10
3. press you'd probably say that an!
at body who disputes that the tariff Civ,
IN us high wages and good crops, an
n; keeps cholera and other plaques out {
I'd the country, is liar and a horse-thle
ly but ugly and unavoidable facts wi
r. keep poking their heads up, bate
s; them ever 80 much. In fact, we do N
lg Print these things in THE GAZETTE (
e. the conversion of protectionists. Thu
., are all like the obstinate old lady VIII
70 worsted in argument and still conten
al ing for her theory, was told that 81
~ was not open TO conviction. IN
o, open to convictionW she exclaime
I'd anybody that says l amt open
'ir conviction Is a liar; but just show II
ie the man who can convince me.n
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