Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-23
UNPROTECTED LABOR.

J. Esaias Warren whites thus TO tn,
Chicago Times:
In Mr.. Blaine's letter of acceptance
some strange but utterly false doctrine:
are advanced.
The pInmcd knight would have III
believe that the interests of labor and
capital arc equally cared for by thu
high protective tariff he so much al
mires, and to the working of which he
ascribes such astonishing results.
Such sophistry can deceive no one
who takes the pains to look into facts
Let any wOrkingman ask himself
these questions: For what purpose
and for whose benefit are these protec-
tive duties levied? Arc they for the
support of the government? Arc the,
intended to tighten the load of the MAJ
who earns his bread by the sweat of hi.
brow? We know that they are not de-
signed for either OF these purposes.
The sole object of this "protectiOn'
is to raise the price of certain goods
which the people need and are com
PEELED to buy.
But while the goods are protected
| labor is not.
Labor needs no projections; it car
take care of itself.
And this, according to Mr.. Blaine, i.
a most excellent arrangement. And il
is for some people, but not for those
who do not share i'll the protection, and
whose wages arc not raised, "a are the
prices of the things for which their H.
Dor is exchanged.
Protection is taxation. And it is ont
Of the pockets of poor men, in the shape
of high prices and low wages, that 8
large part of the tax eventually comes
But he is told that it is for his good tC
pay these priccsl 1t encourages what
is called American industry and in.
creases the demand for laborl
Such is the siren song that is sung
by masked monopOlists in the ears OF
workingmen.
But sweet as the song may be, it cal
not beguile men who are suffering from
low wages and lack of employment
from asking how ii is, amid such great
prosperity as Mr.. Blaine depicts, that
their own condition is not improved.
Why is it that in the iron district OF
Pennsylvania, in the mines in which
Mr.. Blaine is said to be Interested, the
rate of wages is down to an almost
starvation point3
Why are thousands of labOrers in
that region in condition scarcely more
enviable than that of the dogs and
horscs of their employers2
Let anyone who has not examined
this subject take a look at the hideous
question wfeIhcr capital or labor is
-, .,ek
How often have we heard the hypo-
critical cry that our wOrkinglmen must
be protected against tho p~,rar lahnr
this object?
How does it effect it? Does it keep
this labor out as il keeps Oat the foreign
goodsP On the contrary, it brings il
in, and that, too, i'll constantly i'll
crcasing stream, degrading the value OF
our own labor and taking its place. No
one can DENY the truth of this. 1t is
truth that demands attention. Labor
must have at the hands ot the govern,
ment Il different trn"t""cnt from ina,
which II now has, or the foundation OF
the ediiice will be undermined.
II we must have tariff to raise
prices for the rich, let us have a tariff
to raise wages for the poor. 1t will moi
do for one class in this country to sub
sist upon another class As important as
itself.
The infamous contract system which
now prevails, under which swarms OF
pa,lper lahorcrs are brought daily to the
United States must he speedily and alb
solutely stopped. ..f
IT, is idle for Mr.. Blaine or for any
one to talk about the beauties of Il pro
tcctive tariff SO long as such u g ianl
evil exists among us rs is fostere,l by
the very principle which he SO plausi
bly, cOmmemds. +.
A change is coming and must sool
come. The election of MIR. Clevclan,
will usher in the dawn of a better .la,
"a day when there will bc no more III
bOr contracts entered into abroad, an,
when the interests of labor will he re-
garded with ia much sacredness rs tn,
interests Of capital; when every clas:
will receive equal protection, and the
government will extend its arms impair.
tally around all its citizens.