The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-01

now there was no such thing as indie
pendent labor except in one department
the agricultural, and that department
had been invaded by the government
with destructive force when it gave t,
rich persons the lands which had beer
reserved for the homeless. For many
years the independent laborer was the
glory and the pride of the Republic
but there are now no independent
laborers except on the farms, and they
would only exist until it can be demon.
stated that aggregated capital employed
in that department would be a profita-
bic investment. He would not charge
that this condition of affairs was wholly
attributable to the legislation of the
Republican party, but he did blame
that party for not using the powers of
the government to arrest, in every legit-
innate way, the tendencies of the times.
The effect upon the country caused
by accumulating four hundred millions
of dollars in the national treasury was
illustrated in this way; The speaker
assumed that $500 per annum was a
fair average of the incomes of the labor
ing classes, at which rate it would take,
!, 1886, 1873 laborers working one year to
make the sum of $400,000,O00. If after
deducting cost of food, clothing, support
of family ETC., 500 was fair estimate
of the amount saved by each laborer
then it would take 100000 laborers
working one year to produce the sur
plus now in the treasury. The amount
collected in each year over and above
the necessities and stealings of the Re-
publican party being 100000 the
tariff which produces it robs the
country of the result of the labor
of 1000, 900 persons, annually.
The speaker said that he had heard
that a national tax was a national
blessing, and that such a proposition
was now being favored by members
of the Republican party in this State.
He denied that it was true. As for
for himself, he favored only such protec-
ton as was incidental to the raising of
revenue sufficient for the needs of the
government and no more; because, after
he had found that this
was more than enough to cover the diff
ference between the cost of labor in this
country and in Europe. 1t was known
that 20 per cent. of the value of manu-
featured article represented the cost of
labor in this country, and that Ii per
cent. or one-third less, represented the
cost of labor in Europe, so that the diff
ference in the cost of labor entering into
the value of any article manufactured
in this country and Europe was 7 cents
in every dollars worth. The present
tariff of 40 per cent. not only pays the
difference between the cost of labor in
Europe and America, but it pays the
entire cost of the better paid labor of
America, end bonus of 20 cents on the
dollar in addition, and leaves the manu-
still to fix the profit at which
be shall sell. This was an inquiry.
The tariff of 1912 was adjusted on a
basis of 10 per cent. and manufactures
iourished under it. If the present
'ariff is blessing, why is it that there
S so much complaint of hard times
among the protected industries7 Why |
ire there so many idle laborers? Why
ire there so many mills closed and so
many miners starving? The protec-
ionists answer that it is because of
'yer-production. If that be true what
'ecomes of the argument that we of
Mississippi should favor protection be-
ause we need manufacturing establish
aents? If the business is oYerdone
lready why establish more factories
'ut the speaker said that there was no
UGH thing as over-production. To
llege it, was to question the wisdom of
be Almighty. If the reasonable desires
every person were gratifed, the
Tnited States alone could consume the
roduets of all the factories in this t
,untry and Europe too. There could :
, no such thing as over.production :
ntil everybody was well clothed, well /
lod and well fed, and had q comfortable 8
ome that was wen furnished. Can /!
lis be said with truth Of the persons 1
ID homes of this or any other country ! q
be trouble lies in the fact that the pro- 3
letion while not in excess Of the rea- :
nable desires OF the people was beyond il
cir ability to pay for what they want, s
ID this inability 70 pay was in large q
gree attributable to the fact that Y
90, 000, 600 in excess of the needs, ex- g
lvagances and frauds Of the govern
ent is annually taken from the product
American labor.
The Republican party, and chief Z
nong them Mr. BLAIEE. had boasted {
the wonderful increase Of wealth dur I
E the administration Of that party s
le claim WAS too large. Much Of L &
s fictitious. Among other elements
tering into the aggregate vas the s
Imense territory eqnaling IN area the E
e States named, and Of which the pso- u
J had deem robbed. But that there d
d been wonderful increase be would {,
{ deny. Il vas, however Il spite Of Il
! Republican party and is legislation. g
d found is couniezpar ii The history q
England, where, notui outstanding the y
"a q pzogiga.s administration. var. d
silence, and tie sss London Gro IS iie
4 81 HAeAu1zx, The Increase q 81
6lth Nns astounding The Nsllit. 81
rtFeI, vas ii Tie hands 81 fsFossis q
]. Hhsl M Nsn|l Is Do ns 70 Be 81
3 Is zSy that w. s. YA1n 81
n..|I ere worth $40 ooo 11, i 81
Errs1If'z he5 81 he money aid I Cd