Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-27
Labor and the Tariff.

LABOR ana the IaElH.
Our attention has been called TO an ar
tcle in recent number Of the Boston Post.
pretending to give facts to show that the
tariff in this country is oppressive to labor
and actually reduces the wages OF labor
below what they are in free trade coun-
tries. The writer marshals figures Won
derfuly In support of his assertions, but a
few plain facts is all the answer that is
necessary.
If our protective tariff is oppressive to
laborers and reduces wages below what
can be obtained by labo-ers in the coun-
tries of Europe. it is exceedingly strange
that the laboring population of Europe
flock to this country in ever increasing
swarms. They come here doubtless for
the purpose of bettering their condition.
They leave home and kindred to seek a
living in America. If they could do bet
ter in Europe would they come here ?
Would they leave the place of their nativ-
ity at the sacrifice OF all that they have to
seek the s0OTtS vi hfutilCd toSS thC "iuC
Atlantic. unless they could better their
condition in this country and under this
government? They come and remain
here. Very few immigrants return to the
old country. They make this their home.
Would they do this if they could get bet
ter wages, better privileges, and greater
IN aftpn in tho r.
which they leave than in the United
Statesp The fact that they come and stay
here is a sufficient answer for the Boston
Post.
II may be said that they come here for
land. but the truth is that the great body
of them come for wages and not land.
They 60 into manufacturing, mining and
the mechanic arts in larger numbers than
into any other occupation. While in all
occupations the percentage of persons,
natives OF all foreign countries. is only
twenty. and in agriculture is only ten. in
the branches of manufactures, mechanics
and mining the percentage rises to nearly
thirty-two. In 1882 the immigrants which
came to this country numbered 7SS,992.
From the British Isles there came be-
tween 1872 and 1882, 1,l75.l55 persons,
more than one-thirty- fifth of their entire
population. From the continent of Europe
they numbered 1896. 400. From the
whole world the vast army has within ten
years reached the multitude of 3,949. .26t.
more than our total population when we
asserted our Independence. The aggre-
gate is greater" says Ellis ii. Roberts.
in his recently published work from which
We copy. than the population OF the
State of New York in 1865. and greater
than that of any State in the Union in
1882. with the exceptions of New York
and Pennsylvania. These are the forerun-
ners sent before to spy out The land. and
they testify in every form possible to all
the world. that for workingmen. for those
who depend upon their own labor. that is
to say, for producers and production no
other land compares with the United
States"
Would these hosts of immigrants leave
good wages. pleasant homes and friends.
to come to and settle in country where
the laws are oppressive. wages less. and
their condition worse Are they fools. or
do they know better the state of things in
this country and Europe than the writer
of the Boston Post
The wise man of the Post states that
each operative in an English cotton mill
receives on an average. yearly. S253.24.
while each operative in an American cot
ton mill receives on an average, yearly,
S24s.65.-showing a difference of nearly
$l0 year in favor of the operative in an
English factory. For his authority in
making this statement he refers to Mr..
Shaw. our consul at Manchester. England.
Mr.. Roberts, whose work we have before
quoted. presents the following tables. Civ
ing the wages in cotton factory in Boil
ton. England. and by the side of those
figures the actual wages paid in repre-
sentative cotton mill in the State of New
York. during the month of February,
1884. The figures of the English mill are
from MIR. Shaw's statement, the consul
mentioned by the Post:
Card grinders. men. week es5s - .
Card etrtppers, men $50 -es
Slnhber tenders, girls 4s6 6o<
Mulp ~