Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-31
Protection Versus Free Trade.

Protection Versus Free Trade.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The American Republican party and the English Democratic party are at issue upon the protective policy of the one and the free trade policy of the other. The free trade In dependents not agreeing with the protective plank in the Republican platform have gone over to the Democratic party, where they can support their free trade notions by voting for Cleveland and Hendricks. They are wei comed into the Democratic fold with har- mony of ideas and intentions that admits of no doubt that they have found genial home and soil in which to grow and perfect their free trade plant. Blaine and Logan and the Republican party represent the American side of the question, while Cleveland and Hendricks and the English Democratic party represent the other side. I call it English Democratic party because the English free trade doctrines have been planted there and the laborers in the Democratic vineyard are pruning and nourishing the plant that it may bear fruit in the coming election.
 It becomes then question of vital interest to the laborer, the artisan, the mechanic, whether the American doctrine as the policy of. the Republican party, or the English policy as the doctrine of the Democratic party, shall prevail next November. Let us look at this question and see how its bear ings will affect us as individuals and as a nation.
 We will start with an admitted fact, that the price of labor in the various branches of mechanical industry and manual labor in this country is more than twice much as in corresponding branches of industry in Euro pean countries, and the employment in gen eral is as steady here as there. What makes this difference? The cause lies somewhere, the fact would not exist. We say it is the result of the American protective policy, which has enabled onr mechanical industries to start and live against the low labor prices in Europe. Under the Ameri- can policy, we have grown to be busy, prosperous nation The wheels of industry are heard all around, with good outlook for the future. The laborers here are better paid. better fed better clad, bet ter housed, better educated and better eiti- zens than in any other country in the world Why not let well enough alone till reces- sity appears for change3 No such ue,-ss- sity now exists; and neither the cspit2Iist nor the laborer can afford change st s11S time
 Upon the shelves of our rnerrhsrcs- sl-i= by side. lie the products of Aulzr.cac a-i European manufactured articles for SaIe. il healthy competition. at about the sane price per yard or pound, afforiinS 8 fAir compen- sation to the manufacturers upon the capital invested, and so We run along smoothly in fair competition in our own markets for the sale of goods notwithstanding the great disparity in the prices of labor in the two countries producing them. Whenever the European screws are put upon the pro ducer of the raw materials, upon the delver in the mines and the laborer in the mills so that the English manufactured goods cost less and are thrown upon our markets at less price, then the manufacturer here finds his goods unsold, and he must run at a loss, reduce the prices of labor stop his factory, because he cannot compete with the pauper labor upon the other side If he stops, all wages to his help cease; or if he runs, then their wages must be reduced, and if not more than ten per cent. it is sadly felt by the help, which occasions strikes, idleness and poverty in the community The least reduction of wages to the employed, although a necessity to save the employer from loss, is always un- satisfactory to the employed, hardship to him and his dependent family, although he may even then be receiving more than double the wages that the same labor upon tn other side of the water commands.
 Suppose we change our national policy and adopt the English free trade policy, represent ed by the Democratic party under Cleveland and Hendricks, and throw open our markets free of duty to the foreign manufacturer, and what is the result? The wheels of our manu- featuring industries must stop, or the wages of the laborer would come down to the prices of European labor. No other conclu- sion can possibly be reached and no other conclusion is contemplated or desired by free trade propagandists. Whenever they adopt the free trade policy, they adopt the low wages system as incident thereto. Henry Ward Beecher, having gone over to the free trade ranks, publicly stated in a speech in New York that dollar a day was adequate compensation for the laborer and mechanic
 Under free trade policy, European manufac- t11rers would flood our markets with goods made off from pauper labor, and our manu- featuring establishments would lie idle, and skilled workmen would have to seek em- ployment in other ways and channels to find work, which they are entirely unused to and unfit for.
 Are the Iaborers and mechanics in this country ready for such a change? If so, then they should not complain of 10 per cent. dis counts on their wages, but vote for Cleve- land and Hendricks and take 100 per cent deductions from their present prices, or be content to be thrown entirely out of their oc- equations.
 Voters for Cleveland and Hendricks, get ready for this change, which will come when the free trade policy becomes the policy of this country. Begin to get ready for 1t now and see how you will like it when it comes. Take your children out of school, sell your carpets, your musical instruments, surplus furniture and clothing, replenish your crock cry with tin plates, give up your houses or see them decay, get down to the plane or poverty that marks the status of European iaborers and mechanics and be ready for the free trade millennium which is promised in the election of Cleveland and Hendricks
 Be not deceived by the sophistry of free trade advocates, even though it comes from a professors chair or clerical lips, that free trade policy is better for this country than a protective policy, because you can then buy a yard of broadcloth cheaper than now. Sup pose it is so, where is your money coming from to buy it withs Rest assured that when the free trade policy is inaugurated in this country the working class will have no sur plus money to buy any broadcloth with, and they will have no use for the article any more than the poor people in European countries have.
 The American Republican party, under the tried and faithful leadership of Blaine and Logan, will perpetuate the American policy of protection and good wages. The election of Cleveland and Hendricks will en- aorse if not inaugurate the English free trade policy of low wages. Which will you en- dorse by your vote next November! The l choice is before you and your vote will help l decide the issre L. E. MUNSON.