The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-04-03

or condition. The maintenance of fair and
adequate scale of wages for American working
men is Indispensable to their comfort. Their
well eing, and the education of their families
are essential to the good order of our society,
the stability of our institutions and the welfare
and progress of our country.
Third-This proposed reduction will inevita-
bly, increase foreign importation, and as con-
sequence will as all experience teaches, in
crease our revenues, to which increase every
interest OF the country is opposed.
Fourth-lt is wholly unnecessary, unjustiti-
able. and in every respect and to every Ameri
can interest only hurtfu The enormous in
crease of the capital wealth of the country
during the last fifteen years, under a protective
tariff now forces capital to seek employment in
! the development of all mineral, agricultural
and other resources, to the advantage and gain
/ of all our people, and change or modification
of the system will create such doubt of success
full enterprises as to check this useful tendency,
and thwart the national development, the prog
ress of which is without precedent in the civil
lied world.
Fifth-It has none of the merits of careful
ly matured tariff bill 1t is not the result of a
studious consideration of the interests of our
people, their investments and employmentS. or
of the condition of the public Treasury. 1t pro-
poses to reduce alike the duty upon every art-
Gle of foreign import ndiscrminatelv and with
out any examination of its effect upon particu-
lar industries and wholly ignoring its necessary
effect IN advancing prices abroad by the des
trucion Of competition at home. While nom
lnally 1t Is a uniform reduction. in fact it is
grossly unequal under the limitations of the
bill. and it would be found difficult if not i'm
practicable of execution 1t is a leap in the
dark.
SiXth-That feature of the bill which applies
I'D tHioIem rates to most OF the schedules affect
ed by it is especially Objectionable. because it
Will greatly increase the existing evil of under
valuation. and consequent frauds upon the rev.
enue. as well is to complicate the rule of as
>cs>ment of duties as to greatly embarrass the
administration of the law.
PROTECTION AND WAGES.
Against the statement of the majority as to
the effect of protective duties upon wages and
ION the laborlng poor" is the statement of the
Workmen themselves before the Committee,
who may be fairly allowed to speak for them
selves on Il question so vital to them. All unite
i'll declaring that protective duties are essential
to fair and remuneraive wages. and that every
reduction of said duties inevitably results in
lowering the standard of American wages. We
dissent radically from the statement of the ma
lorlty of the Committee that reduction of du-
ties lightens by much the burdens of taxa
ION. he Whole history of our national eXper-
fence shows a constantly decreasing price as the
elect OF increased home competition A re-
ducton of duties which destroys our produc-
ilon and competition AS inevitably results in
putting up the price demanded by our foreign
ton would remain without material change for
a period of years, business has adjusted itself to
II. the producers have entered into contracts
and generally arranged their business in char
acter and volume in conformity with it. All
classes OF our people have relied upon its reason
able permanence and freedom from immediate
and radical changes, so that every considera-
ton appeals 10 Congress to let the present law
alone and permit the business of the country
to proceed without legislative disturbance.
WHAT THE COUNTRY REALLY NEEDS.
What the country wants most is relief from
Congressional agitation. All of the industries
OF the country are extremely sensitive and lust
al this time. when business is more or less OPP
pressed in every branch, the threat or fear of a
change introduces an element of uncertainty
and disturbance throughout the country the
evil effects Of which no one can f0reSee. TWEEN
tN per cent. reduction, OF any reduction. how
ever slight, following close upon the reduc-
lions made last winter can not be defended as
to a single schedule of the tariff and as to many
it can be shown to be wholly disastrous We
believe that if after Il sufficient trial of the eff
feet OF the ia>i revision, it should appear that
the industrial interests of the country can be
maintained with it, and that the condition Of
the Treasury will justify further revisions
such action will be more wisely undertaken by
the friends of the protective system and with
ies> disturbance to the public prosperity than if
done now by the aYowed advocates of the dis
tructlon uf the American system of protect