Daily Republican., 1884-04-23
Tue Dissuised free Trade Bait.

Tue Disxuised free Trade Bait.
Mob ody disputes the assertion OF the
free traders that imported articles of
consumption would be cheaper for the
consumer under free trade than they
now are. 1t is admitted even that some
of the actual necessaries of life would
be cheaper to the laboring man if the
impost duties now exacted were remov-
ed But while making these admissions
it must not be forgotten that there are
two sides to this very important
question, and these two sides are what
causes the present agitation in the
country at the present time. By re-
moving these impost duties We could
have our teas, sugars, spices and possi- |
bly, breadstuffs cheaper than they now
are but we might have them at al
terrible cost to the producers and con-
Bumers.
The same may be said in regard to all
imported articles that enter into max
ing our clothing. Happily, we have
this question fully demonstrated and
worked out in countries where free
trade or in other words no protection
to home labor has been the rule.
We need only refer to the free trade
countries of Europe as an exemplitica-
tion of the evil effects of system which
is attempted now to be introduced in
this country. We referred yesterday
as one instance of this ruinous policy
to the literally starved .ute operators
of Dundee, Scotland, who were
paid the wretched starvation wages of
81 and $3.50 week. These laborers
got food no doubt little cheaper and
clothing little cheaper in Dundee
than they could be got in Philadelphia,
but what good does that do them with
the miserably degraded wages they
get p? So with the iron workers in
Wales and the cotton mill operators Of
Liverpool and Manchester and the
cutlery machinists of Sheffield. What
if they have provisions and clothing
somewhat cheaper than they are in
Philadelphia =? With it all it cannot
be denied that they are in much
"OibC COulltiOh 81 do CuuCdtlOll anu
general comfort are concerned.
What makes the difference, are we
asked? We will tell you, intelligent
inquirer. The United States system of
protection to American industries makes
it. Scotland, England and Wales and
tn United States before they can land
their manufactured articles at our Gus
tom houses. The manufacturers of
these foreign countries are compelled to
pay these duties, and 70 make up for
them they oppress their labor. They
could not compete with the manufac-
turers Of this country unless they re-
duced the wages oftheir laborers. Now
suppose this system of impost duties
was abolished, as the Morrison tariff
bill intends that it shall be in great
measure, what would be the result ?
Why, simply this: American manu-
facturers would be compelled, in order
to compete with the cheap labor OF
Europe, the cheap .jute manufacturers
of Dundee, the iron manufacturers of
Wales, the cotton goods manufacturers
of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, to
reduce the wages of their laborers to
the same wages as those places. This
is exactly how it would work If this
were not so, why are our shores crowd
ed with immigrants from these manu-
featuring centres?
1t must be said of our American la
borers in our manufacturing establish
Inents of whatever description, that
though they may have to pay q little
more for a pound of meat, package of
spices, q roll Of muslin or new suit or
dress, than these things would cost in
free trade countries, they make more
thai three times that difference in wages
in this country. We DO not Say that
wages are really what they ought to he
here to insure from every encroachment
of want, and to secure every needed
comfort, but whatever they are, whether
higher or lower, they are Infinitely bet
ter than in free trade Europe,
Free traders point working1nen to the
impost duties they pay on the articles
they use in household consumption.
They show them that they pay cent a
ward more for muslin than they could
get it for if there were no tariff on it, but
they never tell them that they get twice
the wages here they would get in other
countries. A hundred yards of muslin
would last an ordinary family year,
and admitting there would be a cent a
yard difference in pri ce,it would only
amount to a dollar. This difference is
made up by common day laborer i'll
a single days wages.
Workingmen should understand that
reduction of tariff means a reduction
of wages. If free trade brings to this
country cheaper living, it will alsc
bring cheaper wages, but the latter il
larger proportion than cheaper living
This is what the Morrison tariff bil
will do, and in order to do this the bait
of cheaper living is thrown out to catcl
the unsuspecting and draw them into
the meshes of Democracy and free
trade.
THE ANXIETY OF the public t.
Police will now have an opportunity
to cool down, as Mayor Wales has set
tied the question by appointing Serge n
Hugh Mcconnell to the position. -
Credit must be given to Mayor Wale
for making an honest attempt to find
Chief who would give full satisfaction
to the public in all possible respects
Seth II. Feaster, a gentleman of ire
proachable character a member OF tn
Board of Health, and an ex.member 0
the City Council, could have had tn
position had he wanted it, hut his busi
ness engagements prevented him from
accepting it. Mayor Wales then look
ed amongst his force and found the maj
he considered filled the bill in trust.
and tried Sergeant Hugh Mcconnell
Besides being a good appointment il