The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-02-07

IHE w HiteHdbof heSlSteS Is pCOuOun-
ced in favor Of protection, and presents
views with SO much candor and tolera-
ton as to invite it's readers to O dispas-
sionate investigation of the subject.
The advocates of free trade hail such
discussion as this with delight as it will
inevitably result in a state OF public feel
ing favorable to free trade.
Protectionists attribute tire prosperity
of the United States to the tariff. The
Hindoos think when the sun energies
from the shadow which causes an eclipse
that the luminary is rescued from the de-
vouring jaws of a monster by thei. efforts.
One is US much non sequit,U' as the
other. The United States have not yet
attained their growth and they will con-
tinue to grow in population, wealth and
general prosperity despite obstacles.
While people are prosperous they do
not analyze with any degree of care the
conditions from which that prosperity
results and are willing to accept almost
anything suggested as the source. When
adversely strikes them they reason and
will then question the correctness of
conclusions not sustained by reason.
How could the United States be other
wise than prosperous9 Farms can be had
for the taking and it is this fact and not
that labor can find ready employment in
factories which brings prosperity. In
ternational commerce is blessing to all
nations. The United States are primar-
lily agricultural. The amount of farm
products raised is greatly in excess of
domestic need and demand foreign
market. But what if these countries to
which we ship insist upon protecting
their agricultural classes? They GER
tainly have right to do so to the same
extent we have a right to exclude their
products. 1t may not pay to raise wheat
in England. But protect the farmers
there and they will raise it. The Protec-
tionists practically admit it does not pay
to manufacture certain things here, but
in order to induce people to engage in
the business, the law adds certain per
cent. to the value of the article else
where. For years China had protection
the most complete. Its results are suf-
fciently apparent.
If it be advisable that We supply all
our wants without recourse 70 other
countries, burn the shipping, let seaport
harbors be abandoned and let us live
completely isolated. We would then
have protection in its most exalted shape
aud our Advancement would be cores
pondingly rapid.
Protection increases wages argues pro
tectionists. "Your reasons, Jack. your
reasons" Whoever heard of manufac-
turers sitting down, counting profits and
fixing certain per cent. for wages of
employees 1t is a spectacle never yet
presented to mortal ken. If such be the
fact, the factories which collapse must
have had the interests of the poor labor
SItOO iAuCu 1t uSatt. ooIlS years ago W1eD
the price of paper advanced from to IL
cents per pound, there was no talk of in
creasing the wages of laborers employed
by the pulp mills. Lumber is 81 per
thousand dearer in the United States
than In Canada,-at least it is protected
to that eztent-and there is no object in
retaining the tariff if it does not bring
protection IN this way,-but the Cana
dian lumberman gets salary fully as
high as does his fellow laborer across the
line. Fully hundred persons from this
county returned from the lumber woods
on account of low wages. Is the price of
lumber low Z Are the profits so light that
living wages cannot be paid to laborers /?
Let the profit on any manufactured ar
ticle increase 100 per cent. Let there be
an equal increase in the number of la
borers seeking employment, and NOT
withstanding the increase in profits
there will inevitably be a reduction in
wages. Supply and Demand determine
the price of what the laboror has for sale
as they do the price of all other commod.
ities in market.