The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-29
THE TARIFF sopaIsrRY OF BLAINE.

THE TARIFF soPHIsTRY OF BLAINE.
Mr.. Blaine in all his speeches in Indiana
harps solely upon the tariff question, and
makes all other issues subsidiary to that.
The difference between parties upon that
issue is that the Democrats insist that taxa
ton shall be limited to O revenue sufficient
to meet the necessary Governmental ex-
penses, while the Republicans maintain
tariff that yields 500, coo 900 in excess
of the extrsvagant expenditures under
their administration, which not only
invites, but results in extravaganza
and corruption. And who benefits
by the latter policv2 Most
certainly it Is not labor. And Mr.. Blaine
most grossly misrepresents the benefits TO
labor by Republican policies In his speech
at South Bend he said: "All legislation of
protective character is aud must be mainly
for the benefit Of lsbor because labor is tue
principal element in the cost OF the fabric.
Hence, IL there be any man who is pre-em
inently, and above all Others, interested ia
the tariff it is the laboring man" Just so.
That should be the purpose OF legislation, its
object its results; but such is not and has not
been the case under Republican rule. On
the contrary, the policy of that party is to
protect capital and monopoly, and not labor.
The industry of the country engaged il
manufacturing is uiade 10 bend aud yield to
the interes!s aud sggrandizemcnt OF the
manufacture. Labor does not have it,
proper share In the profits OF the manutsc-
turer, although as NJ Blaine puts it, "lsbor
is the principal element in the cost OF the
fabric" But, as every laberer or operative
knows, while the fruit of his labor e0riches
duced 10 the lowest possible limit
hardly an animal Subsistence. Under
the present high protective tariff designed
TO exclude foreign competition. an immehse
number of laborers are thrown out OF em-
ployment in consequence Of over produc-
ton, and is there not something wrong il a
policy which produces such results2 When
this state Of affairs occurs, as is now
the case, the manufacturer shuts down
his mill or factory, and what be-
comes of the lsbOrer and those depend
ent upon his industry? The msuUfsc-
turer falls back upon his accommodations and
rests easy, excepting the regret that his &c
cumulatiOns for time cease; but the laborer
has no such resource to keep the wolf from
his door, and this demonstrates the
fallacy and sophistry of Mr.. Blaine
when he asserts that Republican Iegisla-
ton of protective character Is
manly for the benefit of labor. 1t is
the experience of every laborer that the re-
verse is the case, or else the present con-
dition of labor throughout the land
would be different. And can laboring men
fail to see that it is their interest there
should be a change in legislation, 8 change
in the administration OF the Government,
which will alone alleviate their condition
by efecting that change in public policy
which will bring substantial and continued
prosperity Every industry In the country
can see this, for the depression now exist
ing affects all. The products of the great
agricultural industry only yield, if they do
that, the cost OF production. And
why has not the policy OF
the party that has so long ruled the ooun-
try brought different results2 Can any SEN
sible man fail to see there must be a change
in the administration of the Government to
restore prosperity and give remunerative
employment TO labor2 And IL the great
labor interests OF the country that are deeply
affected by the present condition of affairs
40 not strike the blow which will bring the
needed change, they become the will
ing slaves to the Wanted policy
which builds up privileged classes,
making the rich richer and the poor poorer.
While capital and labor should be in hsr-
nony, they can not be while the policy
ths.. lles favors the former TO the dis.
advantage Of the lstter-whlle the interests
Of capital are made stronger, getting the
meat, but those OF labor weakened and
given the bones TO pick; and such is the
fruit of the legislation that now governs,
though labor produces the wealth that is
now so unequaliy divided.