The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-15
Tariff Reform.

rates collect millions more annually
than the government needs, induces
people of sense to think there ought
to be a reduction. The habit of
dealing with large sums of money
will make government profuse and
corrupt. It will breed, too, jobbery
and robbery in every shape. Hence
the true patriot will compel the gov
eminent to be economical by giving
it as little money as possible.
The delusive stuff that the Repub-
lican papers have been harping upon
for so many years, that high pro-
tective tariff is necessary to give
workmen living or high wages, is
falsehood that is being understood.
For years wages have been getting
less; cut being made every once in
a while. In consequence, strikes
have been getting more frequent,
mills have been stopped for months,
showing the utter fallacy of what is
claimed for the tariff. The fact, too,
of free immigration of European
laborers, all tending to cut down
prices and displace American work
men, is tending to correct the judg-
ment and open the eyes of American
workmen.
It is time the Democratic party
was boldly graphing with this sub
ject. The tariff question was not
discussed in 1880, and the Republi-
cans used it as bugaboo and scare
the last two weeks of the campaign.
Had we met it at the start, and met
it boldly, the scare would have failed
and Hancock doubtless been elected.
In spite of threats and intimidation
by the protected bosses, to coerce
their employees into the support of
the Republican candidates, Garfield S
majority was less than 1000 in a to-
tai vote of ten millions.
The result of the election of 1880
was substantial vindication of the
! judgment of those Democratic lead
ers who have been urging the adop-
ton of tariff reform as the fixed
policy of the party. It is certain that
not less than 100000 wage workers
were bulldozed by their employers
| into voting for Garfield, and these
voters were so distributed among the
several States as to have reversed the
result in Connecticut, New York and
Indiana, at least, if the wage workers
had been permitted to vote their real
sentiments. The conditions existing
in 1880, however, no longer exist
Wage workers have found no relief
from the exactions of their employers.
Wages have been cut down, mills
have been close for months at time,
throwing thousands out of employ
ment. Strikes have been even more
frequent than formerly, and the gen.
eral condition of the laboring classes
is really less comfortable than It has
been at any time since 1877. Mean
time the press have been aequainting
the people with the outrageous injus-
tice of the present tariff and have
pointed out the hypocritical pretense
of the manufacturing barons as to
protection. Even In Pennsylvania,
the home of protection, pure and
simple" the people are aroused
against the grinding injustice which
compels the many to share the
fruits of their toll, without any
kind of compensation, with the few.
In Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Wis
consin, the tariff reform sentiment is
strong, aggressive, and confident of
success. In Washington, many mem
bers of Congress tremble lest they
may not be returned, and express
doubt as to ''the policy" of doing any
thing just now to relieve the pleople.
They indorse the Ohio platform which
declares against any kind of protec-
ton that 'fosters monopolies,' as if
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