The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-02

IQdL Is I10 dluOuAO VI LIS GdA pau W
the protected classes of this country.
The iron men and the mill men of
all classes are constantly reducing the
price of labor, while the tariff re-
mains the same; the laborer is re-
duced to starvation wages, while the
prices of all necessities are kept at.
fictitious values. Our sales last year to
foreign countries of American manu-
featured goods were 100000 while
those of England were $2,000,000,00O.
Every manufacturer needs cheap
material and big market to sell to.
The American manufacturers have
neither. Mr.. Hurd tells of |
manufacturer who appeared be-
fore the congressional ways and |
means committee. He stated that
his company had fitted up mill cost
ing 100000. which would have cost
in England only $780, 00-a difference
of $4,000 caused by protection. This
manufacturer condemned the rule
that upholds protection; he sail his
company, because of an unnecessary
Investment, and because of no market
in which to sell, was oppressed. For
eign nations send their products to
countries where goods taken in ex-
change may be bought the cheapest;
they do not send to America. because
they cannot buy goods here as cheaply
as they may in any other country.
Hence our manufactured products ac-
cumulate; production stops mills,
and then mills suspend work or run on
half time, or reduce wages, and the
laborer starves even under high pro-
lection. In the course of Mr.. Hurd's
speech he said:
1t is said by those who are oppos-
ing the policy Of tariff for revenue
only that its advocates are bought by
British gold, and that it is a policy
which is hostile and iDimical to the
best interests of Ireland. 1t is sought,
in this way to excite the preiudices
of Irish against policy which they
say has brought ruin on ireland and
destroyed its interests. Why, nv
friends, from what these people say,
one would think that Ireland had been
destroyed and ruined since this policy
was brought up-when it was adopt
ed in Great Britain. Not until 1854
was it adopted there. If L read his
tory Alright, Ireland was destroyed
long, long ago, when England had
protective tariff in vogue. Who were
the people engaged in this struggle?
There were two men, Mr. Golden and
Mr.. Bright, who were supposed COM
monty to be the greatest lead
ers of that movement in that
country, and who are entitled to
the greatest credit for its accomplish
ment. But there was a third man.
Who was he? The other day in the
city of Dublin statue was unveiled
a statue which was erected in honor
of man whom the Irish people
delight to honor. 1t was unveiled in
the midst of the acclaims of hundreds
OF thousands OF people, showing that
the man who was honored that day
was honored as man as close to the
hearts of the Irish people as he was
during the days of his life. This man
was the great agitator, the great
emancipation; the man who found his
people passing the valley of the
shadow of death, and lead them out
OF darkness to the light; the man who
| went into the British parliament and !
insisted upon the rights that he, as a
man, ought to exercise, and the rights
that he ought to be permitted to
enjoy as a practice of the re-
ligion that he professed-it was Daniel
OConnell, the greatest statesman that |
Ireland ever produced. And it was |
Daniel OCOnnell who united with |
Bright and Golden in the free trade |
controversy; who made speech in |
London which is the best condensa-
ton OF the whole argument as it was |
presented at that time. And he pro-
phesied that the wages of labor in Ire
land would advance, and that manu- +
featuring would progress from that
date, as well for Ireland as for Eng
land. AT the time of the agitation in
Ireland the linen industry was abso-
lutely ruined, the wooden industry
was in state of prostration, scarcely
any wooden manufacturing in the
country at all. Now under the influ-
enee of the new system, oyer 10000
men are now employed in Ireland in
the linen industry alone, and 125, 900
in the wooden; and the wages OF labor
ing men have advanced very nearly
400 per cent. Mr.. O'Connell said in
the part of Ireland where he lived
farmers were getting A. day,
and he was behcI:t@i,,!: who would
give sd. Few they are getting from
rs to 80.
Since England adopted "a tariff for.
revenue only" the sales of manufac-
tured goods have increased from
S6OO,OOO,OO0 to $2,OOO.OO0,OoO, and the
wages OF working people had increased
6 per cent, while the expenses of
living have decreased ovec 40 per
cent. The working men of England
are, consequently, over one hundred
per cent. better off under tariff for
revenue alone than one for revenue
and for the benefit of favored classes
The influences upon American ship
ping interests has been most fatal.
They have gone down until it is said no
American company to-day runs line
of foreign-going ocean steamers. Pro-
lection has proved blight to all in
terests. Even the wool men have
been brought down to hard-pan
prices, because they cannot put their
staple in foreign markets. They are
to-day at the mercy alone of our pro-
tected classes here, who use their
power to the best advantage to them
selves. The day of infant Industries ;
s over in this country. and the day of
mastery oppression ought to be ended.
A State Weather Bureau. j
During the last meeting of the legis-
lature THE STATESMAN urged the
of a state weather '
bureau. Its Importance was not recog- S
nized, however, and nothing was done {
in that direction. Louisiana, on the /
other hand, recognized the wisdom of {
having such service and organized Z
one. It is now extending its agencies /