Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-02-28
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1885.


ton Of pertinent facts for high protec-
tive tariff advocates to reflect upon in
an address delivered in Brooklyn a few
DAYS ago, by Mr.. J. y. Sargent Of New
Haven, Conn, one Of the largest manu-
facturerers of hardware in the country,
This gentleman, until a few years ago.
was q protectionist of the most rigid
sect, and accepted all the protectionist
theories about labor, wages, and high
duties on everything that could be tax
ed, and firmly believed that manufac-
turing could not be successfully carried
on in the United States without protec-
ton against what is called the "oauper
labor Of Europe" A few years Of per-
sonal investigation in Europe, and his
own observations as to the working Of
the high tariff principle in this country
and in his own manufacturing business,
have convinced him that what is called
the american system" is based on very
unreasonable and untenabie theories.
The Pioneer Press will call attention to
a few of Mr. S~argent's useful discoveries.
As to the theory that the high pro-
tective tariff system necessarily insures
the highest rate Of wages and the per
sonal comfort and advancing prosperity
Of the workingmen employed in pro.
.tected industries, it is shown that the
wages paid in free trade England are
from 80 to 100 per cent higher than IN
Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Italy
and Spain, which are high tariff conn
tries; and that the condition Of workers
on the continent is very inferior to that
Of English workers, since they are
born into aDtoiling, ill-paid, ill-fed and
ill.housed class. and there they may ex
pect to remain unless they emigrate."
Those who can get away from these con-
ditions come to America, leaving the
weaker, the more timid, the less in
telligent and less ambitious at home
and this latter class constitute what the
protectionists call 'the pauper labor OF
Europe" Says Mr.. Sargent: Il would
rather have n average immigrant
worker from continental Europe, after
being combined into our American labor
force and practiced in our methods,
paid with gu pay, fed with our food,
and filed with N freedom, than an
average three of Those who remain there
under all the conditions in which they
exist and will exist probably for many
generations. We can afford to pay them
here twice as much per day as they set
at home, and then get rich out of their
labor, provided We can have raw materi.
ais free Of duty to enable us to sell our
surplus merchandise in the non-manu-
featuring countries Of tile world 1t il
shown that wages in the United States
of workers of nearly all grades are fully
one-haif more thar in England and in
all the continental countries in the same
class Of work three-quarters more than
In France; double the wages in Germany
and ~Austria-these three countries be
ing under systems of excessively high
duties. Thus the theory that high pro-
tectiye dulles, wherever established, are
/, favorable to labor, is undermined and
: destroyed. Our advantages are the
resultants Of conditions Of government,
climate, Intelligence, political freedom,
better training, better social environ
ment; SO that, in spite Of severe tariff
restrictions, we are enabled to sell a
limited quantity Of manufactured goods
in certain lines in Europe and elsewhere,
butsuch exported articles are sold at a
much lower price than they are sold at
home. To become the masters Of a
large foreign trade, Mr.. Sargent shows
that the essential thing is to have cheap
raw materials. s'The only obstacle" he
says. ito successful manufacture Of goods
In this country for expectation is the
J high. tariff COST of materials. Our labor
Il cheap enough. The producers Of raw
materials are protected, not for the pur-
pose u paying higher wages, but to force
illigitimate profits. The wages paid by
thsvssy highly protected producers OF
iron ore, pig iron, copper, zinc, lead and