River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-04

rights, every class of citizens within the !
scope Of the national authority, there !
has never been presented to the American !
people a question SO vital to their inter
ests as the tariff question. a tari4'-be
it high or low $50 for protection" or ''for
revenue only" affects either favorably or
unlavorably, every individual None can |
escape from the operations Of its far
reaching influence The capitalist and
the laborer-the farmer, merchant, man
ufacturer, artisan and operative, all come
under the control Of its banefu or bene
fetal effects.
SHOULD BIZ UNDERSTOOD.
/ a question Of such grave import ought
I to receive the most thorough and scruti-
nizing consideration, and be intelligenty
comprehended by every citizen. The
/ fact, unfortunately is, that but few study
the question, and less understand it The
purpose of this article is 10 review as
/ briefly as may be, the history of tariffleg-
/ islation, its operations and effects, and
+ learn from the ind sputable facts Of his
tory, and by the light of the past expert
ence and present condition OF our bust
ness affairs, see whether tariff for 'pro-
lection" OF one ''for revenue only" is
most conducive to the individual, and SO
to the general prosperity.
II is not our object to approve or criti-
CHE the existing or any previous tariff
law. All have been more or less imper-
feet, and so unjust. 1t has bafled the
( skill Of the most sagacious political
economists, aud surpassed the compre-
hension of the wisest craftsmanship, to
prepare a tariff measure that should be
absolutely equitable in all its relations to
the intricate personal and business inter
ests of the country.
= THE PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION.
The object here is to discuss the Pyfa-
ciBle Of a tariff, and see whether it ought
to be so adjusted as to be protective Of
domestic industries, or levied simply to
provide the public revenues. II pro-
tective tariff works only for the benefit
of favored manufacturers, fostering capi-
tai that it may build up unjust monopo-
lies, and thus enriching the few and inn
poverishing the many-then it should not
be tolerated for day. If on the contrary,
It stimulates legitimate business; builds
up and makes permanent diversified in
dustries; increases our mills and shops
and perfects and cheapens their products
by healthy competition; gives larger and
better markets to our farmers; in all
ways aids in the development Of our vast
natural resources; making the nation
prosperous and independent; charging
AID enriching the daily thought and life
Of the people, then should it be adopted
and sustained.
THE FARMERS INTERESTS.
Especially is it desired in this article to
show the influence of protective tariff
upon the agricultural interests Of the
country, and learn whether its practical
operations have brought to the farmer
effects that have been pernicious or be-
nifcent.
PROTECTION INCREASES WAGES.
u hardly needs any argument TO prove
to the intelligent laborer artisan or OPP
erative who works for wages-no matter
in what industry he may be employed
that protective tariff increases the rate
Of his wages. The strongest opponents
of protection admit that it builds up new
industries and stimulates and enlarges
old ones, but claim that its benefits ac-
crue to one class At the expense of an
other None Of them are reckless enough
to cl.ini that the increase and diversified
tior of industry, brought about by pro-
tection. does not bring increased pay to
much Of the labor of the country. To
deny this would be to attempt too bald
deception The most unthinking work
ingman knows that with an increased
demand for labor comes increased pay
for II. This business principle is so sim
pie and the rule so universal, that no one
fails to comprehend it.
DUTY OF wORKINGMEN.
This being true, how plain, aye, how
imperative the duty that the vast army Of
wage-workers in this country insist that
such protection be accorded 10 our indus
tries as shall make them prosperous,
stable, and the most widely diverse. And
what imitless and unexp lored fields for
labor and enterprise does our country, and
especially the Great West, PRESENT. No
/ other country can profit as can we by cx-
tended and diversified industry, for no
other has such fertile breadth, with
such a wealth Of natural resources. In
all the elements Of material greatness
we stand unriyalled, and with such free
dom and fullncss Of political rights as
give inspiration and promise to the toll
and genius of the worker
The nottingham, then, wherever he
may be, and in whatever department Of
labor engaged, must see it his duty as it
/ is his interest, as an individual aud as a
citizen---whether actuated by motives Of
! selfshness or patriotism, to resist with
his stoutest opposition, by voice and BY
vote, any man or any party,
that seeks to limit, cripple or destroy our
growing industries by Withdrawing from
them the needed safeguards Of a reason
ably protective tariff
CONDITION OF LABOR.
In no country IN the world have work
/ ingmen been so we'll conditioned as they
have been in the United States for the
past twenty-five years under the protect
i've tariff There have been brief periods !
/ of stagnation in trade, when money has
been close and labor in light demand, |
but the average has been one Of good |
wages and exceptional prosperity It is !
/ for this reason that the tide of immigra- |
/ ton has been so overwhelming. Many |
thousands Of workers from the Old |
/ World have annually fed from the pau
4 per paid toll and hopelessness of their |
/ lives abroad, to the liberty and prosperity |
which these shores guarantee. They |
come here to improve their condition |
/ to get better pay for their work, and |
/ they get il, else they would not come. |
I Had not our industries been properly |
fostered and vastly diversified and ex-
tended by wise protective measures,
there would have been insufficient EN-
ployment for those seeking it, and re
duced wages and beggary would have
reigned where has been generous prices |
.nd continued aroao-r;.,-