The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-13

1t Is sheer nonsense to talk about
the oppression of the poor laboring
men who suffer from the effect of
protective tariff. In all discussions,
by men who engage in them, wheth-
er they be of State or National poll
cy, there should be perfect under
standing as to the effect they may
have upon all classes Of citizens,
as the object should be the great
est good to the greatest number of
people. 1t will be remembered
that in the campaign of Garfield
and Hancock, how Mr.. Hancock
electrified the political world by
stating that the tariff had once been
a local question in his election pre-.
cinct.
President Cleveland In a late talk
on the tariff, says:
My own personal ideas about
that Is that the only practical way
to pass bill would be to have the
House Committee charged with
this work, take up the subject in a
business fashion, and modify the
present law in such a way az to
help poor people who labor and to
take away needless protection of a
few who have grown rich at the ex-
pense of the many. There are
many incOnyruities in the tariff
which could be remedied by look
ing at the whole system from bus
mess standpoint.
1t is well to understand the
workings of the tariff upon the SUBJ
stantials of life, in connection with
the interests Of laboring men; for
where 1t Is understood 1t will be
found the friend Of the poor labor.
ing men in this country. There
are only a few articles that enter
into the daily consumption of the
laboring classes, that are imported
into the United States. BY inves-
tigation it will be found that coffee
and tea will fill the list of foreign
shipments and they are admitted
free. The labOring classes do not
demand foreign manufactured
good, wines or liquors. Therefore,
it is hard to understand what the
President means by the incongrui.
ties in the tariff and the needless
protection of the few who have
grown rich at the expense of the
many. Now, while 1t looks pretty
to write homiletics in favor of the
poor laboring men, yet, when they
are seen by the light Of real, practi.
cal experience, stripped of their
demagogy, there will be an ac-
knowledgement that the laboring
man fairs we'll under the working
of tho tariff-his drink, food and
clothing are all manufactured ut
home, for the least possible sum of
money that will keep up the work.
shop and pay the workmen living
wages.
No other civilized nation pays
the labOring man so we'll as the
United States has for the past Is
years; and 1t is because we are
manufacturing our own food, cloth.
ing, furniture, tools, machinery, &c,
and through the protection to our
home industries, the laboring men,
their wives and children, if they
live sober and prudent lives, are
able to appear in god society,
dressed respectfully, with comforta-
BILE surroundings at home. You
may visit the public gatherings in
the mining and manufacturing dis.
tricts and you would suspect all
guilty of being merchants, manu-
facturers, professional men, or cap
ltalists, as they are clad 50 well,
while their wives and children are
tidy and intelligent. It Is only the
profigate man who spends his
money for that which is not bread
Or clothing, that comes under the
Eye OF the President, and who is 50
pathetlcally referred to as the men
N. ho 1o1<>-