National Republican., 1888-01-05

denunciatiOn was aimed at the prlnclple Oh |
protection. All the industrial classes, Of
that principle. The farmers and me-
chanics had long since learned to look
beyond the narrow view OF their interests
taken by the President. They looked at 1t
from higher plane. The beneflts Of protec-
tion permeated through the whole commu.
nifty, and extended to the remotest parts OF
the country, but were most apparent In the
immt diate nelghborhood OF manufacturing |
Industries. The President assumed that the |
duty on imported articles was added to the |
price OF similar articles fhome production, |
but such was not the fact. In the absence |
Of domestic competition the importer fixed |
his OWL price, and added the duty and ex.
penees to the cost, but, at the first sign OF |
American competition, the price was re- |
duced; and often, in stagnant market.
goods were sold at far less than the original
cost and duty. AS a rule, imported goods,
competing with American goods, were sold
in the American market cheaper than in
the European market duties added). In
the great body Of articles formerly imported
the American manufacture was well estab-
liehed, and, under domestic competition,
the price was reduced to figures approach
ing European rates. In some articles
AMERICA COMPETED WITH EUROPE
in the markets OF the world. And this
process was now going on. Home compe.
tition, wherever 1t got a foothold, reduced
prices and lessened importations. A most
remarkable example OF that was In the
production OF glassware, pottery, and
chinaware, which had become established
industries in this country. He quoted Mr..
Dudley, late consul general at Liverpool,
to the effect that there Is not single
manufactured commodity that is not
cheaper to-day In the United States under
the protective system than 1t was in 1860
under free trade, and that nlne-tenths OF
the manufactured commodities used by
American farmers Qncludlng clothing:
household goods, furniture, implements of
husbandry, tools, &C., are as cheap In this
country as they are in England. and 10 some
instances cheaper.
The fact that large importations were
now made Of manufactures of iron, steel,
cotton, wool, wood, leather, china, Gndglass'
ware was evidence that the duty on certain
grades Of these goods was not beyond the
revenue standard. II the present system
were maintained American home indus
tries could, and would, com m2ete with Eu.
ropean productions In articles essential to
human life and comfort. AS to the Presi-
dents assertion that more than 900 arti-
cles were subject to tariff duties that (Mr.
Sherman sad) was
A GROSS But COMMON EXAGGERATIoN.
He would agree with the President, how
ever, In saying that II, on careful
examination, 1t should appear that any
| duty on any article could be dispensed
| with without detriment to American indus
| try, II should be done, aud that, II any ar
| ticle now paying taxes could not he manu-
factured here, it should oe placed on the
| free list.
The object Of the tariff laws was to en-
| courage home manufacturers in competi-
| tlon with foreign rivals, as well as to SO =
cure revenue; and, therefore, these laws
should be as permanent as possible, con-
sstent with the needs Of the government.
American citizens were encouraged to in
vest their money in expensive machinery
and buildings; but they had no special
privileges, no monopoly. All the world
tion with them. The President, however,
seemed to think that they were public enc
mics. To chase away the successful manu-
facturer by a change OF duties was to legis-
late for the foreigner and against the Amert-
can citizen.
The most important benefits conferred
by the tariff laws was that they not only
diversified American industries, but secured
to the laborer employed 10 manufactures
higher wages and better surroundings and
advantages than were enjoyed by laborers
| in similar employments anywhere In the
world. The treatment Of this question by
the President was
DELUsIoN AND SNARE.
The President assumed that the cost Of living
Especially OF food and clothing) was highel
In the United States than in Europe, That
was not true. Food Of every kind (excep
sugar. was cheaper here than In any market
II h. .T.nr ~ AM, The clothing worn by wr'''
men (inciuding blalYK1tss7 %as
as low prices as In London or I1s.. -
The quantity and quality OF food Of labo.
ing men were confessedly better and greater
here than In Europe, and the rate Of wages
was from 80 to 100 per cent. higher here.
The President did not dispute these points
but appealed to the manufacturer (who had
been represented as robber, conspirator
and extortioner) not to reduce the work
inGman's wages, but to pay more out OF
surplus proiits-proilts very often found or
the wrong side of the ledger. What work
ingman did not feel that this was sheer
evasion of the inevitable result OF an effor,
to reduce his wages by inviting close
competition with pauper labor9 The work
iDgman would have to share the fate OF his
employer and divide with him the loss. The
question was one purely OF wages. lfwaget
were not greater here than In Eogland
France, and Belgium (America's chief com
petitors) this country could, no doubt
compete now with all the world In al
metallic and textile fabrics But would Il
be wise to pursue policy that would
COMPEL THE REDUCTION or WAGES
to the general standard In Europe2 The Re
publican party had declared It to be tht
duty of the national government not only
to levy enough duties on imported mer
cbandise to support the government, bu
to levy those duties so as to secure to labor
ing men employed In manufactures sucf
wages as would enable them to support
maintain, and educate properly their wye
| and nhildrnn Chanp Iahnr In this CQuntr,
meant the degradation OF American politics
He had thus endeavored, he said, to Civ,
q respectful answer to the Presidents mes
sage. He was willing according to tn,
Republican national platform Of 1881 tt
correct the Irregularities Of the tariff and tc
reduce the surplus-not by the vicious aud
indiscrimnatiDg process OF horizontal re
duction, but by such methods as would re
lieve the taxpayer without injuring th,
latorer or the great productive industries
OF the country. He was willing las recon-
mended by the President) to join In care
full examination Of the details OF the tariff
laws, with view to the reduction OF taxes
lie was willing las the President tnioined
to take broad and national contemplation
OF he subject, with praclical dis
re. I'd of such local and selfish claims
as were unreasonable and regardless OF
he entire country. But he could not dc
that and at the same time follow the rec
concentrations Of the President. He could
not
STRIKE AT THE INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
builtup by the tariff laws. lie couldnotdee
en- and intensity the struggle now going oil
between employers and employed by invit'
ing increasing competition, crippling man
ufacturers, and reducing wages, He greatly
preferred policy that would encourage
home industry, diversity home productions
discourage importations, add to the exter-
nal and internal commerce, open new mines
increase raw materials, light new furnaces,
establish new rolling mills, factories, aud
workshops, and develop the wonderful
natural resources Of the country