The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-28


government is obliged to purchase
and coin not less than 80, OOO, 900 stand
ard silver dollars per month. Were
it not for this protective act of Com
gress the silver product of this conn
try-oyer $50, 900, 900 per year-would
be demonetized metal, and valued
accordingly. Here is protection to
silver producers, still much of if has
to be shipped to India for mark ct.
Originally the object of tariff was
to protect American manufactures
and capital as against superior adj
vantages and capital of the Old
World. But it is no longer necessary
to protect American capital, as its
abundance among us make it dill
gent seeker of remunerative employ
ment. Indeed, very small percen-
lures are now satisfactory for invest.
ments. What is needed now in any
new adjustment of our tariff laws
will be wholesome discrimination
in favor of American or home labor
as against cheap foreign labor. EN-
ployment. fairly remunerative, for
home labor should be the desiier-
alum. There should be no consider
able increase in the importations of
foreign manufactures articles. Let
our own laborers have the privilege
of making what they, to some extent
at least, consume or use, even though
it cost a little more than the foreign
article. Regular employment and
fair wages to our laboring people, not
only enables them but others to buy
and pay for what they eat wear and
us3. Prices are not caviled at in
good times.
The free-traders admit that any
material reduction in our tariff SEIZED.
ules will increase importations oil
foreign goods corrispondingly. For
instance the importation of wool in
1888, as the tariff then stood, was
$8,000,000. and the duties thereon
about 100000. In that year the
duty on wool was reduced few cents
on the pound. Result, $4,000, O0O
worth of wool imported last year
with revenue of S6,000,000 and a
slaughter of 100000 American
sheep. This act of Congress protec.
ted the wool growers of Australia
and South America to the extent OF
$4,000, 900, but severely crippled the
wool growing interest of this coun-
try. without any perceptible benefit
to anybody here. A bad exhibit for
the theoriZers as we'll as sheep pro-
ducers. One of the disappointments
of the Reformers was an Increase in
stead of decrease of revenue. Now
suppose deluded retormers succeed in
haying tariff law passed at the
present session Of Congress which
will add 500, 200, 000of manufactured
articles to our annual importations,
Will not this displace the same
aurasat of homeenanufaeedres ? VITO
can deny this, or rather show it is
not true. But these protectionists of
British and French interests say this
is the same old argument. Be it so,
but it is no older than common sense,
justice and sound reason. A few
years ago there was prolonged strike
among the miners of the Frostburg
coal region. Finally a number of
foreign laborers called "Swedes" were
brought to the scene of trouble, to
take the place of the old tried nome
miners. Many men lost their places
and living by these new corners. Now
here was a paIpable instance where
foreign laborers usurped the places of
home laborers. This was what teach
ers call "obiect teaching"-very plain.
Now what is the difference between
this case and another where the pro.
duct of foreign labor in Europe is
brought here and dumped among US.
Don't American laborers lose their
employment to that extent? 1t is
even worse and harder, as all foreign
goods contain not only foreign labor
but foreign raw material and food
articles. Labor is only a part of the
cost of such articles. But it is said
every American ought to have the
right to buy cheap articles, though
they be foreign. No. If it be for
general good that American articles
should be something higher in price
than the foreign, let us choose the
former. Idle laborers make bad times
for us all. Another way to protect
home labor would be to restrict the
importation of cheap, crude and de-
moralizing foreign labor. 1t seems
to me established laborers of this
country, whether native or adopted.
should be of one opinion on this SUBJ
ject. If it be true, and it seems so,
that the true reason why American
producers cannot compete with those
of Europe, is on account of the very
cheap labor on the other side, who