The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-09-20

riences OF this country. We have always
been able 10 hold cur own ~ against sv-
cry kind Of faif competitor, both In our
markets and In the markets Of the world,
and in 80 far - ~ have not been able 20
to compete, II has been due to unfair
competition, against which IL has always
been our duty TO protect ourselves. -
At any rate, the issue is joined, and
tie American people must settle the
question as 10 the policy they will prefer
and pursue. We don't need protection
now for the same reason that our fathers
needed IL when the government COM
menced, but we need It Just as much as
they needed It. They could not main
tain their industries without It; neither
can we. But our trouble, unlike theirs,
Is due to the difference In wages paid
here and abroad. II other countries paid
as high wages as we do, we could have
free trade and hold our own markets and
take most Of theirs away from them. But
they do not pay the same wages. England
pays better than any other, but she pays
from 26 to 30 per cent. less than we do.
Ocean freights have become 30 cheap
cned that they have become IN unim-
portant factor. Hence 1t is that England
and the United States are practically on
the same plane as competitors for the
American markets in every respect except
only that Of wages. The whole question
is, therefore, one Of wages. England can
undersell because she underpays. 1t Is
safe to assume that ON the average nine
tenths of the cost Of manufactured ar
ticle is labor; that, In other words, for
every ten dollars Of the cost Of product
only one dollar represents material, while
the other nine dollars represent work.
To see this more plainly, take a watch
and look at its wheels and springs and
wonderful mcchanism; think Of the skill
and labor they represent; how valuable
they have become, and then consider how
absolutely trifiing was the value Of that
material before man disturbed It In the
mines where the Creator placed 1t. Re-
solve the woolen or cotton or silken fab
RIGS that you see about you into their
original elements, and consider the
sweat, and toll, and skill, and trouble
and intelligence that have been bestowed
upon them. But II nine dollars out Of
ten represented in the cost of manu-
factured product is for labor, think of the
advantage the Englishman has who COM
petes with the American.
English wages will safely average as
much as S3 1-8 per cent. lower than
American. In other words, the labor
that costs the American nine dollars will
cost his British rival but six dollars; the
labor that costs here ninety dollars will
cost there but sixty dollars; while the
American is paying ont 5000, the English
man expends but $500. In q business
amounting to 800, 600 there is differ.
ence in favor Of the Englishmah Of
$4,000. Manifestly the American can
not stand such competition. He must
do one or the other Of three things. He
must quit his business and 60 at some
thing else, or remain In his business and
break up, or he must somehow or other
overcome his disadvantage. It is the
same with the whole people that 1t is
with any one Of them. What are we to
do about its That is the question we are
to answer. The Republican party says,
in the first place, 1t doesn't want the peo-
pie Of this country driven out Of busi-
ness. In the second place, 1t doesn't
want them broken up in business. On
the contrary, it wants them to remain In
business and prosper. But to do SO this
disadvantage must be overcome. How
can it be donei There are two ways, and
only two. You can overcome 1t by re-
ducing wages. II you would make every
man take one-third less than he is get
ting for his work, that would solve the
problem at once. But the Republican
party is opposed to the reduction of
wages. II believes that the laboring
men Of this country earn oil they get,
and that they should not be asked to take
less. There is only one other way, and
that 10 by levying protective duties, and
this is the plan Of the Republican party.
We say II by reason Of cheaper labor
there be difference Of seven dollars, or
eight dollars, or nine dollars, or ten del
lars ton ON pig.iron In favor Of the
English manufacturer, he should be re-
quired to pay duty Of at least that much
on every ton he brings into this country;
and 80 with everything else.
Thus our employers can continue their
business and their wages. In other
words, we are not willing to drag our Ia
boring men down to the same level with
the wages and dependence of other coun-
tries. Hence 1t is that one Of the pri-
mary objects Of the tariff for protection
Ia to protect labor as well as to have
manufacturing establishments.
We want our laborers well paid, to
the end that they may have enough to
enable them to feed and clothe them
selves and families get their own homes
and own them, educate their children,
learn the duties Of citizenship, be satis-
fed with their lot, love their country,
and whenever 1t is assailed be ready and
willing to defend its flag. We want man.
ufacturing establishments and all othe..
kinds Of industries to the end that W.,
n n y