West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-01-26
SEEKING LIGHT.
what the American LatOrer Needs Is Education,
not Protection.
-[Rogister

EDITOR ARGUS The learned editor
of the Journal says in the last issue of
his paper Free trade is false both
in theory and practice
This is edifying to us laboring men
who have to work for our living. We
are glad the able editor tells us that
free trade is false both in theory and
practice. But would it not be well
for the Journal to enlighted us more
fully on this question of free trade ?
Mere assertion is no argument. Can
the editor prove to us that protection
high protection, if you plcase-pro-
tects us laboring men and gives us bet
ter wages and comfortable homes
That's the question that interests us la
boring men more than the yelping of
free trade and protection. We arc be-
coming Disguised with the old chest
nuts free trade and protection We
want to know what the Republican and
Democratic parties mean when they in
sert in their platforms that they will
correct the inequalities and the mi
quities' Of the tariff? If the tariff is
such good thing for us poor laboring
men, why does the Republican party
propose to correct the inequalities of
the tariff We want the Journal TO
explain this plank in the Republican
platform. We are after information
and this article is written in a spirit of
friendlinoss. We lay no claim to edu-
cation and the editor must excuse our
blunders and grammatical errors. Our
small degree of intelligence tells us
that absolute free trade in this country
is an impossibility. Furthermore, our
experience and observation has taught
us, to our sorrow, that protection does
not protect us when monopolies and
corporations put their despotic heel
upon our neck. 1t is not necessary for
us to call attention to the Reading
strike where protecrion has full sway.
We have been there ourself and have
more than once had to comply with
their edict to vacate for free trade labor.
Yes, fellowworking men, that is the
kind Of free trade we have in this
country as thousands Of you can tistify
to. Still there is not one word of con-
domination from the high protective
journals at this treatment of American
labor ! They argue that corporations
have right to employ men who will
work for the lowest wages. Still they
would deny US the same privileges
buy where VIC could buy the cheapest.
What's sauce for the goose is not sauce
for the gander in this case. We be-
lieye the kind of protection we have
now protects monopolios instead of the
laboring men. What the laborine men
Of this country want is education, so
that inscriptions demagogues and pol
iticians cannot take advantage Of our
crcdulity and ignorance. Let us all
join hands in this grand work Of edu-
cation Let us. who have to labor by
day TO keep soul and body together,
have night schools, and the day is not
far of when these same dcmagoeues
and politicians will find themselves in
the same fix as Othcllo-thcir occupa-
ton will be gone. We would say. give
US education, you gentlemen Of high
protective proclivities, and We will see
that we arc protected when protection
j, needed
In the meantime let the brilliant and
learned editor Of the Journal proceed
with his explanations and proofs that
q high protective tariff is a god-send
and blessing TO the American laborcr
a LABoREn.
Newburg, Jan %, SO.