The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-20
GOOD REPUBLICAN, AUTHORITY

Within the last fifteen years we have
demonstrated our ability by the brilliant
development of our own resources to ex-
clude, by honest competition, foreign man
ufacturers to large extent from our shores.
The question which now peremptorily
challenges all thinking minds is how TO
create foreign demand for those manu>
features which are left after supplying our
home demands. We cannot stand still, for
the momentum of increase will soon be-
come so great that 1t will push us onward
anyway; to push US safely and profitable is
of so much importance as to almost OvertOp
all other public questions of the hour.
This question appeals equally to the sell
flshness and patriotism of all citizens, but
to the laborer 1t appeals with tenfold force,
for without work he cannot live, and unless
we can extend the markets for our manu-
facturers he cannot expect steady work {;
and unless our manufacturers can undersell
foreign manufacturers we cannot enlarge
our foreign markets.
The ABOVE reads so exactly like Presi-
dent Clevelaud's December message and
his letter of acceptance that 1t is necessary
10 assure the reader it is no extract from
either of those documents. SO far from it,
it is an extract from an elaborate report OF
William NJ Evarts, while Secretary of State
under President Hayes, on the State of
Labor In Europe" dated May, 1870 1t is
that famous report in which Mr.. Evarts,
after going carefully over the reports of
our consuls from all parts of Europe, finds
that although wages are nominally lower
in Denmark, France, Germany and Eng
land than in this country, they are really
not so, because. as he says, It is shown that
" an active American workman will do as
much work in given time, at any employ
ment. as two or three German or French
workmen," and fifty per Cent. more than
the English workman. Wages, therefore
between Europe and America are already
mine years ago. virtually equalized, and
every advancing year makes this more
settled fact, " because ocean steam com
munication has apnihilated distance and
brought the nations face to face" Hence
1t is not the so called "pauper labor OF
Europe (Which he shows to be largely
myth tina. is in the way of our advahce'
ment, for in spite of 1t, I'VE have" as he
says above, " within the last fifteen year:
demonstrated our ability to exclude, BY
honest competition, foreign manufactures to
large extent from our shores What We
need, then, to encourage and enlarge IN
field of conquest of our manufacturing In
dustries Is, not protection" against Euro
pean labor. for that, by our superior skill
and energy we have already overcome, bu
legislation that will open foreign market
for such of our manufactures as are lef
after supplying our home demands Nov
read again the above extract)
And this of which Secretary Evarts
with the prescience of a clear headed
statesman, gave us so admirable forecas
nine years ago, is exactly what Presiden
Cleveland, the democratic party aud tn,
Mills bill are now aiming to bring about
that is las every country In Europe does
10 give our manufacturers fair and oper
| field by removing the tax on raw materials