River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-16
The ISSUE OF ISSUES.
1t Is Protection to Our Industries and
CONNIE rcial Independence

OF principles what Will be the chief
issue or issues? was asked of Colonel
Robert G.. Ingersoll.
"Of course. the great issue-that is,
the practical issue-is the protection
of American industry. The Demo-
Gratis are already frightened. They
are denying free trade with all their
might, but the logic of their position
goes out, or rather goes in, at that
hole. They do not believe in tariff
reform. No man reforms that which
he would destroy Reformation is in
the direction of preservation. Only
those wish to- reform the tariff who
wish to preserve and retain the tariff.
The Democratic party wishes to de-
stroy, not TO reform. The raw ma
terial raisers Of the South say free
trade. The solid South has dictated
the policy of the party. The solid South
and New York expect TO control the
country. and for the purpose of carry
ing New York the party will adopt free
trade for Southern consumption and
DENY il in New York; call il reform of
the tariff simply for the purpose of
carrying the State by dsceiving voters.
The only way we can compete with
foreign labor is for father. mother and
children to become the victims of per-
petual toll. The father could no
longer support family with the
mother taking care of the house and
children. The children could not be
spared for school; they would have 10
work in factories and fields, pale. de-
formed. miserable. life joyless strug-
gle and death happy and fortunate
release.
ANY thing like free trade would de-
stroy the prosperity of the Republic
We use something like 1000, 600 tons
of ore month. Take the tariff from
iron ore and most of it would come
from Spain. Africa and other coun-
tries. Our mines would be closed.
Railroads would pass into the hands of
the bOndhOlders. Stocks, for the most
part, would become worthless. Hun
dreds of millions are invested in this
one industry. The labor of this coun-
try costs several times as much as in
other countries. Then we must take
into consideration the effect on the
coal interests, coke, charcoal and many
others.
- Common labor receives twice as
much in America as in England, skilled
labor more than three times as much
in this country. How is it possible for
us to compete in the markets of the
world with England with this differ
ence in wages? Do away with the tar
iff and the Hindoo completes with the
American farmer in raising wheat and
other cereals.
Nothing is more absurd than that
free wool would give foreign markets
to American manufacturers. Give us
the wool at precisely the same price
that the English obtain it, and there is
still the difference in wages, making it
impossible for us to compete with En-
gland. If we had no WOODEN manu-
features England could combine
against us, and the result would be
that we would pay far more than we do
now. We certainly have free cotton.
and we can not compete with countries
where the wages are so much lower.
II the working people are willing to
have their wages reduced, if they are
willing to work at European prices, if
the farmers are willing to take their
chances with the Asiatics, why then
free trade is the policy; otherwise we
must protect our own hands and our
own brains.
''How are we 10 contend with the
spinners and weavers and carders of
other countries, when in India wages
are from 10 to IL cents day, in Rus
STA 20 cents, and in this country 81 a
week?
- 1t is stated by the best authorities
that we pay more than double the
wages to paper-makers that they do in
any other country, and yet common
paper is less than 3 cents pound and
it used to be more than five times that.
In making glass Mr.. DePauw, in Indi-
ana, tells us that our skilled workmen
average $1704 a week; in England
they are paid $7.05, in France Sc 81
and in Belgium Sc. 60. He also informs
us that before plate-glass was made in
this country it cost us about SO cents a
square foot, while in 1887 the average
was 80 cents, reduction of Sc % per
cent. The silvered plate-glass aver
aged, in 1875. $l.26 square foot; in
1887, $1.13-a reduction of about Is
cents. Now, the unsilvered plate is
made in America, the silvered is not;
consequently silvered plate has only
fallen u per cent, while the plate
made in America has fallen &c 2-3 per
cent.
1.-The figures prove, and not only
these figures, but hundreds and hun
dreds of others. that the protection of
American industry gives us cheaper
products than we could get from for
eign lands. Without the tariff foreign
lands would combine against us. They
would in the first place sell cheap
enough to pay them for all they lost
while they were destroying ours, with
good round sum as interest.
ITO see which side you are on it is
only necessary to ask: Should Amer
lea be Independent, or should it be the
serf. the servant of other nations?' y