The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-11
SOUND ON THE TARIFF.
The Irish-American Protective
League to Sons Of Erin.
THEY DO NOT WANT FREE TRADE.
Resolutions With the Right Ring to
Them-Interviews With Leading
Irish-Americans Who are OPP
posed to Democratic Policy.

American Protective Tariff League, Of
this city, has adopted the following nd
dress:
"FILLow CITIzENs:-In the coming
political campaign we are threatened
with an issue SO vital to our interests
that it not only involves our right to
live by honest labor, but it also involves
the life OF this Republic.
"There are in this country to-day two
gigantic political parties struggling for
supremacy. While We are not in duty
bound to ally ourselves with any polit-
iCal party, we should at all times and in
all contests hold over the heads OF the
political parties, the rod Of Independent
action, that we, us well as all other citi-
zens, could assist in compelling them to
do their duty to form OF government
purchased at SO much cost OF blood and
treasure.
"We but do our duty to our Irish.
American fellow citizens when we call
their attention to the nefarious policy OF
one OF the political parties in trying to
foist upon the workingmen of this coun-
try the self-same conditions that have
made him the wretched slave he is in
every free trade country, particularly
England. To-day, in every branch OF
industry, you will find the English me-
chanic competing with his American CO.
worker. II free trade was beneficial he
would certainly have remained at home
and enjoyed its luxuries. We are
threatened with the introduction OF this
same lamnAble system.
"Can we passivcly lie on our oars and
permit any political party to introduce
such system into country that has
laid bare its bosom to receive our labor,
that has given us refuge and guarantees
US home? We appeal to all who owe
their existence to the Land beyond the
sea- to assist us in our work, to assist us
in keeping the American mechanic un.
trammelled, to assist us in perpetuating
the life Of this Republic"
The following interviews will show
how representative Irish-Americans re-
gard the tariff question. Major P. NJ.
Haverty, the well known bookseller and
amember OF the Board OF Assessors, said /;
~ am in favor OF protective tariff.
Free trade would never do in this coun-
try. We are at present the most pros
porous nation on the face OF the earth,
and do not believe in making expert
mcnts which might lead to disastrous re-
suits. | think the American laborer
should be protected in every way. How
can this be done il competition is in
vited with the pauper labor OF Europe? ?
"Skilled mechanics in Great Britain,
France, Germany and Austria average
only about 81 so day. Our common
laborers receive more than that. If any
revision is to be made in the tariff it
should be on certain kinds OF raw ma
terials. believe that every staple ar
ticle which can't be manufactured with
profit here should be placed upon the
free list. Let our wage earners have
every opportunity to improve their con-
dition. Our prosperity depends mainly
upon this, for when the masses are well
Off money circulates freely, and busi-
ness OF all kinds is brisk. Wherever
the working classes are ground down
there is always TO be found stagnation
in trade.
James ]. Coogan, furniture manuiac-
turer said: ~ have spoken with
great many prominent Democrats and
find that they are all in the dark as to
Mr.. Cleveland's policy regarding the
tariff. They cannot bring themselves to
believe that he would advocate free
trade, and yet his expressed views place
him in that position. l, for one, am
protectionist. Wehave prospered under
the existing order OF things, and l be-
lieve in letting well enough alone. If
the tariff is to be revised it should be
with the greatest degree OF care and fore
thought. 1t is question involving so
many complex interests that there is
only one way in my opinion to solve it
properly. Imean by keeping the idea
OF protection constantly in view. Let
high duties be fixed upon all luxuries,
but let staple products be free so far rs is
consistent with protection to American
wage earners." "
Eugene Kelly, the banker, said: 81
am not free trader. believe in pro-
lection TO American workmen, but the
subject is so complicated in its various
ramiiications that l do not care to dis
pus9 II "