Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
THE ONE GREAT ISSUE.
1t Is Protection of Our Industries and
Commercial Independence.


$50 far as the campaign will be one of
principles what will be the chief issue or
issues:" was asked by New York Press
reporter of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll.
'sOf course the great issue-that is, the
protection issle-is the protection of
American industry. The Democrats 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 be-
lieve in tariff reform. No man reforms
that which he would destroy. Reforma-
ton 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 destroy,
not to reform. The raw material 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 carrying New York the party will
adopt free trade for Southern consump-
ton and deny it in New York: call it re-
form of the tariff simply for the purpose
of carrying the State by deceiying voters.
''The Gully 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 chill
dren could not be spared for school; they
would have to work in factories and
fields, pale, deformed, miserable, life a
Joyless struggle and death happy and
fortunate release.
''Anything like free trade would de-
stroy the prosperity of the Republic. We
use something like 1000 tons of ore a
month. Take the tariff from iron ore
and most OF it would come from Spain,
Africa and other countries. Our mines
would be closed. Railroads would pass
into the hands of the bondholders.
Stocks, for the most part would become
worthless. Hundreds Of millions are in
vested in this one industry. The laboS
In this country costs several times ar
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 difference in
wages: Do away with the tariff and the
HIndoo completes with the American
farmer in raising wheat and other cere-
ais.
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
differences in wages, making it impos-
sible for US to compete with England. If
we had no weolen manufactures Eng
land 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 CON-
pete with countries where the wages are
so much lower. If 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 +eIo