The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-09-14
miscellaneous.
HOW THE TARIFF AFFECTS LABOR

A Great speech by General Brecken-
ridge.
A Joint discussion on the tariff took place,
last week, before the working people ofNew-
ark, N. j., between Gen. W. c. p Breckin-
ridge, of Kentucky, and Hon. Benjamin But
terworth, of Ohio.
Major Butterworth dealt little with facts
and claimed that this was not a question of
details, but of general principles. He argued
against free raw materials, and when remind
ed by one of the audience that the prosperity
of the city of Newark depended largely on its
manufactures of leather, he begged the ques-
ton by saying that the free importation of
hides interiered with no American industry.
That cattle were raised tor beef and not for
the hides, and that the value of the hides an
nually produced in this country was trffing
matter. On the other hand he claimed that
sheep were raised for the WOOL consequently
the wool grower must be protected.
He was here interrupted by one of the au-
dience saying Then, Major Bulterworth,
suppose the farmer gives away his sheepskiDs
and mutton"
This sally caused tremendous laugh and
cheering, and the gallant Major was fain to
seek another subject.
General Breckenridge stuck to statistics
His speech was q clear and incisive explana-
tlon of the Mills bill.
GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE's SPEECH.
Afler some Introductory remarks he said ::
81 am Democrat glory in it, am a
partisan, and am glad OF that, for want to
get as far away as possible from the false doc
trInes held by my friend Major Butterworth
and the Republican party. But in the dis
nf f,nsatinn 7 tn 10
more than Democrat.
III desire to be citizen of the United
States, and have earnestly studied and have
earnestly searched my mind and my con.
science in the wish to advocate the truth !;
to advocate that which is best for the whole
people.
1.-THE great underlying sentiment of the
Mills bill is, TO none exclusive privileges :;
to all equal rights. Every man in free gov.
ernment should pay his share of the public
burden ! and the second sentence is like unto
it: He should pay no more than his share
when you put these two sentiments to-
gether you will understand the precise spirit
in which the Democratic party has approch.
ed, and is attempting to reform, the American
tariff.
"The Democratic party believes in tariff
for revenue and it advocates taxing the peo-
Pile for the just needs of the government and
for no more.
"And when it advocates this it advocates
policy which will for very many years 10
come place a tax on foreign manufactures
equal TO the whole cost of the labor employ.
ed in the making of these goods.
PUTTING IT IN NUTSHELL.
"My friend Butterworlh claims that the
protective policy of the Republicans is for
the equal good fall. Can you believe, my
friends, that a system of taxation can be de-
vsed that will take little out of the pockets
of every American and transfer that little to
the pocket of all other Americans 30 equit-
ably that each man will get his share?
as it not an absurd proposition that sys-
tenn of taxation 80 complicated as our tariff
can be devised that is equally beneficial to
alp If this is true, you are no better of at
the end Of the year than you were at the
beginning
"Now, my friends, for l may call you 80,
for my father and my grandfather and were
educated in the State of New Jersey, and
am now educating my son among you, my
friends, why is labor hating In the market
place, as Mr.. Butterworth asserts 1t is
"Why do your pearl button and your hat
and your cigar industries languishP Why isiti
For twenty-seven years you have lived under
u Val III hhht wv
ofthese goods.
"You could not ask that the products of
European labor be more completely shut out,
could you? There is not a ten-year-old boy
in the schools of Newark who does not know
that an increase in tariff, already prohibit
ory, could not in any way help these indus
tries. Isn't that ?" Applause and shouts
of you're right. We all understand that"
PROTECTED TO DEATH.
"Well, if am right, and your industries
languish, as the gentleman from Ohio asserts,
what is the matter? You have had a surfeit
of protection. You have had it for many
years, and yet my Republican opponent says
your industries langush.
"Does not that admission arraign the pol
icy ofprotection as practiced and preached by
the opposite party? l tell you, men of New
ark, the trouble is that you are protected to
death. Too much protection is choking the
life out of your trade.
at is cramping and limiting your markets
and rendering abortive your ingenuity, your
skill and natural advantages. The Demo-
cratic party proposes to remedy this by CIV
ing you free raw materials, enabling you to
compete in all the markets of the world.
"The Republican party would confne you
tn market of 60 ono 600 of DeOnle. Thu