The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-01

que HOIlCe OF Ills IuteutiOll5 III luc Acdi
future it was by no means unreasonable
to expect something more than spread
of platitudes, when he should Swing
himself loose" In earnest. After "thun-
dering in the index" he settles down In
discussion to the mere commonplace OF
unsupported assertion and reproduc-
ton of arguments which should be plac-
ed on the retired list because of long and
unremitting service.
The readiness with which some people
Will undertake to adjust the tariff" even
to matters of detail, is gratifying evidence
that knowledge of state-craft is not be-
yond the reach of those In the ordinary
walks of life, and that it may have an
outcropping, even in the correspondent
of local paper. In every age and IN
every country people have been Cypress
ed and this oppression is most frequently
in the form of overtaxation. Their pro-
test sometimes takes the form of rebel
lion, when a statement of grievances passes
unheeded. But even when driven to this
extremity to enforce their demands for
justice, they do not assume to NEEDLE
with the intricacies of adjustment, salts
fed if relief is offered them.
The complacent egotism with which
questions were propounded has coun-
terpart In the arrogant air of vlrtuous
conservatism with which the correspon-
dent rebukes an expression hostile to ex-
cessive taxation, as resembling the "crazy
vaporing of some socialistic crank" Tru-
ly, there must be genuine satisfaction in
dom than his fellows, but that his vir-
tues will offset the tendency of the VIC
ious to overthrow law.
While in the opinion of the correspon-
dent it may be sufficient argument for
him to challenge the assumption" that
1.-THE manufacturer alone is benefited at
the expense of the people by protec-
tive tariff, others, with less exalted idea
of the incontestable nature of the chal-
lenge, may not be SO readily disposed to
accept his ipse di;rit" as conclusive proof,
or even as justifying doubt that the
assumption is incorrect. The tariff,
adopted as it now stands, is avowedly for
protection, revenue being incidental. If
the tariff does not enable the manufac-
turer to get higher price for his wares,
it does not serve the purpose for which
it was called into being. The increase in
value comes into his hands. The burden
of proof is on the protectionists to show
that it does not remain there. "Chal-
longing" will satisfy no one, no matter
with what degree of self-importance or
assumption of knowledge it may be put
| forward. The comparison of wages is
balderdash, and doubly nonsensical as
this correspondent presents it. He has
no information on the subject beyond the
tables of wages which are misleading
and which are quoted by both sides to
the controversy. When he asserts
that the difference in wages between any
foreign country and America is much
greater than is the difference in the sell
ing prices of the articles produced, he In
vites comparison with many countries in
which protection prevails. He might
assert" with more perspicuity as to the
point he wishes to make, and with great
er probability OF having his assertion
harmonic with facts, that in portions OF
the United States the scale Of wages for
people engaged in the same class of work
varies as local conditions may determine.
Wages are higher in Chicago than in
Manitowoc, because the cost of living is
higher. 1t is the veriest nonsense to as
sert that protective tariff increases real
wages. In the United States wages have
steadily advanced and the ratio of increase
period OF time while the tariff was lowest.
In free trade England the same advance
is noticeable. 1t is as reasonable to at
tribute the advance in England to free
trade as that in the United States to pro-
lection. Statistics show that wages are
higher in England than in Germany or
France, though the last two are high
tariff countries. Robert Porter attempts
to disprove this fact, but succeeds only
In showing that there is constant advance
ment in the wages of Germany, which is
movement that is general and proves
nothing. The emigration from Germany
to England which has attracted the at
tention Of newspapers within the last
year, is significant on the question OF
wages. In 1894 when the protective
| policy was pushing itself forward, the
ultra free traders argued that the rela-
lively high wages prevailing in this conn
try would prevent our manufacturers
from competing with those of England.
Protectionists replied that the real wages
paid In this country were no higher than
in England, and that protection would
not tend to increase them. Manufacture
ers had not then resorted to the subter-
fuge OF protection to American labor, but
frankly admitted the profits were to ac-
crue to themselves. They were not uni
ted and it was scramble for advantage.
The common purpose of spoliation made
them act in harmony later, and the labor
er was won by specious appeals and au-
dacious misrepresentation.
Henry George makes it appear that
wages largely depend upon the produce
of labor. There can be no doubt that
American labor is more productive than
European labor because more intelligent,
and the opportunity to become free
holder stimulates to industry. Our m
developed country offers reward for
industry which is wholly lacking in Eng
land. In the workshop or on the farm
the late arrival cannot perform the labor
or secure the wages of the person ito the