Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-08-09

To first question: "I es. but wages
in England under free-trade have
advanced much more during the
last fifty years than they have here"
To second question: awe are will
ling to assume that be does. But
the English consumer under free
trade system buys the same articles
at a greater reduction still over the
prices he paid quarter of a cen
fury ago"
To third question: at is likely
you have understated the advantage
in point of wages in this country
over any European country"
To fourth question: "Ihe answer
to this question is, that in England
family of five persons earn in one
year $51147, and it costs them
$508.35 for their living. While in
Massachusetts, a family of five per-
sons earn in a year 38O3.47, and it
costs them $754.42 to live. Net diff
ference in favor Of Massachusetts
family only $40 per year"
To fifth question: ~ believe that
our development and prosperity have
been immeasurably discouraged and
retarded by our system of protective
tariffs"
TO sixth question: "Our prosper
ity and development between 1850
and 1860 were at a greater rate than
during any period of our national life.
Here are the facts in the case: Be
tween 1850 and 1860 our exports in
creased 27O per cent; between 1870
and 1880 our exports increased 200
per cent"
TO seventh question: "The per
capita wealth in Great Britain is
$l245, in Holland $1,000, in the
United States $500.
Our wage workers, while
they earn the highest wages in the
world, are still kept poor-poorer
than those of the same class in more
than one European country"
Let us examine Mr.. Jones'
answers, and see what they amount
to.
lst.-He is compelled to answer
eyes, but to break the damaging
force of his answer upon his theory
that protection is inimical to labor,
he tells us that the pay of labor in
England has increased wonderfully
in the past fifty years-from so to
100 per cent Admit it. And he
has only proved that labor which is
now paid 35 per cent. less in Eng
land than in the United States was
paid So to 1876 per cent. less fifty
years ago. That the per cent. OF
increase in the United States is less
is true only because the starting
point was much higher. And it may
be fairly assumed that the increas
ing demand for skilled labor in the
rapidly developed industries in the
United States during the past quar-
ter Of a century, has compelled the
raising Of wages in England &c
retain her citizens.
2d.-IIe admits that the consumer
buys manufactured articles in Amer
lea cheaper to-day than ever before
But to offset as much as possible
the unfortunate admission he trot'
off to England again, and tells u
that the English consumer buys At
proportionately greater reduction
Suppose he does, which is no
authenticated, what relation does
that assumed fact bear to the prop
osition that the American laborer j.
robbed by the tariff?
3d.-Mr Jones frankly answers
aflirmatiyely the third question, anc
finds no explanation to make OF the
fact, but holsters his weak cause by
telling that in England wages are
higher than in other European
countries
4th.-If an American family has
as Mr.. Jones makes appear, an advan
tage of only $40 per year over al
English family, that should silence
the cry that our laborers are being
robbed 10y the tariff But if il
should appear that the American
family is better clothed, better
housed and better fed, at the same
time, the facts would appear worse
for the frce-rader's case. The clos
ling part Of Mr.. Jones' answer &c
this question we can hardly believe
be wrote seriously, 1t cannot be
/ tbof no bp1jayas that bnt for the