New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-20
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
MR.. SARGENT'S HOSTILITY TO TARIFFS.
HIS sELFINTEREsT EXPoSED-A LETTER FROM
A coNNrcrrcrrr MANTLE AcvTTrRER

A CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER.
Tothe Edttor Of The Tribune.
Sir: feel indebted to my Nev-York friends who
have mailed to several copies Of The New-forK
Times of August 10. containing. under the head OF
The Blight OF the Tariff nearly three columns of
matter in which few statements made by my
friend, Mr. J. B. Sargent Of NewHaven, bearing upon
the American tariff. The rest Of the article Is APP
parenty padding" supplied by the Individual sent
to Interview Mr. Sargent, upon his return from his trip
around the world As an advertisement, this article
WILL doubt, Mr.. sargent's purpose but as an
argument in favor of free trade and against a pro-
tccivc tariff, It seems a failure Tho last quoted
saying Of HIS TO the effect that II free trade should
close the mining and foundry business In America, he
would sim have free trade in order that the business
in which he is engaged might flourish. discoses the
self serving purpose Of his free-rade notions am
more modest than my friend Sargent but l. too have
been engaged for more than thirty years. In manu-
featuring, in business certainly not less I'm mag
ntude than that OF his and do not believe that
the workingmen in his any other Connecticut man.
ufactory VIII understandlngy vote TO open the
markets OF the United Estates 10 the free influx
OF forelgn-made goods, the manufacturers Of which
pay nothing and do nothing toward the support Of
the Government the maintenance OF any Of the
institutions of the United states, while every Amerf
can citizen, rich poor, pays something out of his
Accommodations or his wages for such support.
1t is noticeable that Mr.. Sargent Is made TO talk
rather elibly Of various metals free materials
not seeming to recognize that undiscovered and
coal BEDS the forests and grasses growing
unsurveyed territory constitute the actual free raw
material Of the United States, and that when a
single days labor is expended In discovery and survey
that the ore bed coal field forest or prairie
becomes somebody's finished product. and his labor
and skill and ingenuity fully entitled TO tariff
protection the finished products of iron and brass
turned out from the works Of any great Eastern
manufacturer. I have not had the benefit of foreign
travel 10 the exteai that he has, but am somewhat
acquainted with tic condition of the workshops and
working people Of England, Germany, France, Bel
gum and Italy, and venture the assertion that no
considerable number Of Of any Of these national
tiles employed in the United States would
change their present condition of wages and living
limited though they may be, for the wages and living
they could obtain IN any of these countries engaged
in similar employment. If this be not true Why
the hundreds of thousands OF people Of these
tries going TO America each year and few returning
TO make home in the land Of their birth
Germany, France, Belgium and Italy have within
few years adopted or largely increased tariff duties
upon imports into their respective Countries and
New South Wales alone OF all the English colonies
is open 10 free trade. Even England herself spurrcd
by the dire necessity OF creator revenue. Is gradually
adding 10 her list OF dtabe articles The condition
OF labor in these several countries Is gradually i'm
proving because Of the duties placed upon articles
that enter into competition with their productions
and stll the condition Of labor in all these countries
Is far below that oyed in the United STATES Why
then, open the market OF the United states TO me
product of the illcODdii0ned laboers of Europe
Let the manufacturer who would dcbase the labor
that he employs advocate free trade, but let the
manufacturer who would endcavOr mako better
the condition Of ahorlng nen give uncertain sound
in favor of protective duties in support of American
wOrkingmen. Very truly yours.
VI. J. WOODRUFF.
a the Russell & Erwin Mfg Co. New Britain, Conn.,
London, England, Aug. 10 1oo5.