Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-02-23
The Tariff.
BY HENRY wATTERSON.

WHICH is duinlLteu, springs from the
work kman's dread of want, and the
danger of this want is a direct result OF
conditions brought about by the pro-
tectionist and his theory Of protection.
Golden said, forcibly and truly, that
"when two employers run after one
workman, wages rise; and when two
work men run after one employer, wages
fall" In the United Stat the restric-
ton of manufacturers to the home
market, with no real restriction to i'm
migration, coupled with the increase
of the use of labor saving machinery,
has wrought this result, making work
boon, so that, in spite of the escapes
and reliefs afforded our work people by
cheap lands, discomfort among them is
universal
1t must be bad system which in
such a country produces such an out
cry In the face of it, where is the
protectionist's argument that the
American operative is the most pros
porous and happy in the world? That
he has more of what is cnlled liberty is
true. That his opportunities for inn
proving his fortune are greater IN
free. fresh, young country, not yet half
occupied, than they are. or can be, in
the crowded countries of Europe, with
conventions still upon them, goes with
out saying. These benefcent and ex-
ceptionsl features of the New World
over the cramped conditions of the Old
World are no more referable to the tar
iff, however, than they are referable to
the single rule of three. Yet in spite
of th EN- the American workman is less
satisfied, and makes louder complaint,
than the English Or he French work
man. IF protection g;.ye him such con-
stant work and sufficient wages as is
claimed, why the clamor, and why the
strikes. and why the lock-outs? Ger
tain it is that no such things came to
pass among us until the theory and
practices of protection had reached
their fullest recognition and develop
ment.
AS an argument to sustain the plea
that the tariff increases wages, we are
told that wages are higher than they
were prior to 1860. That wages are
higher generally is a statement not
open to dispute. During these twenty
five years the inventor has revolution
lied all mechanical industries; in other
words, the manufacturer has employed
machines to such an extent that the
amount of manual labor engaged in
has been greatly decreased. 1t is rough
Iy estimated that in the past one hun
dred years, or since the application of
steam to machinery, considering only
the various processes of cotton cultiva-
ton and manufacture, machinery has
so improved that one man does the
work 1t then required $500 men to do.
One, upon the mere statement OF this
fact, would suppose the result would
be the decrease in compensation of the
laborer. On the contrary, we find that
there has been a steady increase III the
value purchasing power) of labor, and
a depression III the value of moGey.
The sixteenth annual report of the
massachusetts Bureau of Statistics
deals at length with the advance in
wages from 1880 to 1860. 1t shows there
has been an advance, with only slight
fluctuations, from the earliest time un-
til now. Even the commercial revul-
sions of 1887 and 1867 served only as a
check, and had no positive effect in the
ODD ,site dir. ction. Still further, these
tables show that Walkers revenue
tariff, established in 1S46 and continu-
ing until 1850, did not interfere with
THIS movement toward increased wages.
During all that period, according to
these tables, the upward movement
continued without Interruption, if not
with accelerated force.
Turning to the fifteenth annual re-
port If the same bureau for information
concerning the course of wages, we find
(page 424) noticed a continual advance
from 1850 until 1872; then steady de-
cline until 1880; then rally and a con-
tlnuod Improvement until 1883. In the
United States, from 1860 to 1883, the
advance as IS to 36 per cent.
In Great Britain wages advanced
from 1872 to 1877, fell off between 1877
and 1880, and advanced again between
1880 and 1883. From 1872 to 1888 the
advance in Great Britain was 9.74 per
cent In Massachusetts wages in 1888
were 5.41 per cent. lower than in 1872,
Notwithstanding the rally in 1850. In
this same report Colonel Wright sub
mits some figures as to the course of
wages in Great Britain for few of the
most important industries, prepared
by George Lord, President o. the Man
chester Board OF Trade, showing an
average increase in wages from 1850 to
1858 of 80. Is per cent.
These facts make it clear that the adj
| vance in wages Is independent of the
| tariff. Wages advance in America
| from 1880 to 1860 steadily through all
tariff cl anges, and during period of
| fourteen years when we had tariff for
revenue only. From 1860 to 1888, dur
| ing period of war and financial de-
moralzation and political excitement,
the advance continued, but with per-
iods of fiuctuation more plainly mark
ed, registered in the etwenty-trhee years
an increase of 26 SO per cent.
In Great Britain, under near ap'
| Il l.
principal mechanical industries an ad
vance from 1850 to 1883 of 1918 pei
cent, and-what was not the case tt
America-accompa by a marvel
lous expansion OF export OF manufac
tured goods.
Except for our vast area of cheap
fertile, and unoccupied lands, we shoult
have had far greater want among ou
work people than they have ever ye
known, and when there are no NOR
such lands open to occupation, wh'
shall say that the load we have pu
upon ourselves will not be heavier thar
we can bear? On this point the testi
mony of Senator Beck, of Kentucky, !
of particular value. AS q man famiia
with that portion of our countay whicl
is yet free to the settler, and also witt
: the condition of the laboring classes II
t other countries, Mr.. Beck may be just
~ considered an authority. Referring
to this matter. he said, in speech de
!ivered in the Senate the Goth OF Apri
1886, and in answer to a question pu
by the Hon. George F. Edmunds, {
Vermont:
"The laboring- mans only protection Is t
require that the products of his labor sha
q be manufactured upon such Il basis and 0
SO large scale that they can be sent all oye