Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-16
TARIFF DISCUSSION
At ~Powhatan-An Interesting Exposure OF
some High Tariff FalIacies.

some High Tariff Fallacies.
To hs Editor Of tie RegEtG:
POwuATAS POINT, o., Mreh Is, 1888.
SIR The discussion OF the tariff question
which was mentioned in your paper last
week came of in Burgy's Hall, this place
on Saturday evening, 10th inst, and felt
so delighted with the eloquent, logical and
scholarly presentation Of economic truths
by Professor Thomas, of Darlington, o.,
that | deem bis name worthy of honorable
mention. l thank him sincerely for the
encomiums be heaped on President Cleve-
land. NOdoubt ne belongs TO that large class
of Republicans who think they have been
long enough voting to enrich ShylOck and
that it Is about time that they voted for
their own and their children'S interest.
notice that his opponent, among other
thing, said that Irish faLineS were caused
by free trade. This is a fayorite expression
of protectiOaists, and / 90 not understand
how they expect any intelligent American
to credit such unmitigated barefacad dem
agoguery.
In fact il was British protectiOnists that
destroyed Irish manufacture in the inter
est OF the same mOnOpOlists that secured
the statute compelling the people to bury
their dead in flannel. Free trade with
England is not the cause Of Erin's woes,
but English carpet-baggeTs backed by Eng
lish bayonets that have filed poor Ireland
with blood and tears. Unjust, excessive
rent taken from tine Isish farmers and
from Irish channels of trade and squan-
dered in ~prCdigacy by absentee landlords
has beggared the Irish farmer and sup
pressed Irish trade. Hence our brave
President is fighting the same battle for
the rights of American labor and trade
when ne raises his voice against excessive
taxation as Charles Stuart Parnell is w9g.
ing in the British Parliament for Irish
labor and Irish trade.
Human nature is the same everywhere.
The same cause under like circumstances
will produce the anne effect in all parts OF
the world. The cause of discomfort in
Egypt and India is not Eoglish trade, but,
rs IN Ireland, EagliSh csrpet-baggers and
English bayonets. IL was not Northern
trade, but Northern Clrpet-baggerS backed
By Federal bayOnets that ate out the sub
stance of the Southern people.
Would "a heaven that the dear Island of
SORROWS were as free from British power as
is our favored land and the people OF Ire
land would not dread English trade, be-
cause commercial intercourse Is beneficial
10 all and injurious 10 none. IL was not
Roman commerce but Roman iegiOns that
destroyed the liberty and prosperity Of
Carthage.
But our wiseacres tell us that English
eompetilion will ruin our labor market.
Kind, gracious sluls ! Don't they mani
fest A commeudable sOlicitude for the poor
when they want our yoteSY-but not when
they make laws. II their love for the
moor were equal to their affected hatred Of
England the poor would erjoy the results
of labor-saying machinery which has
helped 70 develop the so.called over pro-
ductiOn.
High taxes or high tariff does not pro
duce high wages, because between cause
and effect we observe IN experienced
necessary connection which is not realized
in high tariff aud high wages. We had
high tariff during the six years OF fam
inc. but had not high wages. A govern
ment nay enhance the price of certain
goods BY discriminating 10 their favor, but
this will not enhance, in proportion, the
labor market, because men will leave the
less favored, if they have the mesas, and
seek that which psyst the best, The manu-
f~acturer, though enterprisiug enough, may
be too poor to offer competition, but the
laborer who is hired on the basis Of supply
and demand will 90 for the high wages till
the monopolist Ands be eau get all the men
he wants. and will only pay the general
price of labor. Thus the labor market Is
controlled by the commercial and indus
trial activities and opportunities OF the
country, and not by tariff.
There il cause for high wages, as there Is
a aus for everything, and between these
there is an experienced necessary connec-
lion, and that is q volume OF currency
soual 10 the demands Of business. Since
the time that man was compelled TO eai
his bread in the sweat Of his face there
has been an ~insuPRrable connection Dc
tgeon the value Of labor and property ana
money, which is the measure ct thsir val
ues.
Some time ago., what would nov be
considered a moderate fortune would then
be regarded as fabulous, owing TO the
great relative purchasing power OF money
but since the discovery Of gold and siiyei
in America and Australia. the relative
purchasing power Of money deereaseu
and the value OF property an1 con
se0uently of labor increased. we nSu az
evidence of this. too, in u " county,
from the time Of the war TO etlne u Wy
isIge. property and labor was high Men
no5d fbsn more easily meet their Obiiga'
tons and the benefits Of labor-saVing ma
chimes was widely difused among the toll
Ing millions. workiDgmen built homes
and would have paid for them II the m
had thus continued, bat it was only iht
sunshine before q storm, and at tne Denes'
of ShylOek the blood Of commerce Was