The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-06-23
NO PROTECTION FOR THE WORKING
AND BURGHER CLASSES.

Republican papers are dcn0uncing
| Congressman a. l.. Fitch, of New
York, who, though elected as repub-
lican, recently delivered II speech OF
much vigor and striking pertinence in
favor OF the Mills bill MIR. Fitch rep
resemts New York City constituency
composed largely or mostly of burgher
classes. who, divorced by their 0ccupa-
tiOns from speculative enterprise or
profit, feel most keenly, as con sumers,
The taxes that swell the cost of living.
Here is sample of Mr.. fitch's argu-
mcnts:-
"The majority of people who live in
the upper part of New York City re-
ceive fixed incomes paid them as safa-
ries or wages every Month. They are
archiGcts, artists, clergymen, clerks in
banks, insurance and law offices, Jour
nalists, musicians, lawyers, physicians,
teachers, bookkeepers, railroad en-
ploYes, drivers, conductors, policemen,
iiremcn. telegraph and telephone opcr
ators, salesmen, mechanics, engineers,
stenographers, printers, and skilled
mechanics of all sorts not employed in
industries which have protection under
the present tariff. In this district lives,
too, an army OF deserving women who
earn their living by unprotected labor,
and often that of others dependent
upon them. There is perhaps II
necessity within the course of this long
debate that somebody should say II
| word for these people. These
people have no direct protection. They
are not ol erpaid, nor is their life more
luxurious than ii ought TO he. The
money which they draw at the end of
every month is not more than they
need, and they are often sOrely pinched
TO buy even the taxed doll to fill the
taxed Christmas stocking, or to pay tor
he taxed medicine for any member OF
the family"
These are the toilers with head and
with hand for whose protection by the
continuance of the present tariff the
republicans make SO much clamor Yet
can any one truthiully say that any of
them receive the slightest benefit from
the so-called protectiOn,or that they are
not directly injured by it? Let Mr..
Fitch answer. "LOOk for IA moment at
what these people in my district pay
taxes On," he says. They pa, upon
everything. A tariff on beef, pork,
hams and bacon, butter, lard, cheese,
mo asses, grapes, wheat, flour, oats,
cornmeal, rye, barley, potatoes, raisins,
vinegar, honey, rice and rice meal,
sugar, extract of meat, pickles, cur
rants, apples, salt and condensed milk.
The list Is the inventory at the grocery
store at which they buy. There is a
duty on the coal that warns them, on
their cooking utensils, on their cloth
ing, from their hats to their stockings,
and on the roofs over their heads. Is
IL unfair to ask for them little consid-
eratlon! Grant that we are 10 have a
protective tariff; must we have this
particular one tOrcVerY These are
things that have been told SO often as
To he III themselves somewhat tedious,
but fresh Significance is impaired TO
their uttcrauce in this instance bv the
republican source from which il comes.
MIR. Fitch made n local application of
his arguments, combining them to his !
own district in New York CITY, but he |
might have taken broader field and |
strengthed his position materially. All |
hat he says OF the injustice of protec- |
lion in his district is equally applicable |
I" the whole country. The protective |
tariff laws are not in the interest of the |
wage earncrs, or OF the great body Of !
the cOuntry's CONSUMERS and produ-
Gers. They are with system and of set
purpose exactly the reverse. Ii is one
0f the anomalies of the tariff discus
slons that the republicans who support
Ihe protective tariff system claim that
they do SO IN the interest of the tOiliuv
and consuming masses. From the very
necessity Ol the case the system, To
protect at all, must levy tribute upon
.hese masses for the enrichment of "A
favored few. Masks are being torn
from many iaccs, and the truth is com
ng to The surface. Mr.. Fitch has re-
used To wear his mask longer, and il
will not he surprising to see others fol-
owing his example. lt is hard thing
or the leopard 10 change its spots, but
{ is much better to lose the spots than
he whole skin. The day is approach
ng when II will be exceedingly uii-
lealthy Tor public man to attempt 10
lse the working aud hurghcr classes in
he interest OF deVuuring mOnupolies,
)nilt up aud fortified by class leyisla-
ion. And is il proper aud pertinent
~ remark that under the designation
II the working and burgher classes
honId be included not only day labor
RS, artisans, mechanics aud husband
nen, but tradespeople and merchants
II general, and lawyers, physicians,
teachers, all members OF
earned professions--in short, all who
i've and seek to prosper by the fruits of
heir own honest industry, whether OF
he head or hand; not By the subtle
md rapacious contrivances of class leu-
station, not by public offices and pub
ic plunder.