Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-09-18

| IWACG CO AlHAG 90 ~ 10 NAS a. Te4 "
have had that high tariff all this time.
Now, if that high tariff is 80 much for the
benefit of the laboring men, why have not
the laboring men in these 81 years grown
rich, I should like to known Have theyt
GCries of "No, no."1 IF they have they
are very unreasonable men, for not a year
passes over our heads that we do not hear
Of strikes %oflaborers because they
DENAED LORE wAGH
and say they cannot live on what they re-
ceive. Again and again We hear of what
are called lockouts, that is, where the en-
ployers suspend operations and lock up
their mills because they eannot afford to
pay any more wages than they did pay.
Why are these strtksse Why are these
lockoutse Why are there such institu-
lions as labor unions So as to secure bet
ter wages. Why is there such an institu-
ton as the Knights Of Iaberf To prevent
laboring men from being imposed NPon and
to increase their compensation. Why is
there q necessity for all these things and
all these extensive and worthy orsnniR-
tions if a high tariff gives high wages 80 the
laborer? No man can answer that question
satisfactorily even 10 himself.
If what these men say il true about high
tariff and it's effect upon wages, why,
then, gentlemen, al these labor unions,
all these Knights Of Labor, and everybody
else who is engaged in that kind of bust
ness, are simply wasting their time, for
them. Laughter and applause. Yes,
it does solve the problem for them, but not
in the way they like [renewed laushterl,
nor precisely IA the way that they feel as
if they were benefited, and therefore they
have to resort to other means to get their
wages which the employers are not willing
to pay.
But while I am on this subject of the
laboring man, let me add, they say that
the tariff does not raise the price. If it
don't raise prices 1 would like to know
why the manufacturers, or 50 many of
them, are in favor Of ip Do they wait
a high tariff in order TO lower ths prieeef
Not many of them, think. There gre in
stances in which high tariff has lowered
prices for especial and peculiar reasons,
but as a general rule, as l have already
shown you by what 1 read from MIR.
Adams report and from other authorities
the price. If 1t don't increase ths price
you may be sure that the manufacturers
and capitalists would mol want it, and if
il don't Increase the price pray where ia
the protection-where does that como inf
They are afraid of our getting thinxs
cheaper IN this country than they can be
manufactured here, as they say by reason
of the pauper labor, rs they call it OF
which we buy and which gre menufae-
tured here, where is the Profession 20
American manufacturers, and how If tia
price is not raised are better wage p&iaf
THE oLoRRD RoTHR
But there is one class Of laborers, nay
friends, that 1 want TO call your attention
to especially. There is 4 class of lnborers
ia this country which has been, according
to the claims Of the Aholittonists in the
country, and of the Republicans, their e.
pecial wards-espeeiAlly under their guar
dianship, and for whose interests they feel
the most peculiar and earnest solicituds,
and those are the negroes. Now, the resslt
of the war was to free about 1000, GOO of
negroes, and 1 am very glad they We're
freed, and they have increased now to
about 5000, 600 or 1000, 600, for the Negro
is a prolific animal. LGrsat laughter and
npg!s"'', Their H0" li aH these why negroes a
great many of them 20 TO town and pursue
any kind of handiaraft that they osn, be-
coming domestic servants, blaokirg shoes,
shaving faces, or doing things Of that kind.
But in the country the negro makes what
he gets by cultiyatinx tbs earth throughout
the whole South. How does he cultivate
iP Why, he either has boughb eome land,
ana SEINE OF tneh lave bought q EOOO DEAL
or he rents land. Whether he cultivatss
his own land or whether he renis it, the
crops that he gets from 1t are ths rsmuns
alton he receives for his tell. Now that
crop in the main consists of cotton, ssns
corn and some little wheat, but mainly all
cotton. Now how can the high protective
tariff benefit that negro who raises cotton
and has for his share of the crop three or
four or five bales of cotton cash ysarf
Why, gentlemen, there is no tariff at all
on cotton. 1t comes in free So the air. 1
believe l am quite right in saying that,
amt II Turning to Mr.. Outhwaite.l
Mr.. O.-Yes, sir.
Judge Thurman-It comes in free as the
air. The price of cotton, therefore, is net
raised, as they say, or lesssnsd by the
tariff tax, and here L. all that the nsSro
has for his labor. He can't get q cant mere
for bis cation by reason Of shy high pre-
tective tariff, and he don't get, perhaps, =
cent less. He has to sell his cotton md