Wichita eagle., 1888-01-26
ONE OF THE MACS ON PROTECTION

In my last letter on protection abou,
| two weeks ago. insisted that reduc
ton of the custom duties on any article
manufactured here, would have the eff
! feet of increasing the amount of the sur
plus. 1t is the experience of every intel
| ligent man who has given the subject
! the attention which it deserves. that a
reduction of duty increases importation
| to such an extent that the amount of
tax collected under the reduction would
soon aggregate more than the tax col
| lected before the reduction took place:
consequently tariff reduction would in
crease the surplus 1t would also have
the effect of giving employment to the
oppressed mechanics of Europe and force
our own wOrkmen to become trampS OF
work at reduced wages.
Senator Frye. of Maine. returned from
Europe few months ago and he has
given us some startling facts that show
the true inwardness Of the competition
American labor will have to face if the
recommendations of Cleveland win a
victory in this country. In Belgium, he
assures us, factory hands receive from
twenty to forty-tive cents day. In
Germany, according to the reports re-
ceived from 2333 manufacturing establish
ments, employing $4,000 workmen, the
average wages is $4.12 1-2 week The
senator tells us that he visited the large
iron works outside Of Glasgow on the
Clyde. where they turn out 800 tons of
pig iron and burn 800 tons of coal day,
and give employment to thou
sands of men. Laborers and unskilled
men get AZ cents day. miners from
1925 to $4.35 a week, and the
overseers who may be called the aristo-
cracy of the workingmen get $685. a
! week.
Senator Frye also tells us that in Glas-
Cow to-day. one-half the people have no
work to do. If the recommendation of
President Cleveland became the law of
elsewhere in Europe will find plenty of
work to do at increased wages: but what
will be the fate of our wOrkmen? With
us as a last resort they can come out
west and raise fifty cent wheat in order
that European workmen may have cheap
bread If these friends of England sue
coed in getting a market for English
goods in this country they will intlict a
greater loss on us than we would suffer
if an English army was again landed on
our shores. and burned New York.
Boston and Philadelphia with all the
atrocities which they committed in 1914,
when they wantonly applied the torch to
our national capitol. When the presi-
! dent message startled the wOrkmen of
America. every newspaper III England
applauded him to such an extent that
the London Times called a halt. as their
praise would be likely to iniure him at
| the next election This is an eventful
year which will decide whether England
or America will have occasion to rejoice.
If we permit England's candidate for
the presidency to be again elected. we
are degenerate sons of noble sires, I'M
worthy the sacrifices made in our behalf
by the dcmi-gods of the revolution.
When Cleveland was nominated for the
presidency more than three years ago.
prominent Democrats declared I'VE
love him for the enemies he has made.
! These enemies were John Kelly and 9TH
er workingmen of New York.
OF the adopted citizens of Irish birth
who inbibed a hatred OF England with
their mothers milk MANY of whom.
strange as it NAV appear, still act with
the Democratic party. l would respect
fully ask :: Do YOU love Cleveland for
the English friends he has made: Do
YOU wish TO obtain market for English
goods in this country: Do you believe
that it is for your benefit to vote for a
policy that favors England interests, or a
policy that aims 1T developing the
varied industries of the United
States: You will be called on 10 answer
these questions in this year of our Lord:
and on the answers which YOU give the
fate Of yourselves and your children in
a great measure depends.
One of the greatest of European states
men is Bismarck: he formerly believed
in free trade but seeing the misery
/ brought on Germany BY the English
doctrine. he thoroughly abandoned il
and became IN ardent protectionisi La
4 conversation with All american visitor
he remarked: We cam produce what
We need as we'll as our neighborS but
cannot 10 II * ch-apy as they there
fore il i proper that We -huaIa make.
those who compete with Us tor our mar
..ei> pay for the privilege.
The free trade policy pursued bv Eng
land y ia great degree, the casls- of
the distress among the workingnen or
that once happy country. from bridges
are being built by Belgium workmen:
whilst English mechanics are starving.
Twenty wears ago there were employed
in the city of London ~ 90 silk veayers:
, today there are but 5000 employed. The