The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-06-30

| The price of the foreign article to the
tull extent of the duty levied. aud on
all similar domestic articles 10 an eX-
tent just under that at which the
foreign article can he brought probably
INTO This country. OF course there are
many considerations which will vary
Tins. Ii will bc more or less than the
amount ] have suggested, but substan-
TALLY II is an increase always in the
price of the domestic article to point
very near that at which the foreign
goods can come III here. Because, il
not, the foreign goods will soon come
into competition with the home article
Now do you see what the tariff means2
Ii means increased prices for all man
ufactnrcd articles. Protection means
increased prices of all articles of home
consumption.
have heard protectionists say that
there had been no increase in prices
since the tariff had gone into effect;
that, III fact, the prices on articles got
less. So they have. But they have
not grown less because of the tariff,
but in spite of the tariff. The English
policy of free trade has developed the
same conditions of production which
have been developed here, and the
prices of articles in England are always,
or nearly always, as much less than
they are here as is the rate of our duty.
There has been a decrease in prices all
the world over. From what? From
improvements in machinery, from the
developments of invention and genius,
from steam and electricity. The world
at large has received this diminution
in prices, and it has been experienced
more IN countries having free trade
than III countries which have protec-
ton. And would not have you per-
NIT any man who advocates protection
TO escape you when you say increase
of prices" Increase of prices il the
beginning and the end of the tariff sys-
TEN. 1t is its alpha and omega, its
foundation and turret- stone; without
that it has not any reason to exist.
| Is it of any importance or conse-
quence to the people of this country
| that prices are increased by the tariff
/ Let me tell you. The tariff touches
5000 articles. While not SO many are
named in the tariff list, the reports OF
those who gather the duties will show
that 5000 articles, or more than that,
are affected by the tariff. And how
much are they increased in price by
this tariff lawP Forty three per cent.
nearly fifty per cent; and on those
articles which enter into general con-
sumption, into the life of the poor who
are least able to pay, 1t amounts tC
over sixty per cent. Is that of any
consequence?
What is the average wage in this
country in the year? 1t is less than
S400 u year; but ! will say S400 for thu
purposes OF my argument: and the
man who has " ifc and family i,
Obliged to pay out of that s4O0 for tht
support OF his wife and family, And
will say that the duty on necessities II
335 per cent. Now, the man WHIT
earns S400 year and is obliged to pay
it out for the support of his wife an(
family pays Sl33 a year by The force o
lie MiC lie has earned it by the law,
and under the operation of principles
OF trade which the tariff canuot by an,
possibility affect; aud yet the tariff pre-.
tending to have been his friend, comes
and takes from him Sl33 of his S400
Does that mean nothing? 1t means
my laboring friends, One-third OF you
time owned and controlled by othe
men it means one third of your wage
worse than lost. One-third OF you
life not your own. If you could saw,
that Sl33 Il year, how much more o
comfort it would mean Tor your home
! how much better dresses for you
wives; how much more comfortabl
clothing for your children; how mucl
better food at the table; how mucl
more satisfactory medicines in th,
hours OF sickness! And then to Inc TN
cruellest thing of this robbery is that i
takes away from the man his power Il
save. All that he earns must go; yea
after year goes, and all is gone, ant
perhaps he is in debt. AS the result o
years of toll he has nothing saved, ant
then comes the day of WEAKNESS, tn
hour when the arm falls helpless at hi
side, and the night settles down whei
no man can work. And then, what i
there for the old man and the oil,
woman but public or private charity
: or the generosity of kinsmen to WHOM
they must go for,what they get in thci
, declining years-because protection
. stole from them in the hours OF thei
: strength their power to save.
FRANK ii. IluRD.