Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-10-03
THE CONFLICT
Between the Wage-Earners of
This Country and of Europe
Precipitated
BY Pres't Cleveland's s Free Trade
Theory-H. X. Thurber's Rea-
sons for Switching.
THE FREE TRADE HEREsy

Exposed by One OF CleyeIands Former sup
porters.
As an evidence OF how the free trade
policy OF Mr.. Cleveland Is effecting
the merchants and business men OF
New York, we print below an address
issued by Mr.. III. X. Thurber, one of
the leading merchants Of New York
,ity, over bis own signature, ITO the
wage'earners Of the United States -
1t is sufficiently explicit to require no
comment at our hands, and Ia a fore
cast Of the great revolution that is TO
take place in the northern states in
November:
President Cleveland has precipitated
the conflict between the wage-parners
OF this country and the wage-esrners
Of Europe. In all fairness and candor,
| ask you, can there be but one result,
If the theory Of free trade Is carried
out, and that il the reduction of
wages? Our markets In the present
age OF steam are only ten days dis
tance in time from the European mar
kets. Freights are 80 low that In all
manufactured goods this item can
hardly be taken into account In the
cost OF the merchandise. A difference
OF per cent in cost of manufacturing
in this country over the cost IN Eu-
rope, sends the orders by cable 10 any
European market that is lower in price
than our own; consequently the only
protection labor has in this country
over the labor in any European coun-
try 10 the action Of q protective tariff.
Then comes the question: Does the
average wsge-earner in this country
receive higher wages and better net
results than the wsge-earner does in
Europe that is, can you live better,
can you gain a home easier, can you
educate your children better, can you
lay by surplus In case Of sickness or
old age, easier in this country than
you can in the most crowded portions
of Europe?
There can be but one answer to this
question, and that is, yes. We see il
everywhere; we ace II In the healthier
condition Of our wage-earners; We see
IL in the way their wives and children
are dressed; we see IL in their homes
(of which they very often own the
title-deeds); we see II In the deposits
In the sayings banks (which are wholly
the net results to wage earners.) In
the United States there Is due to 3, AIS,
0l3 depositors 81 ,235, 247, ,S7l, an aver.
age OF 1851 30-lOO to each depositor
We see 1t In the fact that those who
are able to get away from labor
oppressed Europe are emigrating Il
this country. All these are hard fact,
that the free trader cannot get away
from. Free trade is q very pretty
theory, but 1t is mainly professiona
men who advocate it, and il is crafty
ing to some TO preach "that all tn,
) world are brothers," and that conse
(, Quently we should not protect tn
, labor of our own neighbors, our owl
citizens, who build our villages int
towns, our towns into cities, WHO con
sumo our own raw products. Ere
trade may be charity to foreign opers
tives, but for one believe that Chart
begins at home first; that my ow
country is entitled to first regard; thu
the interest Of the wage-earner of th
country is my interest; that his succei
is my success.
also believe that what Europea
manufacturers want us to do IL not {,
our interest TO do. When every Eur
pean PAPER hailed President Clev,
lands message with delight "a ten,
ing toward free trade. IL convinced u
that II was not the best interest
this country that he should be 7
elected.
When London paper thinks d
best use they can make of Irishmen
to help them to emigrste TO this couI
try and join the democratic party, an
thus help TO break down our prote'
: tive tariff, that makes me think thi
our tariff IL q great benefit TO th
country. and Of course, | range myse
on the side OF a protective tariff. tn
"Mills tariff bill" that is endorsed b
the -. Louis deInncratlc conventlo
and President Cleveland keeps Rhol
, so per cent duty on sugar labout 81
| 100000 10 collect annually about II
per cent on rice, the very articles thI
YOU pay large percentage Of, aud r
duces the duty on articles where yol
weges enter into the cost Of produ
tlon, / cannot think that the MI
= bill IL for the best Interest OF our wag