The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-05-17
1refs and no ,

-g..Irtfs and no d
- y . \! y - lll!I!l Sest at this time, i
pending the tariff reform agitation in
the House, in common with other
Congressman, l am daily deluged
with slave trade pamphlets, all more
or less distressed to death over the
horrible fate of the workingman, and
appealing to the humane to save him.
One pamphlet, which is now before
me, is headed as follows: "The For
eign Raid Begun! Preparing for the
Onslaught ON American Industries !"
Then follows the startling informa-
that lot of Belgian iron master. are
preparing to flood this country with
cheap iron, house and bridge building
material, and have already scattered
their advertising circulars broadcast
over the land Gin anticipation of the
possible action of the free-trade Con-
gress." The writer then says that
Tariff League representative got
list of their prices on beam iron, and
found that they offered them at S25.-
81 per ton, plus s2.44 charges and
$2S duty-total $56.35; and adds
that American manufacturers cannot
make such beams for less than $40.
Of course he says, "The labor cost,
more than anything else, makes this
difference 1t SO happens, however,
that the census of 1880 gives us sta
tistics, furnished by the manufactur-
ers themselves, of the percentage of
iron in America that percentage is
1877. At this rate the labor in
ton of such iron in Belgium is about
$50, in America $3.50; but the
duty is s28 and ocean freight $244
more-total 1904, against the Bel
gian. Now, what becomes OF the
1884 which remains after paying
the American iron worker three times
| the wages of the Belgian No man
with common sense can doubt for
moment that it goes into the pocket
| OF the manufacturer. He shouts him.
self hoarse for the money to be given
to the American laborer he hires
men like this scribbler to falsify the
truth in the name Of American
labor his tears roll down hi, cheeks
in copious and piteous streams for his
| beloved American laborer, but, sup
pressing his grief as best he may, he
wips them away and pockets the money.
Surely this is an affection surprising
the love of woman, and SO the false
hood may be detected in a hundred
leading articles of prime necessity.
It is astonishing that tallacies so
often and so completely exposed
should be so persistently and so shame
lessly reasserted Whenever these
assertions are examined they have
been found untrue; whenever their
predictions have been tested they have
shared the fate of the priests of Baal.
The story Of quinine always gives a
protectionist the chills instead of cur
ing him. They said when a repeal of
the duty was agitated that it would
destroy utterly its manufacture in the
United States, discharge all the labor
engaged and raise the price. At that
time there were five establishments
in this country making it employ
| 500 hands, and the price was $3.50
an ounce. A poor man could not af-
| ford to have chills at such price for
quinine But with much hesitation
Congress took the risk and repealed
the heavy duty and put it on the free
list. Every pediction proved to be
the Inference of false prophet. There
are now twelve quinine factories in
the United States, employing 1000
hands, and the price is so cents per
ounce, whilst the workmen receive as
, good wages as before! Yet it would
almost appear that they ask us to be-
lieve their predictions to-day because
, they lied to US yesterday. A young
candidate for the ministry was put up
, to preach his trial sermon. In the
midst of his discourse he lost his foot
baked, and lolled out his tongue in a
| manner so ridiculous that the unre
: generate snickered and the pious
) were scandalized. A grave brother
t rebuked him and demanded indig
, nantlY why, of all things. he put hi
5 tongue out. "Well, brother he re-
, piled, "I knew l must put out some,
thing, and that was all I could gel
: out" So it is with those who enslave
/ commerce. They are pushed to the
7 wall by the demand for revenue re
! form the spirit of intelligent inquiry
into the methods and the necessit,
e for this enormous taxation, which il
Q over1owing the treasury, enrichin,
t thousands by grinding millions int
!. the earth and preparing for the uttel
J, destruction Of foreign commerce
: They know that their infamous com
8 binations with the system which sup
| ports them are threatened with ex
posure to the light, which mean
| death, and they are obliged to pu
out something.
5 The old, faithful, well worn lie abou
$ the benefit of protection to the work
ingman, whom they love with an er
$ thusiasm that discounts the affectio
r of David and Jonathan by at leas
q 81 per cent, is the best and most cor
venient economic chestnut they hav
t left to put out. q. B. VANCE.