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

twice as high as it was before the war. We
have had that high tariff all this time.
Now, If that high tariff is go much for the
benefit of the laboring men, why have not
the laboring men in these 81 years grown
rich, 1 should like to known Have theyf
[Cries of mo, mol If they have thsy
are very unreasonable men, for not d year
passes over our heads that we do not hear
of strikes o laborers because they
DEMAND HOE WAGE
and say they cannot live on what they rs
ceive. Again and again we hear of what
are called 1ockoute, that is, where the en-
ployers suspend operations and lock up
their mills because they eannot afford 10
pay any more wages than they did pay.
Why are these strfksse Why are these
lockouts? Why are there such institu-
tons 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 beins imposed sPon and
to increase their compensation. Why Ii
there a necessity for all these things and
all these extensive and worthy orsnniH-
ions if a high tariff gives high wages 30 the
laborer? No man can answer that question
satisfactorily even 10 himself.
If what these men say il true about high
tariff and its efect upon wages, Why,
then, gentlemen, all these b unions,
Ill tHOS6 hnlRuS u 44-bbIt III SNOAy bSNy
else who is engaged in that En OF bust
ness, are simply wasting their time, for
the tariff nicely solves the problem for
them. Laughter and applause. Yes,
it does solve the problem for them, but not
in the way they like Crenewed laughterl,
nor precisely IA the way that they feel rs
if they were benefited, and therefore they
have to resort to other means 10 get their
wages which the employers are not willing
to pay.
laboring man, let ne add, they say that
the tariff does not raise the price. If it
don't raise prices / would like to know
why the manufacturers, or so many of
them, arc in favor Of il? Do they wnAt
a high tariff in order to lower tbs pricesR
Not many of them, Think. There are in
stances In which high tariff IA. lowered
prices for especial and peculiar reasons,
but IS a general rule, as 1 have already
shown you by what 1 read from MIR.
Adams report and from other authorities
and also from reason, the thrift increases
you ma be sure that the manufacturers
and capitalists would mol wan 1t, and If
it don't Increase the price pray where is
the proteetion-whers does that come in2
They are afraid of our eetting thing
cheaper in this country than they ear be
manufactured here, rs they say by reason
of the pauper labor, as they call it Of
Europe. Well, now, if the tariff is
not to increase the price of articles
which we buy and which are msnufas-
tured here, where is the Prctestton 20
American manufacturers, and how If tia
price is not raised are better wages paiar
THE ooLoRRD BRoTHRR.
But there is one class Of laborers, nay
friends, that 1 want 20 call your ~attentisn
to especially. There is one class Of lnborers
ia this country which has been, according
to the claims of the Aholitonists in the
country, and of the Republicans, their es-
pecial wards-especfAlly under their guar
| dianship, and for whose interests they feel
the most peculiar and earnest s~olieftude,
and those are the negroes. Now, the resalt
Of the war was to free about 1000, 600 of
negroes, and 1 am very glad they were
freed, and they have increased now to
about 5000, 600 or 1000, 900, for the neass
is a prolific animal. CGrsat laughter n
applause.] How do these negroes
make their Evingr Why, .
great many of them go TO town and pursue
any kind of handisraft that they csn, be-
coming domestic servants, blaokirg shoes,
shaving faces, or doing Things Of thatktnd.
But in the country the negro makes what
he gets by cultivatinx tbs earth throughout
the whole South. How dees he cultivate
il? Why. he either has bought come land,
and some Of them have bought q good deal,
or he rents land. Whether he cultivatss
his own land or whether he renh it, the
crops that he gets from It are ths rsmunsr
alton he receives for his tell. Now that
crop in the main consists of cotton, gsns
corn and some little wheat, bat 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 eash ysart
Why, gentlemen, there is 10 tariff at all
on cotton. 1t comes in free as the air. L
believe 1 am quite right in saying that,
amt IP Turning to Mr.. outhwaite.1
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 Is all that the negro
has for his labor. he can't get a can't mere
for bis estton by reason OF any high pre-
tective tariff, and he don't get, perhaps, =
cent 1es. He has to sell his cotton and