Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-12-21
RICH BoYCoTTERs.
iNew York Evening Post.J


Mr.. Henry sldgwics, the author OF
Methods Of Elhics, in an address before
the British Association defended the theory
Of protection against those who denied the
moral right Of governments to impose
taxes for the purpose OF promoting
domestic industry; but at the end lie ruin
ed his argument for pro!ectioni-t purposes
by Laying II down that no nation in the
world had virlne or selfrcslfaini or ability
enough TO administer system of prutrc-
tior. Il was sure 10 dehauch, ho held,
both the Legislature which enacted the
tariff aud the "intere4t-" which profted by
II. There IL nothing new IN this Hrgn-
ment II owes whNtevef force IL lis in
Mr.. Sdgwick's mouth to the fact that j.
comes from man who attached no I'M
portance to the moral objections 10 protoc e.
tinn ui which some free traders make II
good deal. But it Ia an argument which
gives new weight to the considerations
urged by Mr.. Cleveland in his last message
that high tariffs, maintained for the
benefit Of the rich, teach socialism to the
poor, aud make them eager to get hold oil
the Government, that they, too, may fill
their pockets through class legislation.
Curioasly enough, too, they seem TO lead
to the adoption by the rich OF some OF the
practices 10y which the poor tyrannize
over their fellows in pursuance OF social
istic aims. Nobody has yet forgotten the
| fight we had in these parts, over two years
ago with the trades-union boycotters.
| They aske to he allowed to enforce sys-
tenn of exclsusive dealing by which any
| body who did not agree with their views
about wages and hours and the methods
of work should be, ii a laborer, prevented
from getting asy employment, and II an
employer, prevented from selling his goods
Before public sentiment was thoroughly
reused against them, and the law brought
into play to restrain them, they had made
the lives of thousands OF laborers miser-
able, and threatened scores OF employers
with ruin. They rio,ed in the streets,
and blocked them up, and stopped the
some districts, as during the great South
western strike, produced an almost total
suspension OF industry. When all was
over, and they iound the law was too
strong for them, they actually tried, as in
this State, 10 get the law changed so as to
make their attacks on persons and proper
ty legally justifable, or at least harmless.
Those who recall The public Indignation
al these tactics on the part of Labor will
be astonshed to learn that Capital shows
| signs of designing to resort to them also,
| in defence OF its present legal privileges in
this country. The Home-Market Club,
| which has its headquarters in Boston, and
includes most of the New England
manufacturers, IL said to have been 30
much exasperated and alarmed by the
attack on the tariff made by the Democrats
in the last election, that II proposes
"plan OF campaign" not unlike that to
which the shareholders resorted before the
war, with the view of warding off as-
saults on their property MS covered by "the
| peculiar institution" That is TO say, they
propose to enter into nm agreement TO con-
| sign their goods for sale In this CITY TO
none but Republicans, who employ IN
their mills only Republican superintend-
en,s who control the voting hands, and TO
add to their existing black list OF iurbu-
lent laborers the names of noted Demo.
| Gratis. Our older readers will he remind
ed by this OF the black list of Northern
wholesale houses which used TO be made
up in the slave States, 80 that Southern
dealers might avoid them, and OF the
blackmail which Southern newspapers
used TO levy on timerous Northern traders
and publishers, to pay Tor exemption from
denunciation aa "aboliuonisis" or enemies
of the South and her institutions. That
was very painful chapter in the history
Of the country, and, indeed, one may say,
| in the history OF human nature, and one
which probably no one who saw slavery
crushed, ever expected 10 see repeated here
in defence OF any cause or interest"
II ia hard for boycotling to flourish on
American soil, The manners, the feelings
OF the people are utterly opposed to it,.
But il is everywhere The chief weapon OF
privileged class which finds itself assailed
on its property or in its privileges. II was
the chief defense of the landlords in Eng
land against the abolition of the Corn
Laws. 1t was the chef defence of the
Shareholders against the attacks on slavery,
and il will doubtless play large part in
the defence oi the tariff. To assail the
tariff is in the eyes oil great many people
TO Rssail their property and consideration
in the community, and the whole system
of things IN which they find their nun
dane happiness. They, therefore, repel 1t
with the utmost bitterness. The man who
questions ils sancliiy is an incendiary and
eveller, confederate of foreign enemies
and rivals. They want to drive him out
OF the community, TO close his mouth on
the platform, stop the circulation OF Ills
books and newspapers, and dlsciedit his
morals, exactly At the Shareholders uFe u
| do with the abolilionisls. and the land
/ holders with Golden and Bright. In fact,
| ihe work is 30 odions that they cannot con-
ceive of anybody engaging in IL without
being paid for ii, and therefore TO The other
charges against him they add that Of being
a hiIeling.
What is this privilege, defended with
such desperation? 1t is the privilege OF
selling goods to people who do not want
them nj price liked by yourself, and of
preventing their going 10 any other mar
ket than yours. But II isnot unpreceden-
ted that claim on its face so unreasonable
should I've defended will, such ferceness
aud ma,ignity? Not at all. The more
unreasonable II claim is, the more fero-
ciousy does man assert il. The claim
to hold men in cha,,el slavery was much
more unreasonable, and was maintained
al the cost Of Cling whole continent will,
blood and fire. The claim of the exclusive
right 10 sell bread to The English people
at prices fixed by the men who grew the
wheat was pushed TO the verge OF civil war,
rs essential 10 the maintenance of the
British monarchy. We have seen In this
city and all over the country large bodies
Of men ready 10 mann, kill, aud burn in
defence of The right TO stay In another
mans service against his will at wages
fixed by themselves.
In fact, the desire to live on ones neigh
Dor is as old as human history. 1t shows
itself in new forms in every generation.
II il universal, potent, and apparently
indeslructinle. II has survived The at
tacks Of all the great religions and sys-
| ,,f tI,ii,a.,,l,v I, fnrni.bau oil tl,a