The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-09-05

has proved prophecy. Under this system
steel rails, for instance have been seen TO fall
from SAD 70 SO per ton, and 20 with great
many other prominent articles Germany-a
pronounced tariff country-hGs brought the
price of manufactured articles low that IL is q
noteworthy fact that when England, the leading
free-trade country, contracts 20 lay ocean cables,
che has the wires manufactured in Germany,
a protective country. II free-trado doctrines
had prevailed here, our principal mills and fac
tories would have closed up long ago or the en-
terprising owners would have diverted their
capital into other channels, and the skilled tai
ent emplo, ed would have had to seek some
other means OF earning livelihood When this
had tax Zen place, foreign countries would have
been prompt o take advantage of our inability
20 manufa 'tuIe, and would have raised tho
price OF every article we import, thus forcing US
10 pay higher prices for manufactured goods
than we pay to-day. Cur gold would b going
into the pockets of foreigners instead OF Ameri-
cans, and there would b. but little TO Offset the
drain thus made upon u5 unless we enforced
pNuper wages and reduced them low enough to
enable us 10 under5ell foreigners in the dispCsal
OF our wares in foreign markets. 1t IL "A safe
rule, DO IN in and peacs, never to do what
your enemies want YOU ~ do England and
America are the two great aggressive CONNER
ciul rivals and the fac, that tho former country
is striving, with all her recognized energy, to
bring about free trade in America IL in itself a
sufficient reason why America should pre-
vent it.
The importers constitute large element in
the class of free-traders They want the duty
removed from articles which they import so
10 land their goods n re cheaper, but they do
no. intend that the consumers shall reap the
chief benefit Of the difference in price. They
want to pocket n large portion Of this difference
tn mselves. They are fres-traders from inter-
est, but among the great mass Of voters their
numbers are small.
1t is everywhere claimed by tho Democrats
that the farmers and should be uncompro-
missing free traders. Nothing can be more fall
lacious than the course OF reasoning by which
they reach this conclusion. The great majority
of A. farmprs ~
they till, but hire out fmm hands. 1t is self
evident that low tariff would create lower
wages and less employment for mechanics and
laborers in factories and the wages of the farm
hands would fall prOpOrtiorately as the mechan-
les, thrown out Of work or subjected TO a reduc-
tion in wages, would flock TO the farms for en-
ployment, and make the supply of this class OF
labor far greater than the demand. Farm hands
not anxious TO have thor ranks recruited in
this wholesale way. Again areducton of wages
means that the purchasing power Of the con-
sumers must be diminished, and that the farmer,
tho owner OF the land, must have more I'M
favorable market for the sale Of NIL he produces.
His competitor abroad is great aud the in
crease in population here is so large that he
must depend more and more hereafter uvon his
home market, and his true interest lies in main
tanning II.
1t is instructive TO reflect uron what protec-
tion has done for the poor man. Under the pres
ent tariff system IL is safe to say that every arti
Gle which he eats wears mas become steadily
cheaper, and every tool, every machine that he
usns has fallen i'm price. hand saw for us auce,
Tor Wllcn ne PAD SJ.JO 10 = twenty NenrS ago,
now costs ninety cents. During the time his
wages have steadily increased, in many cases
having moro than doubled.
The school system. the dissemination OF gem
eral intellig nee. the stimulation Of the invent
i've genius of the people have done much 10
bring about this reduction in prices and this
Improvement in the ocial and intellectual con-
dition of the masses is mainly due to the protect
iuo system which has enabled the workngman
TO educate his children, to clothe them i'm n III
manner TO attend school, AMI 10 surround thom
by an atmosphere of respectability which has
lifted them from position OF mere laboring an
mails, and has largely increased their capacity
for int lectIal efforts. The pauper wages I'M
free-trade countries have prevented tho working
classes from rising I'm the scale Of being They
have not enabled worknen to bear the expenses
OF educating, or even 20 dress their children re-
specially enough 20 attend school, aud tho chill
dron are following stupidity in tho footsteps OF
the parents, without any marked development
Of their mental capacities or the acquiring Of n
skill which Is based upon intelligence, and is
essential In increasing the standard OF mechan-
zeal industries.
1t Is a noticeable fact that cur intelligent and