The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-09-05
GROWERS MISTAKES.
Excerpts from Mr.. Blaine's Magazine
Article on Clevelands Tariff
Message.
Contradictions Pointed Out and Curious
Assertions Shown to Be Without
Foundation.
How Skilled Mechanics Are Interested
la PrOtectiOn-Free Trade Is
Baleful.
New York special


The September number OF the American Mag
dsfIs, con- aiming the promised contribution by
James G.. Blaine on The Presidents Error
and ono from Gov. Foraker of Ohio, on Tariff
Blaine's namo has been the cause OF the weeks
delay, as the publishers have been deluged with
orders Tor the magazine which have severely
tested their press facilities. There much
difficulty in securing Mr.. Blaines consent TO
prepare an article for the magazine He mas al
ways been averss TO that means OF reaching the
public ear. AS an orator no has persist
emily and consistently claimed that lie
required all his varied material for use on the
stump. His famous message fIom Paris in
December last so far broke the ice of his pur-
pose That when he found the request OF the ed
itor seconded by the National COMMITTEES and
numbers Of eminent Republicans, no vie 'dod
lucJant consent This has not detracted from
tbs orce OF his article his inter st in his argu-
ments, because whatever he undertakes he
throws into it his whole soul and ability. An
advance sheet was procured to-day. Mr. Blaine
takes for his next paragraphs from Presi-
Mt Clevelands famou, message to Congress in
December last which, ne says, contains some
remarkable statements and curious assertions.
The paragraphs alluded 20 by him are as follows:
by the las census IL is made 70 appear that OF
the IS92,OJ0 OF our population engaged in
all kinds OF industries, 1910, 1913 en-
ployed in agriculture, 407i,23s in professional
ana personal service q. 934,3l6 OF whom
are domestic servants and laborersl, while
lSl0, $50 are employed in trade and transporta-
ton, and 1857, ll2 are classed employed in
manufacturing and mining. For present pur.
-
be considerably reduced. Without attempting
TO Cnumerate all, il viii be conceded that there
should be deducted from those which it includes
375 l43 carpenters and ioiners 2S5 40l milliners,
dressmakers, and seam stresses, l72,72 black
smiths, 1875 talors and tGiloresses 1922 743
masons, 1924 butchers. 4l,3O9 bakers, 220S3
plasterers, aud 1881 engaged in such manufac-
turing industries as are Claimed to be benefited
by high tariff"
Mr. Blaine summarizes tho Presidents argu-
ment as an assertion that those persons not
employed in what may be termed protected in
dustres have no interest in protective tariff.
He asserts that slight analysis will serve TO
show that the President is wholly in error BY
way OF proving this error he takes up one after
another of the classes of skilled mec Ianics men,
toned by the President as not interested in
protection, and inquiries where they will find
work If the protection system is destroyed or
impaired TO the consequent arrest and impair
ment OF all business enterprises. His argument
is that every class placed by the President i'll
the list OF persons not affected by the tariff
would be immediately influenced To their dis
advantage by the general and specific derange-
ment of business enterprises that would follow
any successful attack on the system OF pro-
lection.
strangely enough, the President neglects, :"
SAYS Mr.. Blaine, in following up his argument
either from design or over sight to notice what
effect the serious reduction of the tariff would
have on the 1,SlO, 2Jb men employed in trans
portation, viz. the railroads, coastwise
sells, river steamers and barges coal wagon and
stage lines These varied ways OF transporta-
ton represent an investment OF thousands OF
millions of dollars OF American money and
give employment to nearly 2,000,0O0 of men,
whose earnings support 9,OOO0OO of people
Whatever impairs American manufacturing
strikes at the great transportation interests
Iron ore admitted free from SPAIN coal admit
ted free from Nova Scotia, wool admitted free
from Australia, all favor British ships ut the
expense of American railroads. The further the
President goes in the direction OF the doctrine
laid down in his message the more direct and
the more deadly is the assault on the whole
glniZation of American industries.
1T might have proved advantageous 70 the
President, IA il wou.d have assuredly proved in
teresting 10 the President, If he had caused an
accurate official inquiry 20 be made into the
close connection of the transportation TO the
manufacturing interests, and how both in turn
are indissolubly linked with the agricultural in
terests TO the great profit Of all three. The very
figures which the President quotes prove the
immense home market which the farmers have
in the United States. In round numbers over
100000 are engaged in agriculture, while nearly
1OCOJ,OC0 are engaged in other industrial pur
suits who consume, with the families de-
pendent upon them, an enormous product OF
the farmer. Every enlargement OF that home
market is "A boon to the farmer, while its dim
mutton would be his direct and irreparable
loss"
oIr Blaine thinks President Cleveland might
wisely have inquired how many OF the unatect-
oil classes were called TO their several employ
mt nts in consequence OF the general prosperity
of the country, brought about by protection. He
suggests that If these inquiries had been once
stare ed the President would certainly have been
compelled to take into consideration every class
of laborers in the country directly or indi-
rectiy benefited by the tariff, and he intimates
that new impressions might have been formed
by the President after such examination OF
the unity Of labors dempnds and interests. He
concludes by saying that the Presidents recon-
mendation TO a reduction OF tariff strikes a
far more severe blow at labor than at capital,
and that it's effects IL enacted into law would be
baleful in giving capital an exasperating control
over labor, such as now peryades where free
trade is complete.
In many respects Mr.. Blaine's article is q rep
o.itlon OF his statement at the New York sere-
made that the tariff question is. from skin to
core and from core back TO skin again, question
Of labor and wages In his concluding sentence
he gives Mr.. Cleveland credit for good inten-
tions" with a delicate irony that suggests the old
which te Is of payements in hades. 1T is
not asserted he snys, that the President con-
sciously designed or attempted this result, but
tho voters OF the country must hold him respons-
ible for the obvious effects of his otiic al recon-
mendation. They have neither time nor inclina-
ton TO question motives.