The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-31
ANOTHER REpUBLlcAN DIseUsTeD.
The Hon. James L. shelton of Henry
County Des . to the G. O.P.


pie, and almost Immediately upon its
organization We find it arrayed upon the
side of the weak against the strong, and
in favor of the oppressed against the OPP
pressor. 1t was party OF the people
without politician; child of the consti-
tuition, born OF justice. But after twenty
four years of republican rule what great
changes do we find in that party. In
stead of being party Of the people, as it
was at its inception, we find it controlled
by the shrewdest politicians upon the
continent, who shrink from no scheme,
however unscrupulous, that Will return
them to power. And now, that the neces-
sites of the times have forced the aues-
ton of capital and labor upon the atten-
ton OF the American voter, and has made
that question the most important issue OF
this campaign, there arises the second
great opportunity for the republican party
to champion the cause of the weak. But
instead of following the princi-
pies upon which it was founded,
we find it with its face
turned in the opposite direction and
lending its aid TO the oppressor against
the oppressed, the monopolist against the
people, for the opposition of that party to
a reduction of the tax on the necessaries
Of life can be put on no other ground.
The necessity for the present tariff upon
the ground OF needed revenue has been
abandoned by the republican party; the
! necessity for it upon the ground OF pro-
lection TO infant industries has been aban-
| doned, and they have finally been obliged
| to cover up their deceitfulness by a false
cry of protection to American labor. If
they can show by past experience that the
| present tariff laws or the proposed repub-
| lican measures will result in a benefit to
! the laborer, then the republican party is
right; ii not, it is wrong. The price OF
labor for several years has been steadily
| going down, until ii has now reached the
| lowest point at which laborer can live in
| decency at the present price of commodi-
| ties; but the cost of living has not been
reduced in the same proportion. The
| price of labor will still be reduced
| lower if it is in the power
of the manufacturer to do so, for he
| claims it as his indisputable privilege to
/ buy his labor wherever he can buy it the
/ cheapest; but he refuses that same labOrer
/ the right 10 purchase the necessaries OF
| life wherever he can purchase the cheap
/ est. Ii it is right that the American
| labOrer should pay tax to the govern
| ment for every ounce of foreign goods he
! BUYS, for the protection of the American
manufacturer, then the manufacturer
| should, for the protection OF the laborer.
| pay like tax to the government Tor
/ every foreign laborer he employs. 1t
seems that the republican plan OF protect
/ ing the laboring man Is a very uncertain
/ and roundabout one, for they require the
people TO pay TO the manufacturer an in
creased price for his products. and depend
/ upon his generosity TO pay the excess to
! his employees. Yet we require no guar
antee from him that he will do so, and
/ there is no way under the law of compell-
ing him. Has he done it? The numer-
Gus strikes throughout the country declare
he has not. The cry of the labor
er throughout the Union that
his wages have been reduced
beyond the living point declares he has
not. The many instances OF the substitu-
ton of cheap foreign labor for American
labor declare he has not. The statistics
of 1880 show that the average per cent. of
profits upon the capital invested of all the
| manufacturing establishments of the
| .
cent. while the average daily wages of the
employees was Sl.l0. Take the wooden
manufacturers, for instance, and we find
that the profits upon the capital invested
was 50 per cent, while the average wages
| of the employees was 90 cents per day.
Why should the 3, 459 WOODEN establish
ments receive so, al, 525 in profits while
the 2ll,Sl employees receive only S64, 06l,-
735 for their labor, working ten hours per
day? Is that a fair division? Isn't it
| apparent that we have trusted TO the gen
| crosby of the manufacturer and he has
been generous only to himself? Yet the
| republican party say, by its representa-
tiyes in congress, that the laws shall not
only remain so that the manufacturer
may make these enormous profits !;
but they demand by the proposed
senate amendment to the Mills bill
that the tariff on wooden manufactures
shall be increased, that the Manufacturer
may increase his profits, but YOU find
| nowhere in that bill any provision by
which the price OF labor may be in
| creased.
The only benefits to the people offered
by pending tariff legislation are: O. A
reduction in the cost of living by reduc-
ing the tariff on the necessaries of lie
| whisky and tobacco not ncuded-therebv
cheapening the same. (2) An increased
demand for labor by placing raw material
| upon the free list thereby enabling the
American manufacturer to successfully
compete for the foreign trade and secure
a market for American manufactures
that will keep our factories going the year
| round.
This is the proposition offered by the
democratic party, and the result that will
be secured by the passage of the Mills
bill. The republican party, by its pro-
| posed senate amendment, offers us neither
of the above advantages, but it pro-
poses to give us, instead, cheaper
sugar and rice and higher-priced clothing.
In addition 10 this they offer us a reduc-
ton in the price of tobacco and alcohol,
with the promise that if we are still not
satisfied they will make whisky and to-
bacco free.
My laboring friend, the only way the
price your wages can be increased is to
increase the demand for labor, and the only
way TO create a such demand is to find a
foreign market for our products, or to stop
the importation of foreign cheap labor.
Free raw material offers a solution for
the former proposition, and the Chinese
exclusion bill is a stride in the direction
of the latter, for which you owe thanks 10
the democratic party.
The people OF this country demand a
reduction In the tariff on the necessaries
OF life even though it may reduce the
profits OF the manufacturer from % per
cent. TO perhaps to % per cent, which is