New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-11
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President Cleveland has tried to confuse the
issue before the people by his letter of accept
ance. and yet once more, because Of his own
ignorance, he has made it still clearer. Album
dant proof of his intention is found in his pro-
LESSONS Of anxiety TO promote industry ana TO
maintain the wages of labor. Yet he makes
the issue even palmer than it was before, by
distinctly avowing for himself and his party
the intention to " free from duty the imported
raw materials generally, without distinction
or discrimination. Mr.. Cleveland does not APP
pear to know that this includes all the ores ana
all the mig metals, as well as the wool and
lumber used as materials that it includes every
direct product of the farms or the mines which
is afterward manufactured ground, prepared,
hacked or otherwise finished into forms for
use The avowal of purpose so revolutionary
would have been carefully avoided, by the
leader of party which did not dare even to
reduce the duty on iron ore, If Mr.. Cleveland
had but moderately understood the problem
with which he has to deal Yet the entire
argument of his letter of acceptance is plea
for the absolute removal of duty from all ma
terials of industry, and it applieSto all as much
as it applies to any.
This is the free trade theory, which has been
industIiously preached by the Golden Free
Trade League, and by every free-trade orator
and writer in Great Britain for many years.
II is precisely the theory which the Free
Trade League of this country asSlduouSly
preached for years. before its adhcrents stopped
to call themselves "tariff reformerS." Mr.
Cleveland would like to reject the name Free
Trader But he does not know enough Of the
question he discusses to avoid the declaration
Of iree-trade theories and the Use of free
trade arguments without disguise or reserva-
iOn
He affirms of himself and his party: owe
propose to stimulate our domestic industrial
enterprises by freeing from duty the imported
raw materials" That is the very essence of
the free-trade theory, that free materials will
stimulate industry Mr.. Cleveland so believes
and on that belief the Republicans join issue
They maintain that manufacturing industries
are best protected by securing through de-
fensve duties a permanent ample and cheap
supply Of materials; that wool and ores and
pig metal will be produced in greater quantity
and at less cost if the producing industries are
fully protected. This they prove by compar-
ing the enormous increase in production here
with the increase in Great Britain, where the
home production is distinctly checked by free
trade. 1t is well that the President has avowed
his belief so plainly and the more men credit
his sincerity, the more the millions Of workers
who produce wool and ores and pig iron and
other raw materials will dread the triumph of
his ideas and his party.
8 Repeatedly the President declares that he
and his party will not neglect the interests
of labor and our workingmcn." Is this the
impudent dishonesty Of a mere demagOgue who
proposes in the same breath to turn out OF
work the great army engaged in producing raw
materials, and also TO defend their interests?
Or is 1t simply the amazing ignorance of one
who knows so little Of industries that he is not
aware that more persons are employed in pro-
ducing the materials than in faShiOning them
into manufactured articles; more in growing
wool than in wool manufacture more in min
ing and smelling ores than in their manufact-
ure; and so in almost every department of in
dustly? Mr.. Cleveland's friends will interpret
his course as they please. But the fact re-
MAINS and is known to the voters, that the
wages Of all labor must inevitably be affected
by turning out Of employment any consider
able part of the laboreIs, and that the number
who now find support in mining, in smelling
ores, in chopping and saving lumber, in grow
ing wool. and in production of other raw ma
terials, is so great and so important that 1t
cannot be deprived Of employment nor serious
ly locked in wages without causing complete
revolution in the condition Of all American
labor.