New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-09
HOV WdGES ARE RAISED.

An old S0phlSm. winch mas Deen loBiCdiy
smashed hundred times, is almost the only
weapon left the Democrats in the argument
about wages this year In some protected
countries, they say, wages are lower than in a
free-trade country; in some protected States
twice as high as in other protected States
therefore, the tariff does not raise wages at
all. Even shallow mind ought to perceive
that the assumed facts in no way support this
conclusion.
Down the deep gorge of the New and Kama
wha rivers there rushcs volume OF water
which is at times swelled by floods to great
height In ordinary stages of water the mar
row channel is not half filed, but even then
the level of the stream is higher by hundreds
of feet away near the breezy mountains than
in the lowlands near the Ohio When flood
comes, and the volume Of water is Increased
two or three fold. the stream rises at many
points twenty or thirty feet in day or two
but is everywhere higher than before. Only
an idiot would claim that the flood makes no
difference with the height of the stream, be-
cause it is still several hundred feet higher
near the mountain than in the lowlands. Only
an idiot would argue that the flood does not
swell the stream at all, because the rise is
greater in narrow places than where the chan
mel is broader.
This stream represents the course OF wages,
higher by hundreds of feet away near the
mountain where settlers are few and labor
scarce than among the crowded populations
along the sea coast. Protection is flood
swelling two or three times the amount OF
Tl,,, &c oh
level of wages than before at all points and
vet the level in the mountains remains higher
than the level near the coast. 1t raises the
level everywhere and yet it lifts wages fan
more in places or occupations where the supply
of labor is small than where it is Large. Then
comes Democratic bunderer and reasons that
the food cannot raise wages anywhere, be-
cause it does not lift them everywhere alike,
and does not hoist the water in the lowlands
to the level of the water in the mountains
Prior to protection in Germany and France
wages were much higher in Great Britain than
in either Of those countries, and mad been for
many years. That was partly the result OF
many generations of careful protection IN Great
Britain. But since 1880 Germany and France
have been protecting their industries, and the
level of wages in both countries has been rising,
though it has not yet reached the British level.
Eight years of protection have not yet over
come the effect Of many years of free trade.
Yet a Democrat thinks he has argued when he
has said that wages in protected Germany
are lower than in free-trade England"
Prior to protection wages in Northern States
were higher than in Southern States where the
Democratic party upheld slavery that is rob-
berry of labor. Wages in Indiana were higher
than in Massachusetts, and wages in Minnesota
were higher than in Indiana, and wages in
mining settlements along the Rocky Noun
tains were higher than in Minnesota. Twenty
seven years of protection have raised the rate
at the South and at the North, and yet South
ern wages are lower than Northern. Protec
ton has raised the rate in Massachusetts, in
Indiana in Minnesota and in Colorado, and yet
wages are higher in Colorado than in Massa-
chusetts. So some ignorant Democrat cries
out "Protection has done nothing for wages,
because behold, they are higher In one pro-
tected State than in another"
Against such ignorance it is hard to con-
tend. Because such ignorance exists the Dem
ocratic party exists. But This is campaign Of
thinking and education, and tens of thousands
of workngmen are learning this year that pro-
lection lifts wages more than any other power
because it vastly increases the number of
establishments which have to pay wages, and
the amount which each establishment can
aft ord TO pay.