The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-08

opportunity to advance, limited by moth
ing but their own powers and their own
determination. Go still lower. and thu
distinction becomes still broader. Both
men and women, land their children, in
Europe, are literally slaves Of toll and
hunger, working hopclessly and aimlessly
looking forward To thegraveas their first
and only restine-place. The family bonds
and relations barely exist, and that mo.
tive, which i'm this land inspires the hours
OF toil--tle hope OF advancement, II not
for the parents, atleastfor the children
has little il any force. Here. then, do We
find the pre-eminent advantage Of our
American protective policy. IL protects
the workingman and his family. Ii saves
them from degradation and distress. II
makes the family relation, in all its at
tractivc qualities, possible. Ii elevates
the wives and children of the working
man. II relieves them, or most Of them
from the need 81 working for their daily
bread. IL makes home-life possible. II
affords TO children leisure for early educa.
tion, and thus opens up TO them endless
opportunities. The rich and the middle
classes get some Of the benefits Of protec.
ton. As compared with the poor and
the working people, they get but little,
and they would be nearly AS well off un-
der free trade, while the condition 81 the
poor would become indescribabl wretch.
ed. Our American workingmen who have
never contrasted their condition with
that OF misconceptions underlow wages
and insufficient work abroad, cannot,
and do not, realize the perils OF free trade.
Let them read about their fellow-work-
men ON the other side OF the water, on
talk with one who has been forced 10
leave his native land by starvation wages
and the hopeless restitution Of Instantly,
and they will comprehend the danger
which now threatens them.
Free-traders are accustomed Co dwell
on the advantages conferred by protec-
ton upon employers, the manufacturers
and proprietors, who pay wages, hoping
to excite the envy and hostility OF work
ingmen. They do not mention the in
iinitely greater advantages of those who
are employed. As "A class, the employers
Of labor here make no greater profits than
those az the Old World Competition il
active. The ambition OF our people il
ever alert TO seize upon every opportun-
ity for increasing their wealth, and no
industry is long allowed 10 return unusual
profits. IL is soon overrun with com
petition, and its profits speedily turned
to lossess But this same spirit OF com
petition, sure TO level down profits OF
employers. is the safeguard and the pro-
moter OF high wages for the employed.
Stimulated by protection, it strives to
set every man at work. and il completes
for labor AS well as for profits. The de-
mand for workingmen advances their
wages, and so long as enterprise is encour-
aged and protected against foreign in ter
ference, so long will itcontinue To demand
labor, and thereby sustain wages. Re.
verse the process, check and throttle our
industries, discourage enterprise, and
workmen must surelygo begging for work
their wages decline, and, becoming insult
ficient for the support Of their families
the workman's wife must come TO his aid
and join in the daily struggle, and his
children suffer from neglect. Poverty
and distress take the place OF comfort
and prosperity, and in time degradation
and despair, hopeless and inevitable
become the lot OF the American working.
man, az il is and has for centuries been
/ the lot Of his fellow-workmen in Europe
Workingmen have, then, the greatest in
terest in the result OF the pending discus.
sion between protection and free trade
Let them watch it, and see to il that nc
patty and no combination OF men Oh
circumstances are permitted TO over
| throw or lower the barrier Of Protection
which is the safeguard Of their happiness
for the present and of their hopes for tn,
future.
/ ftr n