Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-29

when known 10 other manufacturers. |
they yell long and loud until they, too, |
get their bonus. And 80 q great nation |
10 made q partner In tile business of
manufacturing, and the profits earned,
which In equity belong 70 all the peo-
pie, are given only 10 those engaged In
the business Of manufacturing TO the
detriment OF every man engaged In any
other kind Of business. Manufacturers
as class are men Of wealth, abundant
ly able 10 take care OF themselves, and
should not be encouraged in losing
business with the idea that the govern
ment will support them the same as her
imbeciles and paupers.
II seems to me that tariff laws can
only be justified on the principle that
they elevate and dignity labor. All
men may engage In common labor, and
are not incapaeitated therefrom except
by disease and infirmityi but IL they
would engage in skilled labor they must
be educated therefor. The great mass
of the people engage 10 common labor.
The first step In the elevation of man Is
from that labor which he can do be-
cause he has been so endowed by his
creator to that labor which he cannot
do until he is taught by man. Common
labor needs no protection, no encOurge-
ment, 1t is the common lot of all, the
only resort Of those who can perform
no other labor, and the last resort of
those who can find no labor to perform.
It Is the mission of Republican govern
ment to elevate the condition of its
people, and none are so deserving of its
care and protection as the low and the
humble. Manufacturing should be en-
couraged by the government not for
the benefit of him who owns the factory
but for the benefit of him who may
work therein-for there the common
laborer may take the first step in the
road Of progress.
1t does not follow that the govern
ment should encourage the manufac-
ture of every article, but of such arti-
cles only as can be made here without
too great a burden to the people. The
articles to be made here will be deter
mined by the rate of duty which will
be the same on all articles upon (which
a duty is imposed. For reasons I can
not take the time to give, fix that duty
at fifty per cent. ad valorem. A
proper tariff law, then, will admit free
of duty wool, silk, fax, hemp, jute, su-
gar, coffee, tea, salt, coal, ore, lumber,
to be newfoundland will levy duty
of fifty per cent, ad valorem on every
other thing imported.
Under such law the manufacturer
pays no duty on raw material, and the
cost of his product is thereby lessened.
The raw material is gathered by COM
mon labor. Let the people of other ma
tions, If they will, hew our wood and
draw our water. Many of our people
must of necessity do the same thing,
but such a law invites them to better
their condition. Under such law all
men will know that they agree to pay
the American manufacturer so per
cent. more than the foreign manufact-
urer, and will do it more willingly when
they reflect that they are helping
neighbors who may hereafter help
them.
| Under such a law nothing will be
manufactured here that will cost fifty
per cent. more than elsewhere. Under
such law the right to exact the so pei
cent. is granted, but the law of cOmpe.
tition may reduce the so per cent. to
less than nothing. Under such law
manufacturers will not combine in the
creation of trusts where the remedy IL
!; ever at hand by placing the article thai
| created the trust on the free lists
thing easily done, where there can b
} no higgling as to the rate of duty. Un
, der such law the poor will be relieved
! of taxation, and duties will be collected
} in the main from articles only purchas
r ed by the wealthy.
} To illustrate, the lower grades o
cloth, carpets, blankets and nearly al
r woolen goods-the lower grades o
, earthenware and glassware and man,
, other articles-can be manufactured al
cheaply here as elsewhere. But th'
: higher grades of cloth, silks, laces, car
pets, glass, crockery, china, etc., can
not be made in this country, but will b.
: imported as now for the use of tn
wealthy, who alone canindulge in sucl
3 luxuries. Under such law the neces
D saries of life will be cheapened. Unde
t such law you let America out-an,
: American goods, in American ships, be
! meath the American flag, will enter ev
: cry port, and this nation will prosper a
3 it never prospered before.