Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-10-31

effort of labor and capital, and when speak
OF labor use the term In its broadest sig
nificance 1t is one of the objects of legisla-
ton TO secure. if possible, an
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
OF the profit resulting from the joint con-
tribution of labor and capital To secure
distribution that which is wholly Just may
not be possible. but to avoid q condition that
is utterly unfair is not beyond ourpower.
The last $50 years, perhaps l should say the
last hundred years. has witnessed whatI may
rightly call an insurrection of labor. 1t
was a holy cause, but often badly cham
pioned. With the dissemination of intelli-
gence and an appreciation of the great
truth uttered in the declaration of inde-
pendence touching the natural right Of men
and the equality-not equality in the sense
that the fool and the philosopher should be
equal yokefellows, but equality of right in
the matter of being entitled to have and en-
Joy the same privileges and opportunities to
employ such faculties as they possess in
fighting the battle of life with the equal
protection of impartial laws, and shielded
and encouraged by Just and wise legislation.
One of the ablest and best informed gen.
tlemen of the Democratic party addressed
an audience in this city a few evenings
since l allude to Mr.. Harter, the manufac-
turer. of Mansfield. He has given many
years careful study to the economic prob
lem involved in the protective tariff sys-
TEN. and he has reached the conclusion that
a protective tariff is wrong, and that in its
operation it robs the many for the benefit
of tine few.
MR. HARTER RIDDLED.
Ihave not given to this question so many
years of study as has the honorable gentle
man referred to, but have given all the
ability possess to a careful investigation of
the question, and that research has satisfied
me that the protective system within the
range Of its legitimate and proper function
is not only defensible, but wise, just and
humane
Mr. Harter submits certain propositions
or lays down certain promises, and then
proceeds to draw certain conclusions, soma
as think, and will try to show, not -vzr-
ranted nor justified
First-He says the consumer pays the duty.
l admit that if there is increased cost by
reason of the duty the consumer must pay
it In fact, it can't be otherwise. But there
is compensation, as l will show in a mo-
ment.
Second-The honorable gentleman says
that the duty increases the cost to the con-
sumner by the amount of the duty, and that
the amount of the duty is transferred TO the
pocket of the manufacturer without any cor
responding advantage to the consumer.
deny the correctness of both branches of
the proposition. 1t is true, in a measure,
that in the first instance the cost of the inn
ported article is increased by the protective
duty levied, but it is not accurate to say that
it is increased to the extent of the duty
levied.
OUR GOODS ARE OF HOME MANUFACTURE,
And the wages paid in developing resources
and supplying our markets are paid to the
workmen of America instead of going to the
workmen of other lands. So that we have
for any temporary inconvenience we suf-
fered by reason of a protectivs duty we have
been blessed thousand fold in the muItipli-
cation of our industries, the development of
our resources and the reduction of prices
upon everything that we use.
Again, my honorable friend, Mr. Harter,
says that the Democrats want the world for
their market, but the Republicans desire to
trade only with their neighbors and their
countrymen. This statement is wholly in
correct l admit that our Democratic
friends want the world for their market,
but it is not less true that the Republicans
also want the world for their market. The
question is, how to obtain that which we
both obviously want. 1 beg to call Mr..
Harter's attention and that of my other
Democratic friends to a few fundamental
propositions.
One of them my father taught me very
early in life That is, first, before we need
have active concern about a market we
must have something to sell. In order to