Omaha daily bee., 1889-11-03
pRuNn rnn DEAD nRANcHEs.

andtariff revision. Dense ignorance and
partisan prejudice permeates the press
and through it the great mass OF Amer
lean people have been unable TO COM
prehend what Is really in the public
interest and what would be detrimental.
II is deplorable that purely economic
issue, which vitality involves the com
mercial interests Of this nation, should
have been remauded into the domain OF
politics, and made the football OF party
hacks and blatherskites who seek TO
gain political advantage for themselves
by the division of parties with regard
to the tariff.
On one hand we have the demagogues
who pretend that the duties on
imports invariably increase the cost
of each article protected by the amount
Of duty levied upon its importation.
For instance, they assert that II the
duty on each yard OF calico is five cents
yard the price Of calico to the con-
sumer is raised i've cents above the cost
OF production. As'a-uattcr of fact calico
sells for five cents yard and the tariff
on calico is deadletter.
The fact that New England manufac-
turers have sold six million dollars
worth OF unbleached cotton sheeting in
China in 1883 against the competition
OF Germany and England and against
the competition Of the pauper
labor of China, shows conclu-
slvely that the tariff on cotton
goods has not raised the price to the
consumer, nor, on the other hand, in
creased the wages of American laborers
one penny.
And so it is with regard to agricul-
tural Implements, firearms, boots
and shoes, watches, cheap jewelry,
sewing machines, printing presses,
print paper, and hundreds Of other
articles of American manufacture that
are exported and sold abroad in compe-
tition with the cheap labor which OBJ
tains in Europe and Asia. A United
States consul in Germany has recently
reported TO the state department that
nearly all the chairs used in the post
Offices of that country are of American
manufacture, the German government
having bought them of New York
firm at prices less than they could
be produced for in Germany.
This affords most conclusive proof
that skilled high-priced labor, in con-
junction with ingeniously constructed
machinery, turns out cheaper goods
than low-priced laoor.
1t naturally follows that the abolition
of duties on all that class OF articles
now freely exported would not in the
least damage American industry. On
the contrary, it is demanded in the in
terest of the American consumer, who
is obliged to pay more for articles man.
ufactured in his own country than they
are sold for abroad. In other words,
the repeal of tariff duties on all these
articles would prevent combinations
and trusts organized to maintain ex-
orbitant prices in this country, not for
the benefit Of their employees but with
the sole view Of making enormous
profits. And this also applies to a
class of articles like plate glass, steel
and iron products and other commodi-
ties that require some protection in Or
der 30 prevent ruinous competition from
European countries.
On the other hand come the hlather-
sixties who insist that the wealth Of this
country and its marvellous development
are solely due TO the tariff on imports.
These people entirely overlook the fact
that the appliances of steam and cleo
tricity have revolutionized the indus
trial world; brought its remotest parts
within easy reach, and multiplied enor-
mously the producing power of a coun-
try rich in minerals and fertile in its
| soil. They forget that within twenty
five years fifteen millions of
people have migrated from other
countries to the United States and have
| added billions to its wealth. Robert
Ingersoll, in his famous speech nomi-
mating James G. Blaine, said in sub
| stance: ''You can not create wealth by
| law. but by labor. This money has to
| be dug out Of the earth. You can not
make it by passing resolutions in a po-
| litical convention"
The tariff undoubtedly has stimulated
| the development of American industry
/ duu SOluo VI OuE Iuuu ulsiCbuFcS WOulu Ian
| guish and suffer should this stimulus be
Withdrawn. But most of our industries
are now in position to compete with all
the world without artificial props.
Take, for instance, the manufacture
of carpets: The largest rug mills in
the world are in Philadelphia, and in
one ward OF that city more carpets are
made than in all Great Britain.
Concisely stated, the tariff is like an
old tree with large number of dead
branches. The tree will be healthier
if the dead branches are removed by
skillful pruning, This pruning process
does not mean free trade. The danger
to the country lies in the fact that con-
| gross will be made subservient to the
monopolists who have grown enorm-
ously wealthy by the abuses that have
sprung through excessive tariff tolls.
If the revision of the tariff is left to
this class of cormorants, to the patriots
who never tire shouting for
the flag so long as they
can get an appropriation, the pruning
process will be a delusion and a snare.
Speaking for the great and growing
west THE BEE demands that the revi.
| a. Ill l.