The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02
MINES AND FACTORIES.
How They Are Being Ruined BY the
Tariff

now Iney are BelnS ny INC
Tariff.
But leaving tho farming industries at this point and
Tor the present. what is 20 be laid in regard TO the
mines, the factories, the workshops the wage
workers? In view OF the distressiul and appalling
condition of the wage-workers OF the United states
az this time, the man who would say that the tariff
was protection 10 them would claim that small
PoI induced health and EiFacy as ia profession sa
lection? They are not protected in their contracts
by any tariff law; they are not protected in their
emplOyments, or in their wages. The employer is
left to deal with them with all the superior power
and commanding force which wealth gives over pow
erty and dependence. Were the wage-wOrkers Of
Illinois. who have been destitute and turbulent as
destitute people will always be, protected during
the last six or twelve months? Was the poor
woman at BradwOOd, whose twin babies died at her
breast Tor want of nOurishment. she herself in
starving condition, protected as wage-workers
wife2 Were the wage-workers of that naughty
steel baron. Carnegie. with his income Of million
year, protected when he announced TO them a
reduction of their wages OF 10 per cent When
they entered their protest against this arb-
trary and oppressive acton oil their employer no
hired a hundred OF PinkeF,.l's men, armed 10 the
teeth and brought upon the ground as his assistant
arbitratOrs with his wOrkmen. This was his mode OF
arbitration. lie gave his helpless and dependent
people, had almost said slaves, the alternative of
returning TO their work at reduced wages or leaving
their homes in the vain pursuit o. work elsewhere,
To be shot down If they offered any resistance lie
oppressed and ground the faces OF the poor and pre-
pared himself TO shed innocent blood II his avarice
was resisted. Protection to labor The slavery OF
the South before the greater protection TO
labor than the tariff laws OF the present day. The
negro at least secure in home, and sufficient
amount OF healthy food. The interest of his master
and his mistress made il il il came from no high
ca or worthier motive. In sickness he
and his little brood were cared for. Who cares
for the wage-worRer the miner or factory hand,
when health fails, or when his labor is no longer
needed lie is east out, and If il needs is allowed TO
die OF want. In many OF its aspects that slavery
which the war wiped out in blood, and which re-
iOice TO feel is gone never TO return merciiul
compared 10 the slavery which now exists among
millions OF white men and women. Who're during
the slavery in the cotton fields and the sugar planta-
tons TO be seen such a spectacle as has
been presented in the county Of Clay in our own
state? Between five and six thousand men, women
and children have eaten the bread of friendly
charity. You may say that they could have OBJ
tanned work at reduced wages Perhaps so, but that
very fact discloses their hepesness in the clutches
of the monopoists who employ them II the en-
ployer dictate reduction of wages OF Is. p OF
50 Der cent that comedies the whole question; the
wage-worker is not protected at all.
There Is much longer parallel that might be run
between the slavery Of te oden South aud the say-
cry established by the power Of wealth that prevails
i'm the ranks Of labor throughout the country az this
time, but iorbear for the present This IS theme
that and will be resumed again and again Tins
fight is on and to IL dedicate the remainder of my
life. / know what contest against the money
power Is. have engaged in such conflicts before.
fought the battles of the silver dollar have fought
the battles OF the greenback, and l know the abuse
and brutal denunciatiOns that follow. The cause OF
honest labor now demands that every honest man in
The republic Join in battle against the robbery OF
rich. This question will never down. The princi-
pie OF taking from man what is his own TO bene
ht another 10 whom IL does not belong involves
and strikes down the eternal and ever active natural
rights OF man. / would say 10 the advocates OF the
high protective tariff forbear you ON dangerous
ground SUCH issue as this has bathed glorious
battle-delds with blood. God guided the wisdom
OF fathers. however, as 10 give us redress
In peaceful mode. The ballot is your
sure and only necessary weapon. The
diffusion Of light aud knowledge is all that is needed
To the farmer TO the wage-workeT, ! would say, how
comes free men? For myself ! say in the Ian
guage of Sir Robert Peel after he had triumphed in
the repeal OF the odous protective tariff corn laws of
England. 81 shall leave a name .execrated by every
monOpOlist who from less honorable motives clamor
for protection because IL conduces TO his own indi
vidual benefit, but IL may be that l shall leave
name sometimes remembered with expressions OF
good will in the abodes of those whose lot il is 10
toll and their daily bread by the sweat of their
brow, when they shall recruit their exhausted
strength with abundant and untaxed food, the
sweeer because IL is longer eavened by the sense
of injustice"
The British statesman rejoiced in eheapening one
great staple article OF food Our Of reform is
broader in its scope II embraces the relief of labor
I'm the production Of every thing necessary TO the
comfortable existence OF the civilized races of man
kind The eternal right belongs TO us. We cannot
fail And how glorious il will be for the proud COM
nonwealth of Indiana be found at the head Of the
giant column, now moving all over the land for the
emancipation OF the present and OF future genera
tons form the heavy yoke the CALLING seryitude OF
iniquitous and criminal taxation.