New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-31
GRATEFUL TO HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY.
AN ENGLISH woRKMAN's SENSIBLE TALK TO
HIS GRCMBLINC FELLOWS

AN ENGLISH woRKMAN's SENSIBLE TALK TO
HIS GRUMBLING FELLOWS
Tribune reporter was in little town the other
day. IN he neighborhood OF New-York where cutlery
Is largely Manufactured and a grst many Of tho
factory employees are Englshmen, who have come 10
America from Sheffield and other English towns whers
they learned their trades and have found good homes
and reasonable degree Of prosperity In the new land
Gathered together in public place were a number of
these men, talking free trade and decryng proec-
uon for 1t Is sorry fact that many Englishmcn who
live and benefit by American Institutions would prefcr
to see the cOuntry's manufacturing industries decline
50 that English dealers might have the advanage OF
the American market. An American was defending
this blasted, bloOmin place as best he could and
had put the usual leading questions that would dis.
concert anything but the arrogance 4 al Engman A.
to why they came 10 America and Why they didn,
go home again. with about much effect a, n lsicsI
deduction would have on pig. and about to
retire wrathy and disguised, when one of the Eng.
ushmen spoke up.
"LOok here, men," he said. 1--WE English always
profess to like fair play. but it seems TO We only
want fair play and very sorry give it to Others.
Now a good many OF you men knew in Sheffield,
and knew you. / would just like to tell you my
experience, and then You Judge whether / owe
anything to America and its Government not. l
was born In Sheffield, and my father was a master.
workman, and good deal better of than were tho
majority Of the people there. when.I a boy. my
father paid my employers eight guineas let learn
the cutlery business. When had finished my trade.
paid from two shillngs TO three slIngs and six
pence week for labor. and after working thus for
four years saved enough money to como to America
/ am now earning, as you know, at the same work,
aOout % so day, have educated all my children, have
bought my house and paid for it, and have laid by
some money for my old age; and for feel that 1.
d,r Tn
toward America.
Now, what Is the Of MS deny ng these benefits
would like to ask any OF you men who have come from
Sheffield you ever in the course Of your life In that
town saw chicken, or duck or . turkey, or
goose on your fathers table17 There reply to
this question, and the speaker continued, II you
did, can say that did. and my father q
boss workman. We had hcshmeat, as 1t was called "a
distinguish it from salt pork about once year, rarely
twice Ny father always pinched TO provide tho
necessities Of life for his family and for laying by
money, that was out Of the question. Now, men. lie
honest. How were your wives and mothers dressed in
the old country How were they dressed when they
landed in New York Were they dressed In fno
cloths and silks You know they not, and yet
to-day there Is not man Of you ia our mills who
has shown ordinary attention to duty and prov
ident expenditure OF his wages that can not dress
his wife in such goods besides educating his family and
making some provision for old age. Iol may deny
these facts TO American, but you can't 10 me- You
know If had stayed in Sheffield would not have had
a home of my money to educate my children.
You know l came here as you have come, to find
refuge from life of unrequited toll such as my father
and your fathers lived and you know also that we nave
found it, Now, it seems to me that we should Do
willing to speak we'll Of the Government under which
We prosper and should aim at It's pcrpetuity, but in
stead Of doing so. find many Of you so prejudiccd
against Americas imposing duty on England's goods
that you advocate free trade to the ruin OF our business
1T is a certain fact that the only way Americans
can compete with England is by having protective
tariff and the i that they their men enough
to live upon respectfully. Take on thi, tariff ana our
wages must come down 70 European slandsrus, our
clothes must be OF cheaper material and our wives ana
children must GO In the mills 10 help Us make our oal
bread You can do you like. as for me- l am noe
only wlx, but glad to give my support to parry
that has by It's fOste Ing showered nnimerabIa
blessings upon my head that never could have o.
tanned under the free trade OF England