The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-15
HIGH TARIFF FALLACIES
SIR LYON PLAYFAIR POINTS SOME
OF THEM OoT.

No Intimate Connection Between the
Tariff and Wages Wages in This
Country Reduced Under the So-Caned
Protective Schedules - Consumers
Pay the Difference.
LONDON. Nov 14-In a speech to his con-
stituents at Leeds last night, upon the new
United States tariff legislation, Sir Lyon
Playfair, after giving the tariff history OF
the United States, said that the promoters
OF the Mckinley bill sought to prove that
the measure was needed in order to equalize
the difference between the higher wages
Of the United States and the lower
wages Of Europe, but their argu-
ment would not bear examination.
There is no intimate connection.
he said. between the tariff and wages. As
whole, wages in America had already
been reduced under the high tariff, and
there seems to be no tendency to raise them.
Wages are highest in tbe unprotected coun-
tries and lowest in the protected ones. Sir
Lyon cited a host of statistics TO show that
the consumer always pays the extra
duties. He entered upon lengthy
discussion of the effects of the tariff, contend
lug that they would be disastrous to Amer
lean agriculture. The farmers would find
that while their foreign markets we're
dwindling, every necessity was increasing
insprice, merely to enrich u few manufact-
urers
AN ATTACK ON CANADA.
He Thought that the trainers of the bill
| might be suspected Of a covert attack upon
| Canada. He declared that Canada would
be able to supply Great Britain with oil the
| food she now gets from the United States.
In less than twenty years the United States
will have no surplus food TO send, so it is TO
| EnRlands interest to aid in developing
Canadian husbandry The natural effect
OF the Mckinley act, he maintained, would
be to draw England and Canada closer to-
| gether. IL we buy from Canada she will
be compelled TO buy from us.
If Canada would reconstruct her tariff on
the principles of revenue, Europe aud Asia
would contribute 10 her future commercial
| prosperity. She cOH)d become one Of the
| greatest aud most prosperous countries in
the world by maintaining her political in>
dependence If she only had a more profound
conception OF the vast benefits of CONNER
cial freedom. He argued that protection of
commerce naturally led TO restriction of
immigration, and would have an adverse
effect on the already unsatisfactory popula-
| ton. Then how, no asked, are increasing
manufactures to be absorbed by decreasing
| consumers.
INSPECTION OF MEAT.
Referring to the American meat inspec.
ton bill Sir Lyon declared the empowering
of the President by congress to boycott
nations was brutenI .fllnlen unworthy OF
great nation. He considered that the rec
| iprocity clause in the Mckinley bill had
the same direction but deeper meaning.
1t was a safety valve to prevent the high
| pressure from bloTiog up protection. He
believed that Secretary Blaine intened il
rather as reciprocity clause than as u re.
taliation clause.
Commenting upon the recentelection in
the United States, Sir Lyon said that the
protectionists were not destroyed, but that
they would fight in the future with their
flags furled. He declared that already
there were signs in Germany, Italy and
elsewhere in Europe of flags OF distress IN
the protection camps.
In conclusion Sir Lyon said he hoped
that, though England might be injured for
year or two by the United States tariff
legislation, she would not dream of re-
prisals.
The Times this morning in a long edi-
torial says that Sir Playfair's speech is the
most complete exposure yet published on
either side Of the Atlantic of the futiIity
aud absurdity OF the Mckinley tariff. The
opponents of high protective duties, IL says,
could hardly do better than to circulate his
dspassionate argument among the Ameri-
can electorate before the next contest for
the control of the executive power. which
is almost certain to be fought on this issue.