The National tribune., 1891-12-24

Mr.. Springer, the Chairman Of the new
Committee on Ways and Means, has an
nounced the program for the tariff reform
ers" for this session. 1t is TO begin opera
tiOns by a bin putting both raw aud
manufactured wool on the free list. This
is an alarming declaration of war TO the
death upon two most important interests.
It means an attempt to take away the
profits that 100000 farmers in the United
States make by raising sheep, and the wages
Of more than that many men engaged in
manufacturing wool and converting il into
clothing. Its success would be a deadly
blow at the prosperity Of the whole country.
To take Off the duty on wool would be TO
reduce, IL not destroy, the profits on general
farming. SheeTV%s-a-snOst important part
in our agricultural economy. We do not
mean by this the great flOclls on the Western
ranches, but the "little punches" found on
nearly every farm. These cost but little to
maintain because, as a rule, they support
themselves on the refuse Of the fields, pas
lures and woods, and assist much in keeping
the farm in good order The sale Of their
fleece and flesh helps greatly to increase the
meager profits on other farm products, and
enable hundreds of thousands of small farm
ers TO support themselves and families,
which they would find impossible TO do
without this help. To take the duty Off
wool would be TO simply destroy all this
The great ranches in Australia and the
Argentine Consideration, where land is
almost valueless, and the cheapest kind Of
labor can be had, can send wool 10 market
cheaper than il can be possibly raised in the
United States. The talk Of cheap wool is a
catchy delusion. Raising our own wool
adds 70 our meat supply and gives the work
ingman greater advantages in the way Of
abundant and wholesome meat than he can
possibly hope for in the matter Of cheaper
clothing.
To take the duties off manufactured wool
would be TO PROSTATE every wooden manu-
factory and every clothing factory in the
country. We have in previous issues Of this
paper commented on the startling reVela-
tons as 10 the degradation, poverty, and
vice made by the investigations Of the
Sweating Committee Of the British House
of Lords into the condition of the clothes
manufacturing business in England. To
take the duties Of wooden goods would be
10 drive every manufacturer and tailor in
this country out Of the business, and replace
their products by those Of the infamous
sweaters, who grind the faces Of the poor in
England. We may want cheap clothes, but
we certainly do not want them at such Q
price The condition Of the clothing maIlers
of England is, morally aud physically, vastly
worse than that of the slaves on the pianta-
tions Of the South before the war. The
slaves had at least Gods free, uncontami,
mated air They had an abundance Of coarse
but good food, and they had portion O.
each day and all Of Sunday 10 themselves
The victims Of the English sweaters hay,
none Of these commOnest rights Of humanity
They are crowded in filthy, unventilatet
tenements, which breed fouler diseases thar
the miasmatic sWamps Of the Mississippi
By working incessantly far into the night
and without holidays, they are barely abb
TO get enough food 10 maintain life, and no
enough clothes 10 properly cover their half
famished bodies. We repeat that we do no
want cheap clothes at the price Of sue
robbery aud oppression Of our felloW-crea
lures