Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1891-04-30
A Farmer Who Reads and Thinks

Tue american laborer! 1t certainly
does not. Whom does it protect?
The manufacturer, and no one else.
1t does this by shutting out foreign
competition, which enables maufac
turerers to form combines and pools.
thus controlling supply and fixing
prices.
This is all accomplished by order
ing shutdown, or by running a
less number of hours. Thus the oper-
atives are thrown out of employ
ment at the will OF the combines, -
and though confronted with the dire
necessity of everyday employment
to secure bread and butter, the oper-
ative finds himself in idleaess at the
caprice of the manufacturer.
This condition of things Is potent
factor in the social upheaval now so
imminent among the American labor
ers to-day, which it Is hoped will cul-
inmate IN an expression of universal
disapproval of a protective tariff at
the coming election in '92.
Enforced idleness and starvation
wages in connection with the exorbi-
tant prices that must be paid for the
necessary articles Of consumption
and use clearly elucidates the cause
that prompts such actions as occur
red at Morehead, Pa, where so many
lives were sacrafced in misguided
and lll-advised effort to redress the
grievances of which the operatives so
justly complained.
do not believe in mob violence
under ordinary circumstances, but
when we think of the thin faces, the
gaunt, worn and emaciated bodies
silently gliding about like spectral
forms through the darkness of that
fatal night, am not surprised that
those poor, illiterate, uncouth miners,
influenced by the desperation born
of de spair, would avail themselves of
the only means of reparation within
their reach, wreak summary ven-
geance upon those Immediately re-
sponslble for their misfortune.
l can but utterly detest and abhor
with all the vehemencs of my soul
the cold blooded dupliclty of set of
political tricksters and unscrupu-
lous demagogues who seek to en-
trench themselves behind law, the
better to perpetuate system of po
litical economy capable of develop
ing such deplorable state of affairs.
We can not resist the conclusion
that protection does not protect
American labor. It benefits the so
called pauper labor of Europe, since
the manufacturers, as yet, pays
slightly higher wages than his Euro
pean contemporary. The knowledge
of this fact attracts foreign labor to
our shores, which is evidenced in the
arrivals Of ship-loads of immigrants
at our various ports. Most of these
Immigrants come from the crowded
cites and mining districts. Many of
them are skilled workmen or compe-
tent factory or mine operatives. Be-
ing invariably out of cash they at
once enter into ruinlous competition
with American laborers in our fac
tories and mines, especially in the
event of strikes, and always at 4 re-
ductlon of wages, yet at something
of an advance over European prices.
Thus we clam that except to the
manufacturer protection benefits on
Iy the pauper labor of Europe. To
the extent has this been carried that
| American laborers have been almost
entirely crowed out of our factories,
workshops and mines.
The American takes up his abode
in the treeless West in preference TO
surrendering his manhood and be-
coming an ahject slave to the East
ern, lnsolent plutocrats who have in
recent years numerouslY sprung up
under the fostering hand of protec-
ton.
But why use the opprobrlous cpl
thet, "pauper laborer, "in connection
with our European brothers who are.
engaged in life struggle for bread !!
Is 1t Just and right to cast odlum up
on the millions of honest toilers who
unfortunately, as the result of the
aristocratic institutions of Europe,
have reached a condition of extreme
poverty and mental serfdom All
honor TO those brave-hearted men
whose willing hands, prompted by
the noblest instincts of humanity,
continue to struggle for loved ones
in the face of such adverse condi
tions.
Do not frighten them away or de-
prive them, by that fatal incubus,
of protective tariff, of any OF the
rich bounty that nature, IN her mu-
n,ficence. hath SO ahundantIy provid