Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-07

which has now for something more than 81
years continuously prevailed in our legis-
lation, has been q mighty instrument fol
the development of our national wealth and
8 most powerful agency in protecting the
homes of our workingmen from the invasion
of want have felt most solicitous in
terest TO preserve to our working people
rates of wages that would not only give
daily bread but supply comfortable margin
for those home attractions and family com.
forts and eaioyments without which life
is neither hopeful nor sweet They are
American citizens-a part OF the great
people for whom our Constitution aud Gov.
ernment were framed and instituted-and
it cannot be perversion of that Constitu-
tion to 50 legislate as to preserve in theil
homes the comfort, independence, loyalty
and sense of interest in the Government
which are essential to good citizenship in
peace, and which will bring this stalIgart
throng as in 1861 to the defense of the flag
when it is assailed.
A New Policy to Be Introduced.
1t is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of q protective tariff
The result of the recent election must be
accepted as having introduced new policy
We must assume that the present tariff,
constructed upon the lines of protection, Is
TO be repealed, and that there is to be SUBJ
stituted for it tariff law constructed solely
with reference to revenue; that no duty is
to be higher because the increase will keep
open an American mill or keep up the
wages of an American workman, but that in
every case such rate of duty is to be i'm
posed IS will bring to the Treasury of the
United States the largest returns Of rev.
enue. ....
Ire contention has not been between
schedules, but between principles, and it
would be offensive to suggest that the pre-
vailing party will not carry into legislation
the principles, advocated by 1t and the
pledges given TO the people The tariff bills
passed bv the House of Representatives at
the last session were, as / suppose, even In
The opinion of their promoters, inadequate
and justified only by the fact that the
Senate and House of Representatives were
not in accord, and that a general revision
could not, therefore, be undertaken.
A Suggestion to the Senate.
I recommend that the whole subject of
tariff revision be LETT to the incoming Con-
Cress 1t is matter of regret that this work
must be delayed for at least three months;
for the threat of great tariff changes intro
duces so much uncertainty that an amount,
not easily estimated, of business inaction
and OF diminished production will neces-
sSrily result. II is possible also that this
uncertainty may result in decreased reve-
nues from customs duties, for our merchants
will make cautious orders for foreign goods
in view of the prospect of tariff reductions
and the uncertainty as to when they will
take effect.
Those who have advocated q protective
4o,-s Il al H. &Ln1-
forecasts of change of policy disappointed.
If 4 system of customs duties can be framed
that will set the idle wheels and looms of
Europe in motion and crowd our warehouses
with foreign made goods, and at the same
time keep our own mills busy; that will
give us an increased participation in the
markets of the world OF greater value
than the home market we surrender; that
will give increased work to foreign work
men upon products to be consumed BY our
people without diminishing the amount of
work to be done here; that will enable the
American manufacturer to pay to his work.
men from 80 to 100 per cent more IN wages
than is paid in the foreign mill and yet to
compete in our market and in foreign mar
kets with the foreign producer; that will
further reduce the cost of articles of wear
and food without reducing the wages of
those who produce them; that can be cele-
brated after its effects have been realized, as
its expectation has been. in European as
well az in American cities, the authors and |
promoters of it will be entitled to the |
highest praise.
All Must Learn by Experience.
We have had in our history several ex-
Heriences OF the contrasted effects of rev.
enue and of a protected tariff, but this gen.
Grafton have not felt them and the expe-
rience Of one generation is not highly
instructive to the next The friends of the |
protective system, with undiminished con-
hdence in the prin ciples they have advo- |
Gated, will await the results of the new |
experiment.
The strained and too often disturbed re-
lGtions existing between the employees and |
the employers in our great manufacturing |
have not been favorable |
to calm consideration by the
wages Garner of the effect upon
wage OF the protective system. |
The facts that his wages were the highest
paid in like callings in the world, and that
a maintenance of this rate of wages, in the |
absence of protective duties upon the prod
uct Of his labor, was impossible, were OBJ
scured by the passion evoked by these con-
tests. He NAV now be able to review the
question in the light of his personal ex-
perience under the operation of a tariff for
revenue only. If that experience shall |
demonstrate that present rates of wages are |
thereby maintained or increased, either ab-
solutely or in their purchasing power, and !
that the aggregate volume of work to be /
done in this country is increased, or even
so that there are more or as
many days work in year at as good or bet
Ter wages for the American workman as has
been caused under the protective system,
everyone will rejoice. A general process
2t wage reduction cannot be contemplated
By any patriotic citizen without the gravest
1t may be, indeed 1 believe
is, possible for the American manufacturer
o compete successfully with his foreign
'ival IN many branches of production with
'ut the defense CT protective duties, if the
1ay rolls are equalized; but the conflict that
tands between the producer and that re-
Iult and the distress of our working people
yhen it is attained are not pleasant to con-
emplate. The society of the UNEMPLOYED.
low holding its frequent and threatening
'arades in the streets of foreign cities,
hould not be allowed to acquire an Ameri-
an domicile