The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-06


reduce the amount of work to be done
in this country by the increase OF i'm
poriatiCns that would follow, and neccs-
state a reduction of his wages to the
European standard. If any one suggests
that this radical policy will not be ex-
ecuted if the Democratic party attains
power, what shall be thought OF party
that Is capable of thus trifling with great
II terests! The threat Of such legislation
would be only less hurtful than the TACT.
A distinguished Democrat rightly de-
sCribed this movement as a challenge to
the protected industries to a fight of ex-
termination. and another such rightly eX-
pressed the logic of the situation when
he interpreted the Chicago platform 10
be an invitation to all Democrats holding
even the most moderate protection views
to go into the Republican party.
ExIsTISG TAEIFP LAW.
And now few words in regard to the
existing tariff law. We are fortunately
able TO Judge of its influence upon prOduc-
tion and prices by the market reports.
The day of the prophet of calamity has
been succeeded by that of the trade re-
porter. An examination into the effect of
the law upon the prices of protected pro
ducts and of the cost of such articles az
enter into the living Of people of small
means has been made by Il Senate com
mittce composed Of leading senators Of
both parties, with the aid of the best
statisticians. and the report. signed by
all the members of the committees has
been given TO the public No such wide
and careful inquiry has ever been before
made. These facts appear from the re-
port:
/. The cost of articles entering into the
use of those earning less than $1,000 per
annum has decreased up To May. 1897.
"a per cent, while in farm products
there has peen an increase in prices,
owing in part TO an increased foreign de-
mand and the opening of new markets.
In England during the same period the
cost of living increased ID per cent.
Tested by their power to purchase ar
ticles of necessity, the earnings of our
working people have never been as great
as they are now.
,. There has been an average advance
in the rate Of wages Of 10 OF one per
cent
;. There has been an advance in the
price Of all farm products of 1857 per
cert, and of all cereals $3.50 per cent.
The ninth annual report Of the chief
Of the bureau Of labor statistics for the
State Of New York--a Democratic officer
very recently issued, strongly corrobo-
rates. rs to that State, the facts found by
the said committee. His extended In
Quiry shows that in the year imnle-
diately following the passage IF the tariff
net OF 1880 the aggregate SUN paid in
wages in that State was S6.3T7 ,92j in ex-
cess. and the aggregate production $3l,-
80, 13O in excess of the preceding year.
In view of this showing of an increase
IN wages. of a reduction in the cost OF
articles Of common necessity, and Of a
marked advance in the prices of agricuE
tur.l products, it is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens. but has
conferred benefits upon the farmer and
the working man.
Its repeal would throw thousands out
of employment and give work TO others
only at reduced wages. The appeals of
the the free trader to the workingman
are largely addressed TO bis prejudices or
TO his passions, and not infrequently are
pronouncedly communistic. The new
Democratic leadership RACES at the en-
ployer. and seeks to communicate his rage
to the emplOyc. | greatly regret
that all employers of labor are not
just and cOnsderate, and that cap
ital sometimes takes too large a
share of the profits But / do
not see that these evils will be amelio-
rated 10y tariff p0iicy, the first necessary
/
large diminution Of the aggregate amount
of work to be done in this country. If the
Injustice of his employer tempts the work.
man TO strike back he should be very
sure that his blow does not fall upOn his
own head or upon his wife and children.
The workmen in our great industries
are as a body remarkably intelligent. and
are lovers of home and country. They
may be reused by injustice, or what
seems TO them 30 be such, or be led for
the moment by others into acts of pas
sion, but they will settle the tariff con-
test in calm light of their November fire
sides, and with sole reference TO the
prosperity of the country. of which they
are citizens. and Of the homes they have
founded for their wives and children.
No intelligent advocate OF protective
tariff claims it is able of itself to main
tain Il uniform rate of wagcs-without re-
gard 10 fluctuations in the supply of, and
demaEd for the products of labor. But
it is confidently claimed that protective
duties strongly tend to head up wages, and
the only barrier against Il reduction TO
the European scale
TARIFF FOR THE SOUTH.
The Southern States have had a lib
eral party representation in benefits OF
tariff law, and. though their representa-
tives have generally opposed the prOtec
tiOn. / rejoice that their sugar rice. coal.
ores. iron. fruits. cotton cloths and other
products have not been left TO the fate
which the votes of their representatives.
would have brought upon them. In the
construction of the Nicaragua canal. in
the new trade with South and Central
America. in the establishment Of Ameri-
can steamship lines. these States have
also special interests. and all these in
terests will not always consent to be
without representation at Washington.
Shrewdly, but not quite fairly, our ad-
yersaries speak Of the increased duties
imposed upon tin pearl buttons and other
articles by the Mckinley bill, and omit
any reference TO the great
and beneficial enlargement of the free
list. During the last fiscal year
S45S. .00O.T72 worth of merchandise. or
55.35 per cent. Of our total importations.
came in free (the largest percentage in
our history, while in 1889 the per cent
of free mportations was only 3442 per
cent. The placing of sugar upon the free
list has saved TO the consumer in duties
in fifteen months, after paying the boun-
ties provided for $S7 100000 This r.
lief has been substantially felt in every
household upon every Saturdays pur-
chase of the working man.
In spite of the doubts raised by the
of 1890 and Of the machenations
Of foreign producers to maintain their
the tin-plate industry has been
established in the United States and the
alliance between the Welsh producers
and the Democratic party for its de-
structiOn will not succeed.
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