The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-06-04
civil war is one of the most remarkable in

economic history.
In spite of the disadvantage in which this
country has been placed by the excessive
taxes or duties upon materials OF foreign
origin which are necessary in the process of
our domestic industry, by which we have
been forbidden to build ships for ocean
tradic, by which the expectation of many
articles, especially heavy machinery, which
We formerly enjoyed, has been taken away
from us, in spite of the relatively high cost
of mills and works and due to the difference
in the cost of materials as compared with
our competitors. Such has been the magni-
tude of the demand, in part induced by the
influx of immigrants who have es stablished
themselves in our country under favorable
conditions and have become consumers of
our merchandise and manufactured products
as well as producers of others, that there
has been during the twenty.seven years
since 1865, subject to temporary variations
and fluctuations. a steady advance in the
rates of wages, II steady reduction in cost of
labor per unit Of product, and a correspond
ing reduction in the price of goods Of almost
every kind to the consumer.
There has never been a period in the his
tory of this or any other country when the
general rate of wages was as high as 1T is
now, or the prices of goods relatively to the
wages as low as they are to-day. nor
period when workman, in the strict sense
of the word, has so fully secured to his own
use and enjoyment such steadily and pro-
gressively increasing proportion of con-
stantly increasing product. Hence, 50 far
as our experience goes in dealing with the
great flood of Immigration which has poured
these twenty-five years, greater in the last
ten years than ever before, all the facts and
the conditions would tend to prove that we
might invite its continuance, so far as it
consists of the intelligent and the capable
who constitute by tar the greater portion.
rather than impose taxes to keep the INTEL
Lgent and capable from coming here to i'm
prove their condition.
We now have specific and absolute data
N respect to manufactures, the mechanic
lrts and mining going to prove that, through
.he application of science and invention In
.hese specific directions, those who do the
sctnal work In the sense in which the work.
nan uses that phrase-iL lessening num-
Der of hours and with less arduous effort
ecure constantly advancing wages, increas-
ng purchasing power, better food and more
Il it. more clothing, If not quite so good on
account of the obstruction to the import Of
WOOL, and also. outside of few oongcsted
districts In cities, better shelter at lessening
ost to the occupant.
The agricultural class deserves some spe-
nal consideration. 1t may be asked. If
armlng is not profitable. why do crops in
Iease' II market gardening is not proita-
lie, why does product increase in quantity
nd value! If farmers do not prosper, why
) it that there is a constantly increasing
emand for labor on farms at wages that
re much higher than they were twenty
ears ago, to meet which demand for farm
abor there is no sufficient supply!
Mr.. Atkinson says that within the last
en- years we have landed on our shores, who
ave come out from hopeless conditions,
We and one.half million Of people, aud add
0 this seven million blacks who have mi
rated from slavery to freedom, and that
heir progress is the wonder of the economic
istory.
These statements as they are made by
Ir. Atkinson, the best Democratic author
y or statistical authority. of our country.
resent remarkable homily when displayed
y the side of Mr.. Bells assurances to his
'emocratic friends in his court house
oeecch few nights since. Mr.. Bell pro-
ssed to be an economic student. His
atements of the result of the defensive
olIcy OF the Republican party for quar-.
II of century past, compared with those
the Forum by Atkinson, or that startling
'eech of Lord Salisbury, delivered May
9Th, at Hastings, England, in which he
IDLY declared the terrible condition of
Dor and of industry, the home and heart
which had been eaten into by free trade,
hich was destroying the prestage of the
rltish nation, and driving its labor that
uld 20 from England and Ireland to
merica and elsewhere, and it's great indus
les to countries where they will be pro-
cted. T. s. LANG.