The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04
EDMUNDS ON THE TARIFF
KINLEY LAWS EFFECT ABROAD.
Condition OF Foreign LRbOr-Under-
paid and Fighting for Life Against
Overwhelming Odds 49,

Condition OF Foreign LRbOr-Under-
paid and Fighting for Life Against
Overwhelming Odds 49,
Senator George F. Edmunds, who has
Just returned after a tour of six months
in Europe, was seen at his apartments in
the Victoria Hotel Friday night, in New
York. While on the other side he OBJ
served the effect of our protective tariff
upon the industries of foreign countries.
The condition of English and COntinen-
tai manufacturers since the Mckinley law
went into operation, he said, was astrong
proof of the advantage of the existing
Republican policy of Protection.
"Since the establishment of the pre-
sent tariff" said Senator Edmunds,
English exporters have been flying flags
of distress in the shape of numerous adj
verse criticisms upon it. British, French
and German manufacturers have dimin-
ished, wages have been reduced and the
mechanics and laborers of those coun-
tries have suffered. The Europeans talk
of the American tariff as if it were an in
Justice to them. They say that the bur-
den of the customs duties is borne by the
manufacturer and exporter and not by
the consumer. Their lamentations
would arouse compassion in the breast
that Americas first duty is to her chill
dren it would really seem as if we should
do something for the amelioration of
their condition.
"Of the three principal manufacturing
countries of Europe, England suffers
most from the operation of our tariff.
The English mechanic is not land
holder. He livesin cottage or in rooms
owned by wealthy person or corpora
ton, and is often the tenant of his emf
ployer. When wages are reduced and he
goes out on strike his income is COM
pletely cut off. His rent rolls up just
the same, as do also his butcher S bakers
and grocer's bills. Though he is earning
nothing, his wife and children must be
fed, clothed and sheltered. He cannot
pay his rent, his landlord evicts him, his
family begins to starve. There is moth
ing for him to do save humbly to seek
his former employment and to accept
such pay as his employer may choose to
give to him. In this respect the British
workingman is slave in everything but
name.
"In Germany and France the laborer
is not so dependent on his daily toll.
Generally he owns few acres of fertile
soil, every inch of which is made to pro-
duce it's full share of vegetables or sala-
BILE flowers. If he is thrown out Of
work he can live for long time on the
products of his little farm. By dint of
hard labor he can grow enough vegeta-
bles to provide his family with food.
He is sure to have COW or goat which
grazes in liliputian pasture or on the
public green, and whose milk is an agree
able addition to the diet of the family.
Thus the German or Frenchman can live
much longer without actual cash than the
English laborer. But all three are now
suffering from the effects of the Republi-
can tariff.
This is deplorable from the stand
point of the humanitarian, but it is not
matter with which we are obliged to
concern ourselves. 1t is the business of
our lawmakers to frame measures that
will confer the greatest good upon the
majority of the people of the United
States. If the people of other countries
fall under the wheels of our car of pro-
gress we are very sorry, but we cannot
help it, The opposite effects of the
Mckinley law on the people of this
country and those of other lands is an
illustration of the proverb that one mans
meat is another mans poison. The
policy which increases American
prosperity Injuries the manufacturing
and commercial interests of other
countries.
SIT is a question of having our clothes
manufactured and our food products
made by the European laborer or the
American workman. This beautiful
country can provide amply for its own
needs. Excepting tea, coffee and sugar,
we can produce and make all and more
than we consume or can consume during
the next 500 years. Even sugar is made
in the United States to-day, and in few
years more we shall be able to manufac-
ture enough for our own uses, if not for
export Why, then, should we not have
our necessaries and luxuries produced or
manufactured by American workingmen?
We can give employment to every man
in the United States. Shall we, through
pity, give part of this to foreigners to the |
injury of some of our own citizens, or
shall we not rather cherish the welfare
of the American people and the per-
petuation of the glory of the American
commonwealth?
England is solid for for the Demo- |
cratic candidate. So are France, Ger |
many and Switzerland. The reason is |
apparent. Our prosperity Is their loss.
Especially is this true of Great |
Britain. France and Germany are pro-
tective countries, so their injury is purely
negative. They make their own goods
and grow their own foods. 80 that they
furnish employment to their own people,
But England does not manufacture her
own necessaries. She depends upon the
American market When this is closed
to her she suffers greatly. 81.
by all the laws of logic, as well az the
exigencies of the public welfare, the
Republican ticket should win this year.
While Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Cleveland
may think alike on most subjects of
National Importance, you must remem-
Der that they are both the candidates of
their respective parties. Mr.. Cleveland,
if perchance he should be elected, would
meet with the opposition of three-fourths
of his party on these great questions,
and as it is the duty of President to
represent his party, he would be obliged
to act against his own better judgment.
Mr.. Harrison, on the contrary, would be
supported by at least three-fourths of
his party and would be at liberty to act
for the general prosperity without re-
gard to partisan restrictions.
1.-THE State bank question is, to my
mind, much graver than the tariff. Al
though low tariff would at first be as
disastrous as return to the wildcat cur
rency system, it would not be as enduring.
II Free Trade were to be imposed upon
the nation tomorrow, it is my opinion