Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-30
farmer additional market for a pound of
meat or a hn Shel of prains

meat or a bushel of grain
"Has it in single instance given to the
mechanic or laborer increased wages? Tho
present high tariff adds largely to the
cost of articles necessary to the comfort of
the wage Garner. How has he been bene-
fitted? Has it increased his wages? Has it
in any manner benefited his condition?
Recent events connected with the most
highly protected establishments of this
country sadly attest the fact that high
protective tariff affords no protection to
those who earn their bread by daily toll
1t was never intended to benefit them.
Long enough has the wage Garner been de-
luded by the cry that high tariff means
high wages. Tariffs have no effect upon
wages, except to diminish their purchas-
ing power The higher the tariff the less
the purchasing power of the wages. Wages
are governed by the great law of supply
and demand. If the claim of the protec-
zionist is we'll founded, why not have
wages increased, as tariffs have increased?
Why constant reduction of wages in the
most highly protected establishments in
the land?
ITO the toiler the Mckinley bill has
kept the word of promise to the ear, but
broken it to the hope.'
THE Democratic house of representatives
of the present congress has passed a bill
removing the increased duty imposed by
the Mckinley bill upon tin plate, and pro-
viding that within few years it shall 60
upon the free list. 1t has also passed the
free wool and cheap clothing bill, by
which wool is admitted free of duty and a
large reduction sought to be effected in the
tariff upon wooden goods of all descriptions
1t has also removed the tariff upon bind
ing Irvine. But for the hostility of Re
publican senate these measures, so just, 50
II - 81,
upon our statute books. Our present
tariff laws need careful revision. Their
glazing inconsistencies should be corrected.
1t is to the interest of manufacturer and
consumer alike that in the main raw ma
terial be admitted free of duty. Working
the raw material into the finished product
would give employment to our skilled
workman. The reduction of tariff taxes to
the minimum upon the necessaries of life
is important to all of our people; it would
prove of inestimable value to the millions
who earn their bread by daily toll.
MY fellow citizens, to you the tariff is
the all important question. The question
is not how much of your earnings shall be
given to the support of the government
but how much shall under the forms OF
law be seized by the favored-the pro
tccted' classes.
when the tariff bill of 1861, increasing
the average of tariff taxes from 10 to 81
per cent, was under consideration, Mr.
Merrill, the Republican author of the bill
said, 1T was not designed as permanent
system, but only as temporary measure
AS already shown, this war tax, instead 81
being reduced when the war had closed
was by successive Republican congresses
increased to an average of Al per cent. The
Republican party responded to the de
mand of the people for reduced taxation
by the passage of the Mckinley tariff bill
of 1890, thus heavily increasing war take:
upon the people twenty-five years after the
war had closed.
Are your interests safe in the hands O.
party controlled by the protected monop
olists of this country? This is the impor
tant question for your determination at tn,
polls. The Democratic party wages NJ
warfare on any business interest. 1t ia
vors no legislation hostile to the true in
terests of any business enterprise. We be
lieve that the burdens of taxation shoult
| be equally distributed. We oppose all leg
| islation that enriches the few by taXins
the many.
The contest upon which we have nov
entered is of deep significance to the Amer
| lean people. Shall high tariff, continual,
| increasing with the demands of the pro
| tected classes, be the settled policy of on
government, or shall there be relief to tn
| people from the burdens of unjust taxa
| tinDSD