Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-08-25


Brookline Mass. July %. 1892
For the Eilsw worth American.l
Protection versus Free Trade.
said In my last letter that the English
government looked on our elections with
an evil eye, and hoped 20 derive favors
from a Democratic administration which
they did not expect from a Republican ad-
ministraton. We have seen the machinery
OF this government run four years with
free trade engineer. Th- effect of free
trade on this country means ruin aud dis
sster. the closing of our manufactures,
the lowering OF wages in every depart
ment of industry. When this becomes one
Of the factors Of any government the OPP
portunity OF the laboring man and his
family is reduced. and whenever this
country adopts England free-,rade policy
the lsboring classes In every department
Of business vii begin TO decline Their
children will have less opportunity TO be-
poorer every day and every week their
opportunity for advancement will become
less; the cost of living will be Increased
Instead Of diminished, by less production.
and in a decade we will have all the misery
and poverty OF old England among our
laborng classes.
If the laboring class OF this country de-
sire TO see their chances for advancement
increased. their children educated, their
homes made happy b. possessing the
means 70 purchase the Lec.-saEIes OF life,
they will secure this guarantee by voting
the Republican ticket next November; but,
on the other hand, II they desire to see the
policy OF the Democratic administration
from lss5 to lss9 carried out. as 1t is sure
to be II Cleveland Is elected, they vii
vote for Cleveland. A free-trade policy
with the right TO purchase wherever you
can buy cheapest, whether In England or
America, will be his policy; it is the policy
OF the Democrats TO count the favor Of
foreign courts to secure their election.
Who will deny that the Golden Club, one
of the weathiest organizations in Eng
land "a majority, II not all of the rich
manufacturers Of England, belong TO this
club,) does not send over TO America mil
lions every presidential year to secure the
election of the Democratic nominee? Not
one dollar Of the money ever goes to pur-
chase votes for the Republicans Why?
Because they hope TO secure monopoly
of trade with the election OF the Demo
Gratis. They see in the elevation of that
party, the free-trade administration, a
policy that they desire America to adopt,
and with the apostle of free-trade and
free ships in the highest Office in the gift
of the American people, they are looking
out to come in on an equal with America
| in supplying our market with the pro-
ductions Of cheap labor produced by their
manufactures.
1t is useless for any person to disguise
the motto of the Democratic party their
aim and their policy is free-trade. The
cry of taxation has been sounded by every
Democratic stump speaker and politician
| from ocean to ocean tor a quarter of 4
century; the high cost Of living, the high
price Of every necessary of life has been
their cry. The cost of every article Of
consumption taxes the wageworkers more
severely than an..other class Of people in
this country.
Now, let US follow up this policy In
order to show whether we are to be
actually benefited by adopting this policy
or by keeping on the same course that the
Republican party has always advocated
protective tariff. a sufficient duty on all
foreign productions sent to this country
that we can produce ourselves, to protect
our own manufactures. The foreign i'm
necessary expenses of this government
and our manufactures are increased and
protected. American labor holds its high
standard which no other country In the
world can boast of. country without
manufactures is q nation of idiots. The
, productions of any country are the sub
stance from which the people derive life
thrive and prosper and become great anc
powerful. There is little or no duty on al
! articles that this country is non-producel
of. Iron, steel and coal this country pro
, duces in abundance. Take one article. thu
steel rail. Suppose there was no duty OF
, them. How could our manufactures exis
| when England can produce them with he
3 cheap labor, some sl3 per ton less thar
/ they can be manufactured in this country
5 Now, let the government remove the pres
ent duty on steel rails, $40. and how
long could our manufactures run with tn,
8 present high rate Of wages? Would it b.
e possible for this country to compete witt
8 England in the supply of steel rails2 Th
| money would have to 60 to England t,
J., pay her for this article, and we would b
i getting just that amount poorer ever,
s year.
: Every dollar we pay to foreign manu-
t factories makes SO many dollars less Il
r America. By producing this article our
selves millions of dollars yearly are KEEP
r in this country. 1t is plain to see the les
D money we pay to foreign countries 70
9 their productions the better we are of, th
l. more money we have in circulation, an
8 the country is just SO much richer by pre-
r ducing the article at home. There is n
q policy or wisdom in reducing the manu-
8 factures Of this country to the standard o
foreigners. When we once take this falls
d step it will not be long before We shall se