Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-11


No reasonable man will object that
this has been overstated. tits very
conservative summary Of what has been
dinned into our ears from the press and
the stump ever since the nation began
its slow recovery from the paralyzing
panic Of 1878, But, whenever it has
been attempted to engraft anything
about wages into tariff laws, the
benefciaries thereof have suddenly and
strangely weakened in their zeal for the
workingman. And-but we need not
dilate at present upon the benevolent
and philanthropic affection manifested
by the Carnegies and the tricks for the
masses who have voted to tax them
selves for the benefit of these kind, con
siderate and liberal guardians and shep.
herds. But we invite a careful reading
of the concluding paragraphs OF this
article in HafperS, which run as
follows:
The workingmen will gradually omen
their eyes to the fact that those FAIR
speeches have most cruelty deceived them
They have only to look at the rates of
wages in the different countries of the
world TO satisfy themselves that high
wages are not caused by Il high protective
tariff, and that low wages are not caused hy
the absence of high tariff, We are con
stantly told, when comparing American
wages with English wages, that wages in
the United states are much higher than
wages in England because we are blessed
with protective system while England is
not But i isa notorious fact that wages
II free trade England range much higher
than wages in Germany and in other
European countries blessed with a pro-
tective tariff Now if in one high tariff
country wages are higher than in one free
trade country, and at tile same time wages
~ that free trade country are higher than
IN several high tariff countries. then il
cannot possibly be that the high tariff
makes high rate Of wages and the alb
sGence of the tariff low one
II the workiugman pursnes his inquiries
further, he will find that during that fam.
Gus period when the United States lad a
low tariff, from 1916 to 1861 WAGES herr
were as much higher than those IN any
European country as they are now, and
that during that low tariff period they
were steadily rising. He will find tina;
wages IN tins country have always been
higher than European wages, moi on ac
s@unt OF any tariff, but on account of thc
surrounding llS--tHt lhr2C
quantity Of cheap fertile and easily
accessible land the almost inexhaustib!t
abundance and variety of natural resource,
inviting enterprise; the exceptional energ,
and productivencss Of labor in this comUi
try; and 50 on He will find that the wage.
Of persons engaged in such labor as is 10
protected by any tariff at all, such as en-
ployeS OF transportation companies, hnus,
servants, bricklayers, carpenters. bakers
IonEshuremen, plastcrcrs, and man,
others, are among the highest, compared
Wl'h corresponding wages in Europe
wages are as dependent IN the labo
market and the state of business in htgl
tariff America as in free trade England
and no less; that labor organizations hay
as much influence upon such things her
as IN England, and no more; and that III
promises with which the protective polio
Is commended 70 he favor Of the lab0rin
men cannot possibly he fulfilled by an,
tariff law and are therefore i delusion an
snare.