The record-union., 1892-10-17

Referring to the recent arrest of Com
missioner Peck, ,whoinvestigated the ques-
ton OF labor and wages, but whose report
was attempted to be suppressed, Mr.. Estee
remarked that he supposed Peck was
arrested by the Democratic leaders SIM
ply because he told the truth.
Mr.. Estee then went at length into a
review OF the history of tariff legislation
in this country, and quoted at length
statistics showing the marvellous pros
perity that had resulted from the Repub-
lican policy of protection, which must be
omitted for lack of space.
Referring to Mr.. Whites statement
that money was so plentiful following the
Democratic free-trade era, Mr.. Estee
said that this was simply the result of
California having within few years
thrown $3.50, coo into the circulating
medium of the country.
he challenged any farmer within his
hearing to deny that to-day every article
or implement that he uses is not cheaper
than 1t was ten years ago.
few days ago he asked DIR. Grattan,
Presloent OF a large manufacturing COM
pany in Stockton what he paid for the
material used in the manufacture of his
goods, and DR.. Grattan replied that never
before was material SO cheap as now.
Formerly they paid $40 per thousand per
ton for lumber they now get for $l2, and
iron is less than two cents per pound.
Other things are in proportion. "And
yet" said the speaker, "you are being
robbed I"
by number of interesting and apt
illustrations, Mr.. Estee showed that it
is not the consumer in this country who
pays the extra tax on foreign importa-
tons. He quoted from John Ruskin
that In free-trade England, with her
wealthy few, there was dire poverty and
suffering throughout that country.
He declared it to be'a matter of record
that the average wages paid in the North
ern States is 81 30 per day, and in the
South but 50 cents. Land is cheaper in
the solid South also. The reason, he said.
Is that in the North there are factories
employing large numbers of people, and
the farmer and manufacturer are brought
together-the one sells his products to
the other and finds home market:
while in the South there is but one chief
industry. If the American farmer is to
have no home market for his products,
what is to become of his profits? Drive
out the factories and force everybody to
become tillers of the soil, and what
would become of them? Take of the
tariff and our homemade goods must
give way to those from foreign countries.
Mr.. Estee said it could not be denied
that all classes of industrious people in
the United States are more prosperous
to-day than ever before-tbat all laboring
classes receive higher wages than they
did ten years ago. And if this be so, who
is being robbed?
If the laboring people of England are
better off than those of America, why do
not our people go there to enjoy the pros
perity of the workers there? The truth
is, that English laboring people are pour
ing into this country year by year, and
despite the fact that America has been
the dumping-ground for the paupers Of
all the rest Of the world, she has still re-
mained-through the wisdom of Repub-
lican government-the most prosperous,
the happiest Nation on the earth.
Mr.. Estee closed with an eloquent ap-
peal for the perpetuation of the Repub-
lican policy. A glance backward for
thirty years, he said, shows nothing but
glory for the Republican party. The arts
and sciences, religion and education, have
all been conserved under the wise ad-
ministration of President Harrison and
his Republican predecessors. President
Harrison has, like Mr.. CleVeland, been
tried, and ne has not been found want
ing. [Long applsuse.l