New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-08
HOMESTEAD MORALS.

| Democratic journals are premature III taxing
advantage of the Homestead labor tcubICS'
They point to the reduced schedule OF wages
as a proof that the Mckinley Act has not benc-
flied working people employed III the IRON
trade but on the contrary, has mVOiVeu
lockout. bloodshed and rioting. For the sake
of the argument, let it be granted that sllght
reduction of wages has been attempted al
Homestead. What have been the results
Organized resistance by the wage-oarnerS
lockout attempts on the part of the manage
ment TO protect their property by an armed
force: fierce battle on the river; noting
bloodshed and an outbreak of evil passions
Now il seems to us that these depl0labc
rosults are n warning which should be Sobcrly
and deliberately considered by the American
ppople at this time. One Of the polltIcaI par
ties has taken radical ground against the ITO
tcctive system under which the industries oil
the country are now conducted II stands III
tho elections of this wear for the principle OF
tariff for revenue only. II 1t elects IFS can
didato for President. carries the next House
of REPRESENTATIVES, and by the capture OF
fo,v Terislatures secures control of the Sen
ate il will be in position to STRIKE out all
tho protective features of the tariff and to
enact n tariff for revenue only. That policy
;u inevitably expose the iron and all other
industries 70 destructive competition from Tor
oicn countries. where labor is paid one-third
one-balf Of the wages earned III the umted
tes II the iron works. cotton and woollen
g., tor;os and other industrial establishments
are to remain in operation, wages must be re-
ducod There can be no alternative. Com
nctitiop with cheap labor will be mpracticabc
unless the schedules Of wage-earners IN Amcfl-
n are scaled down toward the European level.
What will follow if manufacturers, in order to
keen their factories and mills open, order a
general reduction Of wages? In view OF What
has happened this week at Homestead we leave
orr readers to answer the question for them
selves.
tariff for revenue only implies either the
abandonment of hundreds of industrial enter
nrisos and a widespread lockout of thousands
mon thousands of wagc-earners from their
accustomed employment, or else big cut III
wages from one end Of the country 10 inc
other. Labor everywhere is well organized a
il ought to be. in defence OF its own interests.
II will inevitably offer strenuous resistance 10
wage reductions Controversies between ON
ployers and employed will arise IN every IN
dustria centre We shall not presume 10 say
that these controversies will open the way for
thc same scenes Of conflict, excitement. evil
paSsion. lawlesSnoss and bloodshcd which have
bccn enacted at Homestead but we do feel
justified in asserting that the American people
will be brought face to face with one Of the
most alarming crises in their history H. a
the result of a Democratic triumph this year, a
tariff for revenue only be enacted y general
reduction of wages to the European level IN
the United States can involve nothing less
than social revolution and widespread dis
turbancc of the relations between capital and
labor
When Democratic journals point 10 the
Homestead outbreak rs the direct result Of
Protection and the Mckinley Act they beg the
real question at issue. The cause Of that dis
turbance is an attempt 10 reduce the nominal
rates of wages Very WE'LL there must be
thousands of such attempts on the part Of
EMPLOYERS if a revenue tariff be substituted for
the Mckinley Act VIII any one have the
hardihood to predict that organized labor Will
mecLly submit instead Of resisting with all lis
might? Sober men, remembering what has
happened AT PittSburs. will not be 50 crcdulouS.