The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-09-06

low, and necessitate reduction of his
wages to the European standard. If any
one suggests that this radical policy
will not be executed if the demo
cratic party attains power, what
shall be thought of party that is capa
BILE of thus trifling with great interestsg
The threat of such legislation would be
only less hurtful than the fact A dis
tinguished democrat rightly described
this movement a, a challenge to the pro,
tected industries to fight of extermlna-
ton. and another such rightly expressed
the logic of the situation when he inter
preted the Chicago platform to be an in
vitation to all democrats holding even
the most moderate protection views to 90
into the republican party.
Regard to the Existing Tariff Law.
And now few words in regard to the
existing tariff law. We are fortunately
able to Judge of its influence upon pro-
duction and prices by the market reports
The day of the prophet of calamity has
been succeeded by that of the trade re-
porter. An examination into the effect
of the law upon the prices Of protected
products and of the cost of such articles
as enter into the living Of people of small
means, bas been made by Senate COM
mittee composed of leading Senators of
both parties, with the aid of the best sta
tisticians, and the report, signed by all
the members of the committee, has been
given to the public. No such wide and
careful inquiry has ever before been
fhn
port:
First.-The cost of articles entering
into the use of those earning less than
81, 900 per annum, has decreased up to
May, 1892, "a per cent, while in farm
products there has been an increase In
prices. owing in part to an increased for
eign demand and the opening of new
markets. In England, during the same
period, the cost of living increased 10
per cent. Tested by their power to pur-
chase articles of necessity, the earnings
of our working people have never been
as great as they are now.
| Second.-There has been an average
advance in the rate of wages Of rs of one
ptr cent.
Third-There has been an advance in
the price of all farm products of IS 81
per cent, and of all cereals 33 SO pei
cent.
New York Cited.
The ninth annual report of the chief OF
the bureau of labor statistics of the State
of New York-a democratic officer
very recently issued, strongly corrobo
rates, as to that State the facts found by
the Senate committee. His extended
inquiry shows that in the year imme
diately following the passage of th'
tariff act of 1890, the aggregate SUI
paid in wages in that State was So, 377
925 in excess, and the aggregate pro
duction $31, ,315. 130 in excess of the pre-
ceeding year. In view of this shown.
of an increase in wages, of a reduction il
the cost of articles of common necessity
and of a marked advance in the price
of agricultural products, it is plain tha
this tariff law has not imposed
burdens, but has conferred benefit
upon the farmer and the workman. l
spite of the doubts raised by the elec
! tions of 1890, and of the Vaccinations O
foreign producers to maintain their me
nopoly, the tin plate industry has bee
established in the United States, and tn
) alliance between the welsh producers an
the democratic party for its destructio
: will not succeed. Another industry ths
, has been partially created by the McKir
ley bill is the making of pearl buttons
Few articles coming to us from abros
i were so distinctly the product of starv'
tion wages. But without unduly extent
ing this letter, l cannot follow in deta
z | l.. a., - ~ 1ox, nf
has transplanted several important indu
tries and established them here an
!; has revived or enlarged all otl
ers. This tariff law has give
: employment to many thousands
Labor and Capital.
). American men and women, and wi
a each year give employment to increasir
4 thousands. ITS repeal would thro
# thousands out of employment and gi
a work to others only at reduced wage
II The appeals of the free trader to II
N workingman are largely addressed to b
prejudices or to his passions, and n
infrequently are pronouncedly communi
y tic. The new democratic leadersh
II RACES to the employer, and seeks to COZ
= municate his rage to the employee.
l. greatly regret that all employers of lab
a are not Just and considerate and tn
l. capital sometimes takes too large sha
m of the profits But l do not see th
IN these evils will be ameliorated by tar
10 policy, the first necessary effect
"a which is severe wage cut and
al second a large diminution of the agg1
re gate amount of work to be done in tt
to country. If the injustice of his e
We ployer tempts the workman to stri
O. back he should be very sure that
nr blow does not fall upon his own head
ar upon his wife and children. The wo1
re men in our great industries are, as a boo
lc remarkably intelligent, and are lovers
t. home and country. They may be rous
by injustice or what Sc, ms to them to
ct such, or be led for the moment by othe
ID into acts of passion, but they will set
n the tariff contest in the calm light
IN their November firesides, and with a S
IT, reference to the prosperity of
e. country of which they are citizt
a. and of the homes they have founded
a their wives and children. No intellig'
us advocate of a protective tariff clai
Nv that it is able of itself to maintain u
lte form rate of wages without regard
le- fluctuations in the supply of and dema
N for the products of labor. But it is c.
&C. fdently claimed that protective du'
TIC strongly tend to head up wages, and
&C, only barrier against a reduction to
ny European scale.
- IKE Southern States.
an The Southern States have had a lit
ht al Darticj nation in the benefits of
Ter tariff law and, though their represer
to tives have generally opposed the prot
ev- tien, l rejoice that their sugar, r
IN. COAL ores, iron, fruits. cotton Gle
his and other products have not b
ect left to the fate which the votes
of their representatives would have brou
of upon them In the construction Of
his Nicaragua canal, in the new trade "
vas South and Central America, in the es1
no. lishment of American steamship lii