The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-06

fooks, which saved them from further and
disastrous decline. The house of represent
atives at its last session passed bills plac-
ing these ores and woods upon tho free list.
Tn people of the west will n how de-
structive to their prosperity these measures
| would be.
This tariff law has given employment to
many thousands OF American men and
women, n will Zach year give employ
ment to increasing thousands. It's repeal
would throw thousands out of employment
and give work to others only at reduced
rates. The appeals OF the free trader to the
workingmen are largely addressed to his
preiudices or to passions. and the no IN
frequently pronouncedly communiatic now
democratic leadership age at the en-
to the employe. l greatly regret that all
employers of labor are not just and consid-
crate, and that capital sometimes takes too
large a share OF profits, but l do not see
that these evils would be ameliorated by a
tariff policy. the first necessary effect OF
large diminution Of the aggregate amount
of work to be ono in this country.
If the injustice of his employer tompts =
workman to strike back, he should DO very
sure his blow does not fall upon his own
head or upon his wife and children. Work
remarkably intelligent and are lovers OF
home and country. They may he reused
by injustice, or what seems to them to be
such, or be led for q moment by others into
acts Of passion. but they will settle this
tariff contest in the calm light Of their No
the prosperity of the country of which they
are citizens. and Of the homes they havs
founded for their wives ana children,
No intelligent advocate Of o protective
tariff claims it is able of itself to maintain
u uniform rate OF wages without regard to
- A. - I-----l
for the products Of labor. But it ia conf
IDENTIFY claimed hat protective duties
atsongly tend to hold up wages and are the
only barrier against reduction TO the Eu-
ropean scale. The southern states have
had liberal participation in the benefits OF
tariff law, and though their representatives
have generally opposed the protection pol
icy, I rejoice that their sugar, rice. coal,
iron ores. fruits, cotton cloths. and olher
products will not be left to the fate which
the votes of their representatives would
have brought upon them. In the oonsttuc-
ton Of the Nicaragua canal. in new trade
with South and Central America, in the o.
tablishment of American steamship lines,
these states have also special interest, and
all these interests will not always consent
to be without representation at Washing
ton.
shrswdly. but fairly. our sdversaries
speak only of increased duties imposed
upon tin, pearl buttons INC other articles
by the Mckinley bill, and omi altogether
any reference to the great and beneficial
enlargement Of the fres list. During the
lest fiscal year Sass, 000, 972 worth Of mer-
chandise, or 81. 35 per cent Of our total i'm
portatlons came IN free (the largest per-
cen.aRe in our history, while in 1889 the
percentage of the free importations was
only "a. ~ per cent. The placing of sugar
upon the free list saved to the consumers In
duties in fifteen months, after paving the
bounties provided for, 1887, 900. 900. This
relief has been substantially felt in every
household upon every Saturdays purchase
Of the nottingham. One of the ~favorite
arguments against the protective
tariff is shat il shuts Us out
from participation III nat is
called, with swelling emphasis. the
markets OF the world" II this view is
not a false one. how does it happen that
our commercial competitors arc not able to
bear with more serenity our supposed sur
render to them of the markets, of the
world" and how does it happen that tbs
partial loss of our market closes foreign
tin plate mills and plush factories that still
have all other markets2 Our natural ad-
vantages. on the protective tariff and re-
ciproclty policy, make it possible for rs to
have large participation in the markets of
the world" without opening our own to
competition that would destroy the comfort
and Independence of our people.