Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-09-10

the campaign this alone would give It mo-
mentous Importance. Are the farmers of
the great grain growing states willing to sur
render these new, large and increasing mar
kets for their surplusy Are we to have moth
ing in exchange for the free importation of
sugar and coffee and at the same time to
destroy the sugar planters of the South and
the beet sugar industry of the Northwest
and of the Pacific coast, or are we to have
the taxed sugar and coffee which a tariff
for revenue only necessarily involves with
the added loss of the new markets which
have been opencd2
As have shown, our commercial rivals in
Europe do not regard this reciprocity policy
as sham, but as serious threat to
trade supremacy they have long enjoyed.
They would rejoice, and, if prudence did not
restrain, would illuminate their depressed
manufacturing cities--oyer the news that the
United States had abandoned its system of
protection aud reciprocity They see very
clearly that restriction of American pro
auctions AMI trade and corresponding in
crease of European production and trade
would follow, and ! will not believe that
what is so plain TO them can be hidden from
our own people.
PROTECTION.
The declaration of the platform in favor
Of ''the American doctrine of protection
vention did not adopt schedule, but prin-
cple that is to control all tariff schedules.
There may be differences of opinion among
protectionists as to the rate upon particular
articles necessary to effect an equalization
between wages abroad and at home. In
some not remote national campaigns the
issue has been. or more corr, city has been
made TO appear to be-between high and low
protective tariff-both parties expressing
some solicitous regard for the wages of our
working people and for the prosperity of our
domestic industries. But, under more
courageous leadership, the Democratic party
has now practically declared that If given
power it will enact tariff law without any
regard to its effect upon wages or upon the
capital invested in our great industries.
There is not a thoughtful business man in
the country who docs not know the enact
ment into law of the declaration of the Chi
cago convention upon the subject of the
tariff would at once plunge the country into
a business convulsion such as it has never
seem and there is not thoughtful working
man who does not know that it would at
once enormously reduce the amount of work
TO be done in this country by the increase of
importations that would follow and necessi-
tate q reduction in his wages to the European
standard If any one suggests that this
radical policy viii not be executed if the
Democratic party attains power what shall
be thought of party that is capable Of
thus triling with great interests? The threat
Of s;tch legislation would be only less hurt
full than the fact. A distinguished Demo
crat rightly described this movement as a
challenge to the protected industries to q
fight of determination, and another such
rightly expressed the logic of the situation
when he interpreted the Chicago platform to
be an invitation to all Democrats holding
even the most moderate protection views to
go into the Republican party.
THE MCKINLEY LAW
And now few words in regard to the ex;
isting tariff law. We are fortunately able
to judge of its influence upon production and
prices by the market reports The day of
the prophet of calamity has been succeeded
by that of the trade reporter. An examina-
ton 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, has been made by a
Senate committee composed of leading Sena-
tors Of both parties with'the aid of the best
statisticians md the report signed by all the
members of the committee, has been given
to the public No such vide and careful in.
CURRY has ever before been made. These
facts appear from tho report;
''First-The cost of articles entering into
the use of those earning less than 81 900 per
"
per cent, viii III farm products there has
been an increase in prices, owing in part to
an increased foreign demand and the open,
ing of new markets In England during the
same Period the cost of living increased o
per cent Tested by their power to purchase
articles Of necessity, the earnings of our
working people have never been as great as
they are now.
'ESecond-There has been an average ud-
"a, t,,f r,,tn # 0r #
cent.
''Third-There has been an advance in the
price of all farm products of 81 per cent,
and Of all cereals $3.50 per cent"
PECKs REPORT
The ninth annual report Of the chief Of
tee Bureau - itl:er Stat sites OF the state
If New Ycrs, Democratic oaject very re
Gently Issued strongly corruhoratcs as to
that state the facts found by The Senate com
lnittce. His extended inquiry shows that in
the year Immediately following the passage
of the tariff act of 40 the aggregate sum
laid in wages in that State was 81, 81, 935 in
excess, und the aggregate production $751;
Bis, 1870 il excess OF the preceding year.
TETLATE AND rEARL BUTTONS.
Some special effects of HE acts should be
noticed
The official returns to tho Treasury Depart
mcnt of the production, ci tin and terne
plates in the United STATES during the last
fiscal year show a total production of IL,
240, $50 pounds, and comparison with the
first quarter so, @22 pounds with the last
s,000,000 pounds, shows the rapid develop
ment of the industry Over j, 600, 900 pounds
during the last quarter were made from
American black plates, the remainder from
foreign plates. Mr.. Aver The Treasury
agent in charge, estimates as the results of
careful inquiry that the production of the
current year wi | be 100000, 900 pounds, and
that by the end of the year our production
will be at the rate of 200, 900 oG0 pounds per
annum
Another industry that has been practically
created by the Mckinley bill is the making
of pearl buttons. Few articles coming to us
from abroad were so distinctly the product
of starvation wages.
But, without unduly extending this letter,
I cannot follow in detail the influences of the
tariff law of 1890 1t has transplanted sew
eral important industries and established,
them here, aud has revived or enlarged all
others The act gives to the miners protec-
ton against foreign silyer-bearing lead ores,
the free introduction of which threatened
tie great mining industries of the Rocky
Mountain States, and to the wool gro werS
prote -tion for their feeces and fiocks, which
has saved them from further and disastrou,
decline
WAGES AND LABOR.
The tariff law has given employment t.
many thousands of American men and women
and will each year give employment TO in.
creasing thousands Its repeal would throw
thousands out of employment aud give work
to others only of reduced wages. The ap
peals Of the free trader to the workiugmeu
are largely idressei TO his prejudices or t.
h passions and not ipfrequently are pro
nouncel comnIunistic. The Democratic
leadership RACES al the employer, and seeks
to communicate his rage to the employee
| greatly regret that all employers Of labol
are not Just and considerate. and that CAPT
tai sometimes takes too large share oil the
profit. But do not see d at these evil
will be ameliorated by tariff policy, til,
first necessary effect Of wi ich is a sever,
wage cut and the second large difuinutior
of the aggregate amount Of work to be don,
in this country. IT the injustice of his EN-
ployer tempt the workman to strike back h,
should be very sure that the blow doe, not
fall upon his own head or upon his wife ans
children.
THE SOUTH
The Southern States have had liberia
participation in the be1eft, OF THE tariff Law
AMI, though their represent tiyes have gen
1tfhif up - hbc iAtAEttiAh fHl1tnNg ~
io &c that their sugar, rice. cal, ores, iron
fruits cotton cloths and otner produc have
rot been left to the tate watch the votes Of
their representatives would have brought
upon them. In the eoustrac; ion of the Nj
caragua Canal, in TIE new trade witt
South and Contra America, in he establish
ment of American steamship lines, thes,
states have also special interests, and al
these interests viii not always consent to b
without representation at Washington.
Shrewdly, but not quite fairly, our adver
saries speak only of the increased duties i'm
POSED upon tin, Teari buttons and other ar
ILL., L. III, II Il.