The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-12-14
A wnnn roh PROJECTION.

believe that the protective system, which
has now for something more than thirty
| years continuously prevailed in our legisla :
tion, has been a mighty instrument for the
| development of our national wealth and a
most powerful agency in protecting the
| homes Of our wordngmen from the inva-
sion of want have felt most solicitous
interest TO preserve TO our working people
rates Of wages that would not only give
daily bread but supply a comfortable mar
gin for those home attractions aud family
comforts and enioyments without which
life Is neither hopeful nor sweet.
They are American Citizens-a part of the
| great people for whom our Constitution aud
Government were framed and instituted
| and il cannot be a perversion OF that Con.
stltution to so legisate as to preserve IN
| their homes the comfort independence
| loyalty and sense of interest in the Govern
ment which are essential to good citiz ,nship
in peace, and which will bring this stalwart
thronz, as in 1861, TO the defense of the fla
when tits assailed.
IL is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor Of protective tariff.
The result of the recent election must be &C.
cepted as having introduced a new policy
We must assume that the present tariff
| constructed upon the lines of protection, is
to be repealed. and that there is to be sub
! stituted for it a tariff law constructed solely
! with reference TO revenue; that no duty is
]
/ open an American mill or keep up the wages
OF an American workman. but that in every
case sucd a rate OF duty to be imposed as
will bring to the Treasury OF the United
| States the largest returns Of revenue.
The contention has not been between
schedules, but between principles, and it
would be offensive to suggest that the pre-
viiling party will not carry into legislation
the principles advocated by IL nni the
| pledges given to the people. The tariff bills
| passed by the House OF Representatives at
the last session were, as | suppose-even in
the opinion OF their promoters s-inadequate,
| and justified only by the fact that the Senate
and House OF Representatives were not in
accord and that general revision could
not, therefore, be undertaken.
| recommend that the whole subject of
tariff revision be left to the incoming Con-
| gress. II is matter OF regret that this work
must be delayed for at least three month: /;
for the threat of great tariff changes intro
duces so much uncertainty that an amount,
not easily estimated, of business inaction
and of diminished reduction will necessarily
result. II is possible also that this uucer-
tainty may result in decreased revenues
| from customs duties for our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods in
view of the prospect of tariff reductions ana
the uncertainty as TO when they will take
effect.
Those who have advocated a protective
| turif can well afford to have their disas-
trous forecasts Of n change of policy disap-
| pointel. II syste n of customs duties can
| be framed that will set the idle wheels and
looms of Europe in motion and crowd our
warehouses with foreign-made goods, and
at the same time keep our own mills busy;
that will Civ, us an increased participation
| in the markets Of the world of greater
value than the home market we surren Ter;
that will give increased work TO foreign
ks.sa
our people without diminishing the amount
of work to be done here; that will
enable the American manufacturer
to pay to his work nen from
fifty to hundred per cent, more in wages
than is paid in the foreign mill and yet to
compete in our market and foreign markets
with the foreign producer; that will further
reducs the cost OF articles OF wear and food
without reducing the wages of those who
produce them; that can be celebrated, after
its effects have been realized, as its expectl-
tions have been, iu.. European as well as in
American cities, the authors and promoters
of it will be entitled to the highest praise.
We have mad in our history several ex-
perencss of tho contraste1 effects OF a
revenue and that of a protective tariff; but
this generation has not felt them, and the
experience Of one generation Is not highly
instructive to the next The friends of the
protective system, with undimiuishei con-
| ii ience in the principles they have ad-
vocated, will await the results Of the new
experiment.
LABOR AND THE TARIFF.
The strained and too often disturbed re,a =
| tions existing between tho employees and
| the employers In our great manufacturiny
| establishments have not been favorable to a
calm consideration by the wage Garner OF
the effect upon wages of the protective sys-
ten. The facts that his wages vera the
| highest paid in like calliugs in the world
| and that a maintenance of this rate OF
wages, in the absence OF protective duties
upon the product of his labor, was
| impossible were obscured by the
passion evoked by these contests. He
may now be able to review the question in
| the light of his personal experience undsr
| the operation Of tariff for revenue only. IL
| that experience shall demonstrate that pres.
ent rates OF wages are thereby maintained
! or increased, either absolutely or in their
purchasing power, and that the aggregate
volume of work TO be done in this country
is to be increased, or even maintained, 50
| that there are more or as many days work
| in a year at as good or better wages for the
American workmen as has been the case
under the protective system, every one will
rejoice
A general process of wage re luction can
not be contemplated by any patriotic citizen
without the gravest apprehension. 1t may
be, indeed l believe it is, possible for the
American manufacturer to compete success
fully with his foreign rival in many
branches of production without the defense
of protective duties, if the pay rolls are
equalEed; but the conflict that stands be-
tween the producer and that result and the
distress of our working people when it is at
tained are not pleasant to contemplate.
The Society of the Unemployed, now hold.
ing its frequent an threatening parades in
the streets OF foreign cities, should not be
allowei to acquire an American domicile.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relat ons with foreign nations are now
uullstur osl by any serious controversy.
Tue complicated and threatening differences
with Germany aud England relating TO
Samoan affairs, with England in relation to
the seal fisheries in the Bering Sea, and with
c iile growing out of the Baltimore affair,
have been adjusted.
There have neen negotiated aud concluded
under section OF the tariff law, CONNER
ciai agreements relating to reciprocal trade
with the following countries; Brazil, Do
minicau Republic, Spain for Cuba and
Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Sa lvador, the
German Empire, Great Britain for certain
| West Indian Colonies aud British Guiana,
Nicaragua, Honduras and Austria Hungary.
The alarmed attention of our European
competitors for the South American mar
ket has been attracted TO this new Americ IN
| policy an TO our acquisition aud their loss
| of South American trade.
THE BERING SEA TREATY.
| A treaty providing for the arbitration of
! the dispute between Great Britain and the
United States, as 10 the killing of seals in the
| Bering Sea was conclu1ei on the Goth OF
/ February last. This treaty was accompanied
/ by an agreement prohibiting pslagic sealing
/ pending the arbitration, anl y vigorous
] sRort was rnada duriuu this saaeon 70 lriva