New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-14

ton. The total figures certainly confirm the Inn
preston that the people are receding from aeri-
But If The Spectator had looked back for
decrease might nave been exhibited 1t being stated
in THE statesman.s Year I.ook" that the number
employed in agriculture In 1861 2,0lOi54, which
would show a loss in thirty years of more than
one-half of those employed. Notwithstanding an
The soil of and %aes bas been
ousy treated. and is supposed to have lost nothing
other modern fertilizers are abundant, and have
been abundantly applied What then is it that has
those formerly employed in agriculture in England
and Wales and compelled them to fee from their
tons? If those left behind may answer. all,
whether owners Of the soil or laborers, with one
accord would sraightway declare that their suffer-
only" Among English farmers free trade has not
sons own land in Great Britain. and these chiefly
By prmogeniture inheritance. The glory Of Ameri-
pie by those who hold the plough.
PAUPERIsM AMP FREE TRADE.
The number OF British paupers has been perhaps
understated at 945.6S6. There so many descrip-
lions of their paupers-registered, dependents, va
grants casual poor. able bodied indoor and out
door-regulated by various laws. that It may be
difficult for them to tabulate the total numbers;
but. thus stated. it is enormously greater than
that of the United States where protective tariff
has long prevailed. Beyond question British pau
perish has been greatly promoted by the pinching
bank and bars them forever from the ownership
that their children will be left in restitution
The paupers OF the United states in 1890 num-
276i6 foreign born of lO.6Os or both Of
the parents foreign born. and there were also
Notwithstanding our nearly twice the population Is
nine times greater than that of the United states
This is modest contrast with the chronic pauper
ism Of Great Britain. which has been graphically
described by member Of Mr.. Gladstone's Cabinet
as follows
1T is an awful fact-t is really not short OF
awful-that in this country. with all its wealth
to say nearly onc-half of the persons who reach
the dg OF a Sx or Gfe a follow this
i-starrcd track which marks the homes and high
BrItish strikes often occur when reductions of
wages are proposed to wase-receivers VINO n a,
rreduciDle. as humanity cannot live on less.
RECORD OF PROGRESS.
one hundred years ago the United States were
poor, few in numbers. with only stinted house
hold manufactures and Industries of any notable
account in agriculture Great Britain. draw
ing well-relished nutrition from the breasts Of her
colonies. then already conspicuous In its ma
tional power. its accumulated wealth. and its ex-
portable manufactures. 1t had conquered India, and
had been. with help victorious over France In
Canada. After a century Of commercial progress
the wealth Of Great Britain has been estimated
at s200coC0tC0 less than that Of the United states.
which census ot 1880 states at $50 5O,@0O.
The inferorty OF our public debt VIII be admitted,
however Notwithstanding our enormous cxpendi-
ture in the recent great War OF the Rebellion.
The British national debt In 1892 six times
greater than at the commencement OF the .tmeri-
can Revolution. or. reckoning s. 10 the pound ster.
ling s3ISS 1891 S while the interest bearing debt OF
the United States only SS.02s.3}o or only about
one-sixth OF the British debt Their annual inter
est per capita is 50 3 and ours 80 cents
DO these facts indicate any economic b.under on
our part that should suddenly teacn us TO reform
our National revenue policy by an exchange for
that OF the country We have left ~ far behind In
Prior to our tariff revision OF 1890 the great cry
Of tariff rciormers appeared 70 be against Treas
ury surplus. ana for reduction of the revenue
during the Administration OF President
H. Gfp to IN ,h paS SHien OF OF thereby redue
ing the annual interest CHARGE OF the Government
also 90 cut Of by eniargins the tarn free list and
by reduction OF rates on suitable articles.
much revenue survive. but unfortunately the new
however a free-irade tariff curtailment would not
seem To be safe and proper tonic 10 increase reNr
not fail TO seriously augment the present financial
Nor will Democratic Admins
tration be likely to excite our admiration by any
OF the public debt
FOREIGN TRADE UNDER Protection.
The familiar dIc,um that we cannot have ex-
ports unless they are balanced by equal amount
Of imports was prominent In 1880 and. though con
stantly refuted by the trade Of all nations, has
found its quctus In the operation Of our too-much
tariff OF 1880. under which our exports
for 1872 exceed those OF 1899 by over sl72co" and
our imports from Great Britain the first year were
S3S ~ ssl less and exports &2f7ssl more than
the year prior the tariff. The tariff Of
1880 therefore. did harm to oar export trade
but considerably fortified the country against an
might have proved more dangerous and rampant
The stale assertions are still repeated though De;
prived for many years OF any leg or truth 10 stahd
Industries employment to more people. not pol-
ion OF the time but all the year" this being seri-
though our manufacturers pay higher wages, they
get more work for the same amount Of money"
obviously by a reduction OF the tarIn. a larger
OF foreign merchandise Is intended and
he PRODUCTS which Otherwise would have been
made by the empioyment OF our own people, but
nue. only" Here the working day is curtailed by
a less number OF hours for weeks work. and here
less number OF young children and women are
employed at low wages than abroad More work
instead OF less is. therefore. more likely TO be de-
handed abroad for days wages than in America
COMPARING MAN WITH MAN.
Any claim OF superior stamina the part Of
Americans, or Of doing more work In day than
INV other people. IL vainglorious assumption.
The British are OF the same stock, and bred In
IN equally healthy climate-though Soufhey thought
[ only fl TO hibernate In during half the year
but their wage-earners grow old earlier from work
and ruder fare Briton. long able TO get
'ul pay without doubt. Is about as athletic and
physically good as an American, and probably
no better We have wrestled with them. and did
,ot have the worst OF It, II Is enough In this re-
,pect that we claim to be their peers, and 1t Is as
-idiculous for us to claim general physical SUI
,erIority TO Europeans as 1t ancienty for one
II the latter $50 thoroughly refuted by Jeferson)
o claim that Americans had physically degener-
ited.
Years ago IT may be that we achieved some ad-
antages in the priority OF inventions of labor
,avlng machines. but to-day all inventions are no
'ooner patented in one country than they go to
many others, and machinery and the steam engine |
wherever utilized have made the whole world kin |
n manufactures and the mechanic arts The silly |
:laimants of physical superiority OF Americans
,ver all other people have been led into n FOOLS !
n radse and ought to be led back for instruction |
n some charitable kindergarten.
In Great Britain wage-earner ever rises to be |
IN employer OF wage-earners. In the United States
[ is a common occurrence. and almost the rule |
hat the head, business manager. OF any indus |
rial company has risen from the ranks OF practical
manual labor The biographies OF captains of |
Ministry when look aloft in the history of |
he American people, shine forth as abundantly as