The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-02
HALT THE HAVOC.

one Of the most forcible and timely
arraignments yet made Of this blum
dsring Administrations deliberate
policy of industrial ruin is that con-
tanned in an address by the committee
on national affairs of the New York
City Republican club, Edward B. Har-
per. chairman. Some of its statistical
estimates are simply appalling iu their
vivid exposition Of the industrial havoc
wrought and threatened by the Demo,
cratic party. Estimating, upon the
basis of Eleventh census returns, that
5000, 600 of the "A 900, 900 of American
bread winners are engaged in manu-.
featuring, mining and mechanical pur.
suits and in transportation and trade
and that these 100000 artisans earn
s.. 600, 900, 900 OF the so, 600, 00O, 900 an-
nually earned by the American people,
the address truly continues:
Not merely the wages of those engaged
in manufacturing have been seriously re-
duced by this panic of labor, but in one
form and another the injury resulting
from the effort Of the Democratic party
to fasten foreign or British free trade
upon this once prosperous people has
or will ultimately extend to ell who live
by daily work. The actual loss to the
people up to date has simply been apal-
ling and unless soon checked will bring
still further loss and deSolation to every
one Of the 10, OO0 600 homes OF the Repub-
lie. A 10 pei cent. reduction OF this earn
ing power means an annual loss to the
nation Of 81, 600 coo, 00O; a 20 per cent. re.
dnction of S2,0J0,0 900 600. Here we make
no allowance for loss resulting from
shTinkage OF values. The mills, the fac
tories, the workshops. the machin-
cry will be here, TO be sure but
half Of their value will, with half
the wages Of those employed, be
gone if the Wilson bill shall become law,
Astounding as 1t may appear the sum to-
tai of the nations loss. in shrinkage OF
value, reduction Of wages loss of employ
ment and In q fourfold increase of liabili-
ties in bankruptcy. has already exceeded
the assessed valuation Of all the property
Of the thirteen southern states, as shown
by the census Of 1890 (s3, S09, O00,0 00OD The
loss in earnings alone is already equal to
the wiping out Of every dollar on deposit
in the savings banks of the country at the
close Of the last Republican administTa-
tion, when the nation had reached the
MONDAY sun of its prosperity. The inn
pending ruin which the people of the Uni
ted States are facing at this moment is not
u bankers panic, 1t is not a manufacturers
panic, it Is not railroad panic, it is not n
farmers panic, but labor panic which
runs through every vein and every artery
OF our body polite, vitiating and paralyz-
ing the life currents Of q prosperous nation
and sappiug the stamina Of the people.
In the further language of this ad-
dress, "whatever doubt may have been
entertained six months ago as to the
cause Of the terrible depression in
every branch OF business, and universal
suffering in consequence Of lack OF en-
ployment and reduced wages in every
gainful occupation, there can be but
one cause now. For a generation the
nation has enjoyed the fruits of pro-
tective policy, which has encouraged
industry, stimulated the development
Of our resources, expanded internal
commerce, built vast systems of trans
portation fostered valuable home mar.
kets and placed American labor in all
its branches on higher plane than the
labor Of any other nation in the world.
Under the protective system the earn
ings of those engaged in gainful
occupations Of all kinds have been
fully double the amount OF the earnings
in similar occupations by the most IA
vored European countries, while the
cost of living on the same plane has
been no more. The records of three
decades prove that agriculture, manu-,
featuring, mining, commerce. both in.
ternal and foreign, and trade, have all
kept step in the grand march of ma
tional progress. Having enjoyed this
prosperity; having been afforded these
opportunities to earn more. to spend
more aud to save more. than their for.