The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-25

Montreal Canadian Manufacturer.
IL 10 well worth the while of the
workin0meno OF Canada to observe the
situation In the United Stases. We
there see an object lesson which
teaches US that history repeats itself.
and that like causes produce like re.
suits. Canadian workmen should
judge for themselves, while they re-
member that work and wages are the
capital OF the workman.
! In 1889 free trade, for tho first time
In the history OF the United States. be-
came party issue. upon which the
the Government. From then until
1S42, under Democratic free trade,
there was but little employment fol
workmen other than the slaves In the
Southern States. very low wages pre-
vailed, soup houses were established
at which to feed Idle and famlshina
workmen and their wives and chill.
dren. and bankruptcy was general and
widespread. The people were bank
rupt the States. most OF them, were
bankrupt, and the National Treasury
was bankrupt
10 1872 tie Wing party-the party
that advocated protection-again
came into power. The souphouses
were closed, factories opened. plenty
OF work at good wages. and prospect
ty was guest at the firesides Of
American wDrkmeD.
In the period OF 1850 to 1850 the
Democratic party and their free-trad,
ideas ruled The country. During thai
time the War OF the Rebellion was In
cubated. the object being to extenC
the Southern system Of slavery Into
the Territories and embryo States. Al
before. there was but little employ
ment for FREQ labor, wages were very
low, souphouses were re-establisheC
for the benefit OF starving workmei
and their families, the land became
lilled with demorallzed wildcat
m oney. issued by worthless and ir-
responsible banks, and again bank
ruptcy Of peopic, States aud nation.
In 1861 the Republican party--ths
party for rotection-obtalned con
trol of the Government which wal
the signal Tor great increase in al
manufacturing Industries. This party
continued in power almost unlnter.
ruptedly until last year-and during
that period American wofknen were
paid the highest wages ever paid to
labor In tho history Of the world.
There was blenty OF employment. pr o.
perity and plenty perveded the land. @
. uniform value OF money was estab
lished. eight hours were declared @
days work, and the number Of homes
owned by American workmen became
greater than tho number of homes
owned by all the wortmen of ali othol
countries.
In 1893 The Democratic free trade
party, under MIR. Cleveland, again
came into power, and remembering
past experiences. even before the pro-
missed free trade could be made rea l.
ity, idleDeas, poverty, eouphouses, low
wages, bankruptcy, loss OF confidence
and paralysis OF trade settled down
upen the whole land ike black incu
bus. .... ..... .=.
. In lS41. after nine years oil Demo.
cratic free trade, the United States
were unable to place loan OF SIC, 900.
600 in Europe wherewlth to meet cur.
rent expenses; and upon loan OF on. y
ESQ. 600 taken at home, from y to 32
pbr cent. interest was paid. In 1850,
after twelve years OF free trade as
much as II per cent. was paid upon
part Of loan of 1000. 900.
When MIR. Cleveland became Presl-
dent ten mouths ago. the wealth OF
the United State had been increased
nearly five fold since 1860, during
which time most of the cost OF putting
down the Shareholders rebellion was
paid. The Treasury became tilled, anu
the Government could borrow all the
money 1t wanted at y per cent, per
annuln. When the protectionist Gov
erDment went out OF power last March
there were no soup houses In the land.
and every workman who wanted to
labor could find work at remunerative
wages. To-day, after ten months OF
threatened free.trade, two-thirds or
more OF all the worknsn of the United
States are in enforced idleness; aud
the great problem now staring the
American people in the face Is: How
shall the idle poor he housed and
clothed ard fed THE winter?
Which OK the conditions do Canadian
workmen wish to prevail In this coun-
try? Prosperity anu protection, or
poverty ana free trade? Like causes
produce like results. ......