St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-08
ALOCAL ISSUE.

When Gen. Hancock, in 1880, declared
that The tariff was a local issue he was
not as far aStray as some of his critics
tried to make it appear. No one then
not even Gen. Hancock himself-ques-
toned its great national Importance, yet
there were few who agreed with the
national candidate of the Democratic
party, that it was merely local in its
effects and operations. But year by year
the truth is forcing Itself upon the pub
lie attention that the tariff is primarily
sectioDal,and that the policy of the gov
eminent with regard to it is influenced
and must continue to be almost entirely
governed by local considerations.
During the long struggle in congress,
now happily near its close, nothing has
impressed itself more forcibly upon the
public attention than the sectional
character of tariff sentiment. All the
power of party discipline has been i'm
potent to unite either party in favor of
Or against the Wilson bill. The man
date Of the Democratic caucus was i'm
potent to prevent the detection of nearly
a score of members of the house FROM a
measure that had been adopted as a
party issue, while the Republican eau
Gus was equally poWerleSS to deter the
members Of that organization from
straying into the enemy's camp. Local
Interests were more potent than party
ties. Pennsylvania Democrats cast
their votes for protection, and Western
Republicans voted for reform in the
tariff laws.
In the decision of a business question
party organizations will always be dis
regarded, and the tariff is a business
issue that chiefly concerns the welfare
of a few localities. 1t is true that every
man in the country is more or less af-
fected by the imposition of these taxes.
The Western farmers and producers
feel their burden most grievously; the
manufacturers in every portion of the
country enjoy their benefits. All COM
mercial and trade centers are favorable
to free trade; all manufacturing and
industrial centers appove of a tariff.
The manufacturer naturally influences
his wOrkmen. 1t is not difficult to con-
vince mechanic that whatever reduces
the profits of his employer will have a
tendency to decrease his own wages.
Hence we find the employers and the
employed of the manufacturing dis
tricts standing shoulder to shoulder in
defense OF system that, be it right or
wrong, they regard as mutually adj
vantageous. The employe is only half
loyal who works with his hands for the
man who pays him and casts his ballot
to take from him portion Of the profit
| aecruIng from his business,
The tariff is national issue. but il is
far more potent as local issue, and will
ever remain SO. The system is a Sec
tional one. 1t robs one portion of the
country for the benefit of another; i'm
poverishes one class of citizens in order
TO enrich another class. 1t is this sec.
tionallsm that has thrown the greatest
impediments in the way of tariff reform
it is the local jealousies caused by con-
flicting interests that give the robber
! system such strong hold upon popular
support. Undoubtedly. if all working.
men could be brought to see the iniqui-
ties of the tariff, and how in its varied
ramifications it reaches every house.
hold and robs its head of large portion
CT his earnings, these men would look
deeper than they now do. and make
common cause against an evil so far
reaching in its results.
The manufacturers have succeeded in
convincing the workingmen that the
tariff assists in maintaining their wages,
In few lines Of industry this is un-
doubedly true, but In majority the re.
verse is the case. The effect of the
tariff is to foster monopoly. 1t gives to
large concerns the power to crush out
competition. As the number of EN-.
| ployers decreases the power of the re-
| mainder over their employees increases,
BY combinations the capitalists regulate
the wages of the workmen. If the latter
| undertake to retaliate by counter or.
ganlZation they become conspirators
| and are treated by the law as such,
Trades unions are partial foil to the
! attacks Of capital, but not an effectual
| protection against imposition, for CAPT.
| tai has the law on its side, and the off
GERS of the law are enlisted in its cause
The tariff is becoming more and more
a local issue as manufactures become
concentrated. Gen. Hancock was right
in 1880. Wherever manufactures are