New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-11
"HONEYr md "FRESU BEEF"

"HONEYr md "FPESH BEEF"
1t left to Mr.. Black, of Illinois, to dis
close The secret Of tariff reform. II is the pur
pose of the tariff rcformcrs according 10 tins
authority, to bring the wages Of labor TO
general level all over the world. Philanthroplc.
humanitarian. isn't It: Wait n moment 1t
would be philanthropc if the purpose were to
level wages up to the standard which has been
so long recognized in this country. where labor
IS better paid than anywhere else on the globe.
But the wages of labor in other countries caii-
not be affected by our reformers. The only
thing they can DO, then, in order to reach the
level so much desired is to reduce wages In
this country. Mr. Black made the position Of
the reformers very clear on this point. Being
asked by a colleague in the course Of his speech
in the House on Tuesday. if he proposed 10
remedy the evils Of inequality "by bringing
American wages 10 level with the wages paid
in Europe" he said If / were being chased
by bees would lay down the honey. and If l
were being set on by wolves / would get the
fresh beef out Of their sight" Continuing. he
added: L would seek to repeal those laws
which made wages higher. and would let wages
have their natural play all over the world
1t could not be stated more plainly. lie who
runs NAV read and understand it, The frank
ness Of Mr. Black Obviatcs the necessity for
any further explanation OF the designs Of the
tariff reformcrs and the object Of tariff re-
vision. 1t is hardly necessary to discuss the
question whether real philanthropy or genuine
humanitaranism is promoted by cutting down
the wages Of our own laboring men in order
TO remove existing inequalities in the worlds
wage system and bring about dead level or
wages all over the world. 1t is all very fine TO
"let wages have their natural play" but If the
natural play takes bread from the wage-earners
mouth and reduces him from comfort to pow
erty and want the wagc-carner himself, VINO Is
chiefly interested. Is very likely 70 take a mana
in the game and possibly stop the play Even
if 1t were plain that by cutting down their own
wages the W rkingmcn Of this country would
contribute to raising the wages Of their brother
workers in other lands they would not readily
consent to the reduction. since they would naiu-
rally prefer to assist their fcllOw-men In some
other and perhaps more practical, way. but
they certainly will not consent, unl''s bilndIy
bent on their own destruction. 10 reduction
OF their own wages which will not contribute
n penny's worth 10 the Improvement OF the con-
dition OF wagecarncrs in other countries. MT
Black says he would lay down his honey II
chased by bees. and put his fresh beef out OF
sight II set on by wolves Perhaps he womb.
But that is not The present case. IL Is The honey
and the fresh meat Of the worliingmcn or TIE
country that hc proposes 10 have laid down ana
put out Of sight. And the bees are not chasing
the wOrkingmcn: they are In the bonncts OF
such men as Mr.. Black. The workingmen are
not set upon by wolves: they are barkcd m, 10
be sure bu, rot disposed 10 put away their
fresh meat for fear Of being bitten.
The workingmen Of the country no doubt re-
member how. in the fall OF lS',O, they were
persuaded 10 elect a tariff reform Congress. and
in 1892 to clinch that action by giving The tariif
reformcrs full control of all branches of the
Government And they remember, doubtless
tia: The arguments addressed 10 them rested
upon the assertion tia. under the Mckinney
tariff they were burlened with oppressive tax
alton in the high prices II compelled them 10
pay for food and clothing and all the neces-
sarics Of life. They were led TO believe that
the repeal Of the tariff would relieve them al
this burden Of taxation by chcapeninS all the
neccssarcs Of life But there was never a
word about repeating II because ii made
wages higher" in order to "lct wages have
their natural play all over the world The
results Of the mistakes made by wagc-carncrs
in 1890 and 1892 are now visible all around
them. The prospect Of a change In the tariff
In accord with the IDEAS Of the reformcrs has
brought business depression and financial dis
aster Everywhere worliingmen have been
thrown out Of employment. and wherever any
have been fortunate enough 10 retain their sit
uations wages have been reduced But the
wheels Of reform go on grinding while business
IS at a standstill and the wagc-carners suffer.
And this IS the situation in which the reform
ers say openly that one reason why they pro
pose to repeal the present tariff is that II makes
wages higher while they want to let wages
have their natural play all over the world
DO the workingmcn-tbe wageearners-
this? II they do, they have an opportunity to
say so on the 3Oth Of this month by returning
two Democrats to Congress from this city TO
swell the majority for the repeal of the law
which makes wages higher" If they do not
like the levellng plan they have the oppor
tunity, by returning two Republicans, 10 say
to the reformers: If the bees disturb you and
the wolves brighten you, lay down your own
honey and put away your own fresh beef but
let ours alone"
THE FORCES or ETIL ~ NEU- YORK.
L.,