St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-26
SKIES ARE BRIGHTER.

l.
That person must be blind indeed
who does not see in the signs of the
times an improvement of general con-
ditions that promises future of unex-
ampled prosperity for the country. In
every city and hamlet where industry
has been Frustrated for many months
past, there are signs of renewed ac-
tivity. No day passes without bringing
Intelligence Of some mill. or factory. or
workshop renewing operations and Civ
ing employment TO thousands of men
and women In every community.
The industrial depression has been of
unusual duration. 1t was a long time
coming. Its causes were slow in effect
Ing their purpose, but day by day they
moved nearer to the inevitable. The
laws OF nature and the laws of trade had
been persistently violated for third OF
century. 1t had been sought to build
Chinese wall about the country and to
exclude from our markets the products
OF foreign countries, and at the same
time give license to our manufacturers
to levy tribute upon the citizen for all
lie might consume. This was done,
aSsumedly, for the benefit of American
labor, but the home workman found no
increase of his daily wages. His house
hold expenses were doubled or tre6led
by reason of the tribute eXacted from
him for the support of American indus
tries that were abundantly able to sup
port themselves. He protested in vain.
When he talked of free trade he was
warned that such a measure would ill.,
sure reduction of wages When he
asserted that it wages decreased there
would also be u reduction in the cost Of
necessaries, he was told that the trusts
and combines and associations of va
rlouS sorts were in absolute control
of the market. and could raise or lowe
prices at their own sweet viii by regu :
latlng the output of any given product.
And it was no idle threat which the
Worklngman heard. The manufactur-
erS fully intended to carry it out. But
they have become alarmed at the mani
festations of their own power, ana have
changed their policy. They now ac-
knowledge their ability TO compete with
the labor of Europe In any line OF indus
try, and to pay living wages as we'll.
The process of enlightenment has been
going on among the people for many
years. False economic doctrines have
been exploded, and it has been shown
That there Is but one true regulator OF
every form Of busineSS-the law of SUD :
ply and demand.
The manufacturers have given the lie
10 the Republican politicians, aud to
themselves as we'll, by admitting that
they will not be driven out of business
by the reduction or abolition Of tariff
duties. Not a few Of them have become
advocates Of free iron, free coal. and
free raw materials generally, and many
declare their ability to compete with all
corners Oil every product of the country.
The DEAFNESS of our labor is compansat-
ed by the cheapneSS of the raw mate
rial and the superior quality of the per-
fected article, due to the increased use
OF labor saving machinery. We eau
turn out more and better goods from our
workshops, at less cost to the maxi Ell,
than any country on the face of tn g
earth, while at the same time paying
double the wages.
The activity i'll manufacturing daily
noted would be impossible at the pres
ent time If the claims of the protective
element were we'll grounded. We are
on the eve of important tariff changes
the most important that have occurred
since the inauguration of the system -
changes that were by many thought to
be vital; and vet we witness a revival in
all branches of industry before the nat
ure of all these changes is understood.
The fact betokens the confidence the
manufacturers feel in their ability to
care for their own interests, and to
enter the martS Of trade on an equal
footing with the rest of the world and to
come out winners. Even Carnegie, for
a long time one of the most potential
supporters of the tariff iniquity. now
acknowledges that the system OF robbery
of the Door for the benefit of the rich
of the masses for the benefit of the
claSseS-iS unnecessary and ineXpedi-
ent. not to say unjust, and has testified
his faith i'll the future under refor ned
conditions by starting all of his mills to
their full capacity.
The fate of protection robbery is
sealed. Even its most faithful defen d.
erS acknowledge the fact. And folio W.
ing close upon the heels of this assur-
ance we find the revival of industry in
progress. The augury IS full of en-
couragement, to every toler, and full of
instruction to every student of politi cal
economy and industrial progress.