West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-04-05
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TIE CALAMITY DEMAaoGuE.

Mr.. Jacob G.. Matlick, who fire.
quently contributes an elusive arti.
Gle to the columns of the Journal,
has m article ih last weeks issue
on Democratic Demagoguery,"
which is the reflection of Mr.. NJ.
from the looking glass which he
mistakes for his political opponents.
The article Is n rehssh Of the Re-
publican claptrap which has been
used for years in favor of "Protec-
ton" which is alleged to be the
creator OF prosperity" "high
wages" "home markets" and
"plenty OF work." Mr.. NJ. writes:
For the last thirty years the Dem.
ocratic party has bewailed the pow
crty stricken condition of the far
meis and laborers on account of
the ubiquitous protective tariff"
and more generally the wage earn
ers OF whatever kind, because they
had to pay so dear for all the nee
essaries Of food and clothing.
Yes, and during the past thirty
years Republican tariff criticism has
been partisan, prejudicial and self
interest, and the great lessons
which such criticisms teach must
be learned by all who would really
understand the history of an "ini-
quitous protective tariff" and the
task of learning them is ono which
calls for no greater effort than the
attention which honest love of truth
will never fail to awaken. But
when we study the lessons of pro /.
tective tariff from u non selfish
standpoint we nre constrained to
admit ihtt the Republican so-called
Protection 10 American labor" is
rank delusion which protective
facts cannot wipe out. Scratch n
man who advocates "PIotection"
on certain article Of goods and
yon will learn that the gentleman
10 directly or indirectly interested in
the manufacture or sale of such an
article. Visit the gentleman and
discuss the wage question with him
and ascertain how enthusiastically
be is in favor of payiag high wages
to his men, and il the "pauper
labor" would make application to
work for Tess money, how the pro-
tcctlonist would scorn such an offer,
And when the Bepu bllcan party in
its great solicitude for the welfare
of the American workman increases
the tariff on the protective manu-.
facturer's article OF goods how he
calls his men before him and an
nounces an increase in wages !.
From a Republican standpoint how
lovely it is to contemplate the phi
lanthrophy and generosity of the
protectionist But the history Of
u protective tariff is just the oppo-
site. While the Republican party
has repeatedly increased the tariff
the manufacturer has met it with a
reduction in wages. Only through
labor unions have tne American
workingmen been able to resist
these periodical reductions. Even
with labor organized. it has failed
as often as il has succeeded. And
this is the Repu blican protective
tariff history which must stand re.
sponsible for the poverty stricken
condition Of the farmers and la
borers" to-day until it can be pro.
ven that the farmers and laborers
have shared equally with the manu-
faciurers and corporations in the
benefits Of protective tariff, which
Mr.. NJ. is at liberty to prove, if
ho can.
We need go no further for evil
dence Of the fallaey of protective
tariff than the gentleman's own
argument. lie says:
Or II, as the most popular feature
among the party at present is, to
partially and gradually cut down
the protective system, wherewithal
will it profit the wage Garner any 10
cut down the tariff 20 per cent. 20
40 per cent, which, in order to
compete with foreign labor. neces.
states q cut in wages from 40 per
cent. TO 60 per cent? Such pro-
cedure simply makes the goods
pound cheap and the consumer
eagle poor.
Or, in other words, II you cut
down the tariff 20 per cent. on the
manufactures he will cut the wages
Of bis w0rkinQmen 30 per cent