The weekly tribune., 1894-02-09


figures of the Aldrich report show SO
conclusively, and which have not only
received the sanction of the members
from New York and the secretary of
the treasury, but the Democratic bureau
OF statistics, our committee
Propose to Lower Wages
and so lessen the market, and then di-
vide that market with somebody else,
and all for the chance of getting the
markets of the world.
To add to the existing possibilities of
this contention, the orators on the other
side say they are going to maintain
wages. How can that he possible? All
things sell at the cost of production. If
the difference between cost of produc-
ton here and cost of production in Eng
land be not equalized by the duty, then
our cost of product must go down, or
we must go out. Our laws have invited
money and men, and we have grown
great and rich thereby. The gentleman
from Illinois (AIr. Black has noticed
that men come here and he does not
want them to come: hence he is willing
that our wages shall be lowered to keep
people away. Well this is not the time
to discuss immigration, but while people
are coming, am glad they have not
yet imbihcd the gentleman's ideas and
have not yet begun to clamor for lower
wages.
To sum 1t mp, if this protection gives
us money ana incn, and our vast coun-
try needs both, it may show why we
have so wonderfully prospered. If it
does, am inclined to think that the
way to have two jobs hunting one man
Is to keep on making new mills, and to
try to prevent the committee on ways
and means from
Pulling Down Old Ones.
But what do you say about the farm
er! Well, on that subject do not pro-
fess any special learning, but there is
one simple statement | wish to make,
and leave the question there. If, with
cities growing up like magic, manufac-
turing villages dotting every eligible
site, each and all swarming with mouths
to be filled, the producers I'll food are
worse off than when half this
country was desert, abandon
sense i'll favor of political
economy. One other thing have no
ticed in this debate. When the gentle
man from Kansas K (Mr. SIMPSON, gets a
little money ahead he does not put it
into stocks in these immensely profit
able manufactures; he has too much
sense. lie adds to his farm, and has
others add. Example is richer than
procept.
If the hope of agriculturists is in
English free trade, they had better pom
der on the fact that while the wages of
artisans have increased in England 81 AZ
per week since 1850, the wages of the
agricultural laborers have increased
nnlv ~ ,x-bil th. 7 Oh;
operatives in the factories live as well as
anybody except Americans, the agricul-
tural labOrer5 are no better than the
continental peasantry.
England's Example viii Not Do
for agriculture here. Let me meet one
other question, and let me meet it
fairly. We are charged with having
claimed that;the tariff alone will raise
wages. We have never made such a
claim in any such form. Free traders
have set up that claim for us in order to
triumphantly knock it over. What we
do say is that where two nations have
equal skill and mechanical appliances
and market equally so, and one can get
her labor at one half less, nothing but a
tariff could maintain the higher
wages, and that we can prove,
VIC diC tuo only TlNdl ludJ Eng
land fears, for we alone have with
in our borders the population and wages,
the raw material, and within ourselves
the great market which assures to us
the most improved machinery. Our
constant power to increase our wages
assures us also continued progress. If
you wish us to follow the example of
England, | say yes, with all my heart,
but her real example and nothing else.
Let us keep protection, as she did, until
no rival dareS to invade our territory,
and then we may take our chan"e. for Il
future which by that time will not be
unknown.
Nobody knows SO well as do how
much / have failed to present even my
own comprehension Of the great arg,i-
mcut which should control this vote.
have said not ii word of the great fall OF
prices which has come from the compe-
tition of the whole world, rendered pos
sible by protection and substituted for
the competition of Il single island.
have said not IL word of the great differ
ence between the attitude of employers
who find their own Workmen their best
customers in their own land and who
are therefore
Moved by Their own Best Interests
to give their wOrkmen fair wages, and
those who sell abroad and are therefore
anxious for low wages at home, and on
whom works unrestrictedly that per-
niciOlls doctrine, 'aS wages fail profits
rise These and much more have
omitted, for there is Il limit to all speak
ing.
We say, my friends, that before this
tribunal we all plead in vain. Why we
fail let those answer who read the
touching words of Abraham Lin
coins first inaugural, and remember
that he pleaded i'll vain with
those anne men, and their prcde-
cessors. Where he failed we cannot en-
pect to succeed. But though we fail
here today, like our great leader Of
other days, in the larger field before the
mightier tribunal which will finally and
forever settle this question, we shall be
more than conquerors, foi this great
nation, shaking off, as it has once be-
fore, the influence of a lower civiiza-
ton, will go on to fulfill its high des-
tiny. ill over the South rs well as over
| thr North shall be spread the full