The diamond drill., 1894-07-07
PROTECTION REDUCES PRICES.
A Tribute From Ncvada'a Senator 20 the
Intelligence of Our Labor.

Intelligence of Our Labor.
The duty Of this republic Is 10 assist
in the cheapening OF products, not by
cheapening humanity, but by eheapen-
ing the processes OF labor. This Is the
only method consistent with progress.
BY any other method humanity must
retrograde, not advance. BY this method
the result is effected by bringing 10
bear upon industry all the subtle powers
of science for the liberation Of man from
the slow and toilsome method of hand
labor. For centuries cotton fabrics from
the hand-looms OF India had been inn
ported into England. In order TO de-
velop her manufactures England finally
passed an act absolutely prohibiting
their importation with what result?
The development of the ia lustry in
England, and as consequence the in
vention of the power-loom. Had il not
been for that prohibitory act the world
might for centuries have had % depend
on the ryots OF India for cotton fabrics.
Docs the frce-trader believe that the
end of discovery and invention has been
reached? IL the action OF England
proves bencfaction 10 humanity by
promoting a variety Of industries among
race superior 20 the Ilindoos, even
though unfavorably situated. why
should we not expect further advance
of invention by promotion and cncour-
agement of diversity of industries
among the same race on this continent,
situated infinitely more favornbly,
where every inducement Is held oat 90
ingenuity and where every aspiration
finds encouragement? Tho age Of in-
vention Is not past On the contrary,
we have seen but it's opening day.
Our worlSingmcn, who with hand and
brain have been busy deyising new
labor-saving processes, have year by
year reduced the cost 70 the consumer
without reducing the wages of the pro-
duccr. They have cheapsned the article
withoas cdcap1n,ng the artisan. Had
we not haG this great gathering ~
skilled mechanics, well fed, well clothed,
well housed. with all the energy and
aspiration that prosperity begcts, thou
sands OF labor-saving inventions would
have been postponed To the far future.
Why Is IL that Americans are rccog-
nlLcu bnc WpElu ONtI - HdNhldl 4hNNhN'
ors? IL is because they are the best fed
nnd best paid Of all the people Of the
ce-sh.
a people accustomed 90 low physical
litions and depressing social sur
roradings, deprived of aspiration and
liberty, can never possess the fullest i'm
ventne .lculty. Men engaged in "a hunt
for mere animal subsistence are too
near the starvation line 70 give thought
10 invention. In proportion as the in
tensity of this pursuit rclaxcs thought
Is born, imagination expands, invention
develops, and men.investigatc the subtle
forces OF nature. Accordingly we find
that for the past quarter of century,
under the fostering care of the protec-
tive tariff, this republic has not merely
outstrippcd al other nations in the ex-
tent OF It's industrial development, but
far exceeded It's own previous history.
As ace ercludc tho contract and NE pduper
La5orer, rhy admit their GoodsP Our free
trade friends vote for laws intended 70
keep out that class OF labor known as
contract labor. Yet the objections that
apply To the contract laborcr himself
apply with greater force to his goods,
the products OF his labor. IL he Is
cheap" his goods are cheaper. II no
deprivcs our worlSmcn OF their work, SO
do his goods There Is no logic in ex
cludinR the one and admitting the other.
John p. Jones, United States Senator.