St. Paul daily globe., 1894-03-24
TARIFF AND woRKlNGMEN.
How 1t Is Viewed by One Of the
Wage Farmers.

How 1t Is Viewed by One OF the
Wage Farmers.
NITMRFR 4.
In my former articles I have shown
that the originators of our protective
tariff made no pretense of its being de-
signed to keep up wages of working
men, that it was borrowed from Euro
pean countries as retaliatOry meas
ure, and explained how 1t obtained its
misnOmer of the American system. 1t
is the unceasing reiteration of this latter
claim that fills me with righteous indlg-
nation. The national Republican plat
form on which Mr.. Harrison wa selected
contained this plank: 1--WE are uncom-
promisingly in favor of the American
system of protection; we protest
against its destruction as proposed by
the president and his party. They serve
the interests of Europe; we will sup
port the interests of America" Now,
the leaders of that party know better
than this: they know the statement TO
be an unqualified falsehood. But they
have so poor an opinion of the intelli-
gence OF the masses, of the wage earn
ers, that they rely upon such play to
the groundlings to keep them in line.
If there is anything utterly at vari-
ance with everything that may justly be
styled American, it is the claim that the
government should so shape its finan-
cial policy as to aid certain classes or
portions of its citizens in their private
business at the expense OF the remain
der of the nation. And this is just
what protective tariff does do-and
nothing else By shutting out for
elgn competition. it enables capital
invested in certain lines to make
larger profits than it could in other call
ings. If the protective tariff were ex-
tended so as to embrace all articles
which might be imported, it would cease
to be protective. The effect would be
similar to what would result were our
country surrounded by an impossible
wall and foreign trade entirely shut
out. All industries would then be
on a par; none would en- 10y special
privileges or protection" In that case
there would be none to clamor for more
protection, but all would unite in de-
cure wider market for their products.
A little reflection will make this very
plain.
A protective tariff. then, is simply
device to enrich small portion of the
community at the expense of their fell
low citizens. Whatever other claims
may be put forward for it will be found,
upon analy sis, to be the veriest sophis-
try.
Could anything more utterly un-
American be conceived? Should not
the claim of its being superlatively
American be resented with scorn by
every good citizen? What were the
motives and principles which prompted
the founders of our republic? They
were actuated by the highest ideals of
liberty. They believed in freedom in
all things, and attempted to establish
a government in which the free
dom of its ind vidual components
should be limited only so
iar> as was necessary to
insure equal freedom to all. Equal
rights for all, special privileges for
nOne," was the aim of all the men who
took all active part in the events pre-
ceding the Declaration of independence,
and ending with the formation of the
constitution, with the exception of
one E.arked character, Alexander Ham,
ilton, the father of protection in this
country. He was not in sympathy with
the ideas of Freedom prevailing, styled
the constitution "frail ana worthless
fabric" and wrote to Governeur Morris:
Every day proves to me more and more
that this American world was not made
for me-"
The fathers of our republic were
Worshipers at the shrine of Liberty. So,
also. as rule have been their descend
ants. The distractions to true liberty
which they left to US are constantly be-
ing removed. The heritage of chattel
slavery went down in blood. That had
TO be removed before industrial slavery
in lis other forms could be attacked.
Now we must march .rward and attack
the citadel OF class privilege. The first
outpost to be captured is that known as
'Protection." | assail it as all American
and as wage Garner. AS an American,
l ask no privileges that / am not willing
to share with my fellow citizens. Other
wise, could not be a true American. In
either capacity need no "protection'
in my business affairs. Government has
discharged all its duties towards me
when it secures me in the enjoyment of
equal rights with all other citizens. |
am neither child nor an imbecile, nor
yet panper. These classes may need
''Drotection." Opportunity to produce,
to exercise his talents, to work out his
own material prosperity is all self
respecting man needs. If he asks for
more he belittles his manhood and falls
short of the true American spirit.
The whole theory of protection" is
insulting TO the wage Garner. 1t as
sumes that he is a helpless dependant,
q he In
leaving him in the hands of his EN-
ployers. The only theory Oh which
our tariff laws are assumed to
help the laborer is this: That,
if the employers are allowed
to eXtOrt bounties from the people at
large, they will use them for the bene-
fit of their laborers. VIII any Ameri..
can allow himself to be placed in such
humiliating attitude? But it is mostly
the foreigners, who are used to patern-
alism in government, who have no idea
of true individual liberty. who are de-
luded by this pretenSe.
OF all forms of freedom, none is so es-
sential to human welfare as freedom of
trade. None contributes so much to
| progress. Trade Is the great civilizer
| 1t is trade which differentiates most
| strongly the savage from the civilized
man. Whatever curtailS it inflicts i'll
jury upon mankind. In exchanging
| the products of their toll,
and thus enlarging the number
of commodities and comforts each may
enjoy, mankind always does good, and
never harm. How absurd to call an in
reference with the divinely implanted
desire to trade, an american SYSTEM
Out upon the humbug! Any party
which makes this it's shibboleth must
come to ultimate disgrace. Demagogues