Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-12-20
PATCHWORK PRINCIPLES.
THE PROTECTIVE IDEA IN REpUB.
LOAN PLATFORMS.
No Two Republican Conventions
Agree In Their Tariff Declara-
tions-sIeaningless PIatitudcs IL.
lustrated In Massachusetts.

Agree In Their Tariff DecIara-
tions-sIcaningIess PIatitudcs IL.
lustrated In Massachusetts.
If any proof wers needed to show
that instead of being National prin-
ciple protection is crazy-quilt OF
local shreds and patches, it would be
found in the various State Republican
platforms. Each State convention of
that party has declared for renewal
OF the tariff agitation in the direction
OF higher taxes, but no two tariff
planks agree as to the nature and ex-
tent OF the protection" which thew
would establish if their party was
restored to power.
The Massachusetts, Republican state
ment OF the protective theory is one
which well illustrates the vague and
meaningless platitutles which servo as
substitute for principles. 1t is:
we only pledge to each American
industry such protection as shall
equalizo differences in the price Of
labor" This probably means the diff
ference between wages in this and
other countries, although it does not
say SO. 1t might well refer to the
great differences in the price of labor
IN various States, for wages differ as
much, If not more, in this country, MS
between this and other Nations. The
census returns show that in North
Carolina the average yearly earnings
OF an employee of a manufacturing
company are S216 in Colorado, S72O !:
IN Mississippi, $40; in New York.
$500, and in Massachusetts,, $494. The
Massachusetts Republicans might try
to explain how it comes that with tho
same protective tariff for thirty wears
these States all hnve different prices
OF labor, and why wages in their own
State, with its great and long-estab-
lished industries, are lower than in
tho newly settled State of Colorado.
Leaving tho Republicans to settle
among themselves the question why
protection did not rnisc wages alike in
oil the States, the Democrats can we'll
afford to accept the declaration for n
tariff which will only equalize differ.
ences between tho price of labor in
this and other countries as sound low
tariff doctrine. For while there nav
~ NihC1 oHCcS III luc nominal rates OF
wages paid here and in Europe, there
ls no question but that the labor cost
III production is hero less than abroad.
The greater efficiency of tho American
workman makes his labor cheaper-as
measured Ivy its product-than in any
other country. So that on this ground
there would be no need of any protec.
tive tariff, and the Massachusetts Re-
publicans' declaration would mean
free trade.
Even if wages were higher in the
United States than in other countries.
no Republican has ever boon able to
show how protective tariff could pos.
sibly maintain them in fnce of the free
admission of foreign workingmen, per
mitted under protection. Tho pre-.
tence that imports of foreign goods
lower wages hero is only laughed ut by
intelligent workmen, who know that
reductions in price come out of tho
profits of monopolists and not out of
labors earnings. 1t is for this reason
that tho parrot cry, Protection to
labor" no longer deludes the Ameri-
can workingman.