The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-11
uNrotrAI. COMPETITION.

$50 great fs the number and distress OF
tire English unemployed that IL IL ezti-
mated that Donation Of -. 10000 would
tide over the d.stress for only six weeks"
The foregoing il quoted from the sti-
torial columns of a prominent commercial
newspaper ia New York city. It Is con-
frrned by statements appearing frequently
la both the English and American press.
II does not. In full measure. picture the
appalling conditions into which the labor
ing and producing classes both In England
and upon the continent have been plunged
during the past decade. and especially
within the past three years
Freo trade and gold mono-metaliism
are the two theories and policies primar-
lly, and IL may be added almost wholly. re-
eponsibie for these hard conditions Of the
English farmer and workingman. The
first has forced him TO compete with the
cheap labor of countries with whom Eng
land deals, the second has made such
competition ruinous and fast approach
ing the impossible. To compete on equal
terms with the cheap labor OF India.
China and Japan, with Russia and Egypt
is hard enough. to compete with those
nations with an adverse exchange equal
possible. II is ruinous TO the manufac-
turer and forbids employment at living
wage of his workmen.
These are the conditions that confront
the great European nations who seek a
market for their surplus manufactures
in the silver using nations. English and
German wares must be sold In COMPETE
ton with the products and for the
money OF the country where the
sale Ia made. With both material
and labor on the one hand representing
silver at par. and on the other gold. the
Importer must pay the difference between
the two. In other words. the foreign sell
Ter In a silver nation finds pitted against
his wares. which cost him gold. the do
meatic products of the country which cost
silver. Obviously the importer must lose
the difference In exchange In order TO
transmute the money he receives into
the money current where the articles are
manufactured.
This is making every English and Euro
pean manufactures earnest and ag-
gresEive bi-metallist. The United States,
ander the AngIomaniac policy OF the pres
ent administration. Is on the same road.
Our army OF unemployed still grows. ard
our manufactures are either closed or
the output Is seriously contracted. Is 1t
not wiser and better policy that fur
nishes employment for the industriously
inclined and "A stable and adequate
medium of exchange with which to meas
ure the value OF their labor and its pro-
ducts. than that which by contracting
the volume and thereby appreciating the
value of the latter. compels the idleness
and resultant pauperism OF the former?
Humanity must live. IL must be fed.
warmed. housed and clothed. II oppor-
tunity for self support be not afforded.
recourse must be had to those who have
| appropriated and control the fruits end
| proceeds of the industry of others. Sooner
| or later the causes of their undeservsd
| poverty and suffering will dawn upon the
masses. The remedy will follow through
legislation. The pressure for relief and
| readjustment of the burdens of existence
| grows more and more intense and imper-
| a,ive. 1t Is rousing European ministries
| and monarchs to action,