The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-22
THE ROBBERY OF TIE MANY.

We hardly think that the American
people realize the true meaning OF that
portion OF the Democratic platform oi
1892 which denounces Republican pro-
lection as a fraud. a robbery of the
great majority of the American people
for the benefit Of the few"
TO rob the great majority of the Amer
lean people for the benefit OF the few Is
the true free trade policy. This has
been bitterly experienced in free trade
England where the masses Of the people
labor and toll at starvation wages for
the benefit OF the few monopoiists.
That 1t is the intention Of the free
traders in this country to inaugurate
precisely a similar condition Of affairs
among our own people has time and
again, been made clear. 1t was only last
March that Editor Godkln Of the Free
Trade Evening Post c.amored for free
lumber, free glass. free hardware, free
varnish, free Cue and free materials Of
every kind that are used by the manuflc-
turcrs OF furniture. We then pointed out
that the number Of persons engaged In
the production of glass. glue, lumber and
varnish, without including the hardware
people. was 460,6iS; that the free traders
would rob all these Americans of the op-
portunlty OF earning livelihood In order
10 enrich and benefit the comparatively
few persons who are engaged in the man
ufacture OF furniture, in which business
there are but 1888 factories.
Further experience of the free trade
policy of robbing the many for the bene-
fit OF the few has been shown in connec-
lien with the tariff on wool. 1t was Mr..
Grover Cleveland who pointed out that
the bulk OF the wool growers OF thu
United States have small iiocks OF from
twenty-five to fifty sheep to each farmer.
There are about 100000 farmers engaged
In wool growing, but the free trade
policy is to rob these many producers In
order to enrich the few manufacturers OF
woo,en and worsted goods, numbering
only i,7OO different concerns
Free traders are willing to rob half a
million people of work In order to provide
free material for less than 6,0OO fur
nlture factories. The free traders are
Wiling to sacrifice 100000 farmers in or
der to beneat less than coupe OF
thousand manufacturers of woolen ana
worsted goods. They VIII do the same
with the hundreds OF thousands Of men
who work In producing irpn ore, SO as
to benefit the comparatively few manu-
facturers of iron and steel products.
THE republican system of protection
has Always been Intended to include all
cur peop.e, and to take recognition of the
humblest wage Garner as well rs of the
wealthlest manufacturer. This species
OF protection is denounced by the free
traders asa fraud. But their system
OF protection would rob half a million
syorkcrs for the benolt Of less than 6'OOO
furniture factories; would rob 100000
sheep farmers for the benefit of LOO
wooden manufacturers and would rob
hundreds Of thousands Of workers In our
iron mines for the benefit OF compara-
,iye.y few owners Of iron mills.
The people can answer for themselves
which of these two systems is "a robbery
Of the great majority OF American people
for the benefit OF the few" and which
system is the eliminating atrocty of
class legislation"
Incidentally. II should be remembered
that the Injury wrought to our half mil
ion poop,e who supply what is the raw
material OF furniture manufacturers. the
injury wrought TO the hundred thousand
sheep owners and the injury wrought to
.he workers In our mines. would very d.
rec,ly benefit the workers In the iron
mines IN England and the sheep in Aus
ralia and the English industries taat
Iupp.y g:ass, glue, varnish and hard
ware for furniture factories
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