Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1896-09-12
PROTECTION.

The New York Sun has long been re
cognized as one of the leading democrs
tic papers in the United States, and i.
and slwsys has been intensely partisan
on nearly all political subjects; but ir
its issue of July u, 1893, the following
discriminating article appeared and al
it comes from an updoubted democratic
source and states the difference of the
two parties SO fairly and impartially, il
ia proper to quote it for the benefit oi
the doubtful and for the encouragement
of protectionists:
Respecting federal taxation, we will
now state the position Of the democracy
as defined by the Chicago platform,
upon which the overw nelming victory
of 1892 was gained. Ascertain the value
of the goods to be imported. Ascertain
the amount of revenue to be raised from
imports for the expenses OF the govern
ment honestly administered. Fix the
rate and collect it without discrimins-
tons, preference, or partiality. Any
thing elss is uDjustifisble. Anything
else is unconstitutional. Anything else
lnvsdes the rights Of the citizen, and is
unlawful as we'll as undemocratic. That
is clear and comprehensive. That is
what the Chicago platform declared and
what the people approved.
The epublicen position is diametric
ally different. Tariff duties, cay the
republicans, should not be levied for
the mere purpose OF revenue, but large
ly with a view OF promoting American
manufactures and labor, end relieving
farmers and mechanics from unfavor-
able foreign competition. The repub-
lIcsus say that it is one OF the powers
and duties OF the government to protect
tho people who maintain it from unfair
foreign competition, as we'll as frou
hostile foreign invasion. The people,
through their representatives., impose
the taxes on goods entering into Amer
ican ports from other countries, and
they have the right land it is natural
that they should exercise it) so as to
impose those duties that the interests
OF Americans will be favored and the
interests Of foreign rivals in the came
industries or pursuits Disseminated
a0slnst.
That is the republican doctrine. and
the exercise of that doctrine is the only
policy which has ever brought pros
perity to the people of the United
States.
The question of wages is of the high
est Importance, for it affects the great
masses OF American people, who are
wage earners; and wages are more
quickly and powerfully influenced by
tariff changes than even capital. Here
Is feet that cannot be refuted or truth
fully denied: that under protection
wages in the United States have always
been high and increasing, and have slso
had greater purchasing power, while
under free trade tariff they have al
ways been lower and decreasing, and
have had a smaller purchasing power.
In all the many changes, or threatened
changes of our tariff policy since 1888,
this rule has been absolutely invariable;
so that we have right to claim, and do
claim. that this important fact prevails
because of the change in tariff policy,
and for no other reason.
And the explanation is not difficult to
find. Under a low tariff importatiore
are much larger than when duties are
high, and consequently the demand for
home productions falls of, the manu-
fsctIre is decreased, and workmen are
either discharged or their wages are
reduced, while the exact reverse OF this
happens under high tariff.
Thomas B. Reed gave his opinion on
the question of wages in his great speech
against the Wilson bill IN the house of
representatives on February /, 1894,
and it is pertinent at present as it was
then. He said in part:
81 confess to you that this question
OF wages IS to me the vital question. To
insure our growth in civilization and
wealth, We must not only have wages as |
high as they now are, but constantly |
and steadily increasing. In my judg- |
ment, upon wages and the conseq uent /
distribution OF oonsumable wealth are |
based ell our hopes of the future and |
all the possible increase of our civiliza-
tion. The progress Of this nation is
dependent upon the progress of all. |
The fact that in this country all the
workers have been getting better
" Wsges than elsewhere is the very reason
why our market Is the best in the world. )
and why all the nations OF the world are
trying to break into it,"
The concensus of opinion among
of prominence and ability
proves conolusively that suffering and
poverty arises from free trade policy,
and that all the miserable effects are
'elt by the wage Garner. John Ruskin
'sid that though England is desfeued
with spinning wheels, her people have
not clothes; though she is black with
the digging OF fael, they die Of cold;