The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-25
ORIENTAL COMPETITION.

The Seattle News has an excellent edi-
torssl upoz. the problem Of Oriental COM
xetftton with American labor, and. as
usual when (, gets away from It's lad"
fl Ia worthy OF attention. II Is a very ser
ious question. but the problem VIII not be
solved satisfactorily 10 American citizens
By any proposition looking 70 the degra-
dalton OF the American workingmen to
the level OF the japanese or Chinese me-
chanic. SO far as the silver question Is
concerned, admitting all the assertions OF
the News 10 be true. its conclusions do not
present an adequate solution. The Japa-
nese mechanic. IL says. received cents In
silver q day. IL silver were equal with gold
Il would not do more than double its pur-
chasing power. but even II By any beneb-
cent concurrence OF favorable circum-
stances, the adoption Of free silver oy this
country increased the value OF the cents
labor TO Is cents, 1t would still be far be-
low the needs Of an American mechanic.
The News says: "The fact that today.
In spite of the Eliteracy. sloth. effeminacy
and general shiftiessness OF the majority
In many silver-using countries, they are
signaiiy prosperous, while throughout the
gold standard countries the reverse Is a
notable and admitted condition. ought, II
would seem. to induce at least a careful
search for the fundamental cause"
What constitutes the signal prosperity
Of the silver-using countries? The mer-
chants may be doing a good business. but
the working people are only prosperous
by living so poorly that they have more
money than they actually want for food
perhaps. Bn. what kind OF prosperity IL 1t
that affords a skilled mechanic, capable
OF making gold watches which sell at $50
each. the pittance of 5 cents day? II an
American skilled workman earning 50 a
day or even s. day could live on Is cents
a day-to say nothing OF cents-he would
be prosperous in the sense OF earning
much more than the bare necessaries Of
LIFE. The News says: characterization
of silver would raise the wages Of the Jap
He might not get any higher rate per diem,
his pay might not purchase any more In
Japan. but the money paid him would cost
the employer double and his wages would.
az. compared TO those OF other countries.
be Just that much higher than now" But
doubling the Japs' pay, making II 10 cents
a day. instead OF cents. would be nothing
in $50 article. as compared with Ameri-
can wages. In doubling that pay the impo-
sition OF free silver on this country would
ruin tens OF thousands. without appreci-
ably lessening the competition with Amer
lean labor.
The problem Is sufficiently grave and.
as the News says. mo statesman In Europe
or America has yet ventured to prophesy
as TO the outcome, although the menacing
shadow from the Westward has been noted
with words OF warning by many thought
fui and far-seeing students and philoso-
piers" But the measure OF remedy sug-
gested by the News is rather drastic. I'VE
know" it says. "of no complete defense
against a competition such that noted
in the item quoted from this paper, save
abrogation OF all commercial treaties with
Oriental nations, and the enforcement of
prohihitory duties"