The San Francisco call., 1896-04-15
DEMOCRATIC TARIFF TINKERING

Political economists of the Democratic
school demand the nearest possible ap-
proach to free trade on the ground that
the life of trade. No reasoning could be
more illogical from the standpoint of the
tariff schedules advocated by the Repub-
hcan party. 1t is true in general sense
that competition is the life OF trade, but
the line which separates that competition
which is the life of trade from that compe-
tltlon which is the death of trade is broad
and well defined. The Republican party S
theory OF protection TO our industries does
not contemplate the prohibition of foreign
competition in our markets, but it does
mean that the operatives in our mills and
factories shall be protected against the
poverty making wage schedules of foreign
countries, and that is the head, front and
soul OF the incentive that actuates the Re-
publican party in its energetic and persis-
tent advocacy of protection.
1t is no doubt true, as the leaders of the
Democracy claim, that were absolute free
trade to prevail in this country our indus
trial enterprises could and would continue
to supply our people with most of their
Aii"Ai bot w oo tidS blO SOot VI
production would have TO be lowered to
the cost of production in Europe, and as
the greatest item of cost is wages, even
the stupidest of men could not fail to see
that nearly the whole burden of the reduc-
ton in manufactured commodity prices
would be borne by wage-earners. But
those who prepare raw materials for the
mills and factories would have to accept
the European standard of wages, too, for
in order to hold our own with foreign COM
petition every factor in manufacture, from
raw material to finished product, would be
obliged to conform to the wage schedules
and goods prices which prevail in the old
country.
The argument of the Democratic party
that free trade would strengthen the posi-
ton OF our farmers is as illogical and falla-
cious as the assertion that the lower the
Custom house charges on imports the better
would be the condition of wage-earners gen.
orally. With the duty on farm products re-
moved breadstuffs could be laid down at a
less cost to the consumer in the Atlantic
States from Argentina than from any
trans Mississippi point. In that event
prices for American grain would be fixed
ny WleTc ldTmndnuS TeCSiNe
considerably less than one-haif the wages
paid for similar work in this country.
1t is needless to point to the good results
that came to the country through the OPP
Grafton of the act of 1890, for the large in
crease of wrecks of business enterprises
which may be seen strewn along every
channel of trade distribution testifies in no
uncertain voice that the Wilson act, which
repealed the law of 1890, is a vicious and
destructive attack upon the welfare of all
the people. But the Democratic theory of
the tariff problem prevails in fact, and
since the hurtful consequences of its infu-
ence upon all lines OF trade and manufac-
ture is felt all along the way from the day
laborer to the mammoth industrial enter
prise, it is impossible to conceive any re-
suit from the coming Presidential election
other than an emphatic and vehement re-
buke to the un- -Americanism of the Dem
ocratic party. Nevertheless, the snake
was only scotched in the State elections
that have been held since tnat fatal No.
vember day in 1892. These facts should be
remembered by every one who is for Amer
can industries, for high wages for Ameri-
can workmen and for high prices for
American farm products.