The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-10


when the state undertook to make Ger
tain specific employments Of labor and
capital artificially profitable, natural
equality would be impaired and pri"i-
legged class inevitably created AS the
substance acquired by Il privileged class
is derived from the earnings Of the null
titude, the necessary result must be that
the masses grow poorer, relatively, as
the holders of privilege augment their
wealth. Thus do the rich grow richer
and the poor grow poorer
Almost coeveal with the rise of the
republic was the claim that the welfare
of the people would be promoted by
placing barriers in the way of intcrna-
tional exchanges through the agency Of
a protective tariff. Such tariff was
said to protect because it excluded for
eign imports, which, however much de
sired by the American people, would
necessarily compete with the products
produced by factories located within the
borders Of the United States. AS for
cign competition was excluded the capt.
talists engaged i'll domestic production
were enabled to enhance the selling
price of their wares and to place Il bur-
den upon the consumer which tended to
deprive the masses of their rightful
gains, while pouring tribute into the
Golfers Of those who controlled the busi-
ness of manufacturing
Under the operation of the Dinglcy
act the revenues derived from importa-
tions have constantly declined, and an
appalling deficit in customs revenue has
resulted. Under its operations, how
ever, the bonus granted to domestic
manufacturing capital has been increased
to exaggerated proportions. The man
ufacturers and the corporations engaged
in the production of mineral wealth
have seized the opportunity to organize
themselves into great monopolistic COM
binatiOns, known as trusts" and com
bincs." These trusts and combines con-
troll the output OF all the prime nccessi-
ties of life-sheltercd behind the Chi
ncse wall of tariff legislation plundcr
at will.
Tho capacity of the American to COM
pete upon equal terms in all tho mar
kets of tho world is shown by tho fact
that the trusts organized by the manu-
turers sell their wares in all quarters
of the globe at prices which their for
eiRn competitors are unable to meet,
and at prices far less than those
charged to American consumers Thus
the taxing laws of the United States are
made to serve the purpose Of setting in
motion and maintaining in existence Il
capacity TO manufacture goods which are
sold ut just price to foreigners and mt
an abnormally enhanced price to our
own people. The tariff gives costly
goods to Americans, and cheap goods,
from the same source, to foreigners.
And yet we aro told that his system is
designed for the protection Of Amcri-
can labor and American producers.
Tho tariff cannot protect American Ia
ports Of this country nrc open To the in
PRODUCTION of all lubOrcrs who desire to
come hither and offer their services.
Free trade in labor has always prevailed
The manufacturer obtains his labor
where he can obtain il cheapest. and
pays no more than the natural market
rate. The American laborcr, in common
with other consumers, pays: an enhanced
price for all the necessities of life, and
when he demands Il price for his labor
commensurate with the advantages
which his employer derives from federal
legislation, he Is snpplanted by lahorcrs
imported from foreign countries.
The time has come when this lcgisla-
tive farce should be hisscd from the
stage, and the American people should
under the auspices OF Democracy.
adopt and make effective the maxim,
Equal rights to all and special privi-
legcs to none"
Tho result Of adopting gold alone as
the financial standard has been to give to
the holders Of gold and the owners OF
gold mines monopoly, whose profits
surpass tho wealth described in the tales
of Oriental tradition. Until the year
1873 the people of the United States, in
common with all civilized mankind, en-
joycd financial system under which
both gold and silver were accorded equal
privileges at the mints, and were held
as equally available for the payment Of
all demands. That was the system of
bimetallism. 1t was discarded without
the request or sanction Of the people,
and by legislation of a surrcptitious
character. Since that wrong was con-
summated the values Of property accum-
nlated aB the result Of labor and thrift as
well as the value Of products annually
produced by labor, have continually
tended to a lower price. Gold constant
ly appreciated in cxclangrablc value.
The direct consequence of gold standard
mOnometallism has been a s,8cral de-
cline of values, in which all forms of
property have participated, save those
rescued from the general decline by the
operation of protective tariff laws. AS
values have declined, the incentive to
production has suffered dctrimcnt and
Encouragement. AS the valuc Of artl-
cles produced has tended to decrease,