Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-09-15

W9geWOFkEf the dement, SlaUu-
ard of living which we desire to see kept
up I'm this country Now, to speak of the
tariff in this sense as robbery" thereby
giving it moral relation. is not merely
rhetorical; 1t is on its face false. The
question of what tariff is best for our
people is primarily one Of expediency to
be determined not on abstract academic
grounds. but in the light of experience.
1t is matter of business for fundamen-
tally ours is a business people-manufac-
tuners merchants, farmers, Wageworkers,
professional men, all alike. Our expert
ence as a people in the past has certainly
not shown us that we could afford In this
matter to follow those professional coun-
selors who have confined themselves to
study in the closet, for the actual work
ing OF the tariff has emphatically contra
dicted their theories. From time to time
schedules must undoubtedly be rear
ranged and readjusted TO meet the shift
ing needs OF the country, but this can
with safety be done only by those who
are committed to the cause of the pro-
tectiye system. To uproot and destroy
that system would be to insure the pros
tration of business, the closing of fac
tories. the impoverishment of the farmer,
the ruin of the capitalist and the star
walton of the wageworker Yet, If protec-
ton is indeed robbery" and if our oppo-
nents really believe what they say,
then 1t is precisely to the destruction and
uprooting of the tariff, and therefore of
our business and industry, that they are
pledged. When our opponents last OBJ
tanned power it was ON platform de-
claring a protective tariff "unconstitu-
tional," and the effort to put this decla-
ration into practice was one of the causes
of the general national prostration last
Ing from 1898 to 1897. II a protective tariff
is either unconstitutional or robbery"
then it is just as unconstitutional just as
much robbery, to revise it down, still leav-
ing it protective, as It would be to enact
1t. In other words, our opponents have
committed themselves to the destruction
Of the protective principle in the tariff,
using words which if honestly used for
bid them from permitting this principle
to obtain in even the smallest degree.
Our opponents assert that they believe
in reciprocity. Their action on the most
important reciprocity treaty recently ne
gotiated-that with Cuba-does not bear
out this assertion. Moreover, there can
be no reciprocity unless there is sub
stantial tariff. Free trade and reciproc-
ity are not compatible. We are on record
as fayoring arrangements for reciprocal
trade relations with other countries, these
arrangements to be on an equitable basis
of benefit to both the contracting par
ties. The Republican party stands pledged
to every wise and consistent method of
country. That it has kept it's pledge is
proved by the fact that while the domes-
tic trade Of this country exceeds in vol
ume the entire export and import trade
of all the nations of the world the United
States has in addition secured more than
an eighth of the export trade of the
world standing first among the nations
In this respect. The United States has
exported during the last seven years near
~ $4,000 100000 worth of goods, on an av-
erage half as much again annually as
during the previous four years when
many OF our people Were consuming moth
ing but necessaries and some of them a
scanty supply even of these.
Two years ago in speaking at Logans-
port, Ind, / said:
The one consideration which must new
er be omitted in tariff change is the i'm
peratfve need of preserving the American
standard of living for the American work
ingman The tariff rate must never fall
below that which will protect the Ameri-~
can workngman by allowing for the diff
ference between the general labor cost
mere and abroad, so as at least to equal
lie the conditions arising from the diff
ference in the standard of labor here and
aDroad-a difference which 1t should be
our aim to foster in so far as it repre-
sents the needs of better educated better
paid better fed and better clothed work.
round in foreign country. At all haz-
ards, and no matter what else is sought
Tor or accomplished by changes of the
tarlT, the American workingman must be
protected in his standard of wages-that
Is, In his standard of living-and must be
secured the fullest opportunity of en-
ployment. Our laws should in no event
afford advantage to foreign industries
over American industries They should
IN no event do less than equalize the diff
ference in conditions at home and
abroad
1t Is matter of regret that the nro-
tective tariff policy, which during the last
Iorty odd years has become part of the
very iiber Of the country, is not now ac-
cepted as definitely established. Surely
we nave right to say that it has passed
beyond the domain of theory and a right
10 expect that not only its original ad
Vocates, but those who at one time dis
trusted 1t on theoretic grounds should
now acquieSce in the results that have
Deen proved over and over again by ac-
tuai experience. These forty odd years
nave been the most prosperous wears this
natlon has ever seen. Beyond question
TINS prosperity could not have come If
the american people had not possessed
the necessary thrift energy and business
intelligence to turn their vast material
resources to account. But it Is no less
- uS eudl II Is our economic policy as re-
CARDS the tariff and finance which has
enabled US as a nation to make such good
use OF the individual capacities or our
citizens and the natural resources of orr
country. Every class of our people Is
benefited by the protective tariff. Dur-
ing the last few years the merchant has
seen the export trade of this country
grow faster than ever in our previous
history. The manufacturer could not
Keep his factory running If it were NOT
Tor the protective tariff The wagework
er would do we'll to remember that If nro.
lection is robbery" and is to be punished
accordingly he Will be the first to pay the
penalty, for either he will be turned adrift
enurely or his wages will be cut down to
the starvation point AS conclusiyely
SHOWN by the bulletins of the bureau of
LABOR, the purchasing power OF the aver
age wage received by the wageworker
mas grown faster than the cost Of living.
and this In spite of the continual short
ening OF working hours The accumulate
ca savings Of the worliingmen of the
country, as shown by the deposits in the
savings banks, have increased by leans
and bounds. AT no time In the history
OF this or any other country has there
been an era so productive OF material
benefit alike TO workingman and employ
er as during the seven years that have
Just passed.
The farmer has benefited quite as
much as the manufacturers the merchant
and the wageworxer. The most well
come and impressive fact established by