Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-12

| important reciprocity treaty recently nego-
| tiated-that with Cuba-does not bear out
this assertion. Moreover, there can be no
reciprocity unless there is substantial
tariff; free trade and reciprocity are not
compatible. We are on record as favoring
| arrangements for reciprocal trade relations
with other countries these arrangements
| to be on an equitable basis of benefit to
both the contracting parties. The republic
| can party stands pledged to every wise
and consistent method OF Increasing the
foreign commerce of the country. That 1t
has kept Its pledge is proven by the fact
that while the domestic trade of this coun-
try exceeds in volume the entire export
and import trade of all the nations of the
world, the United States has in addition Sc
cured 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 nearly ten billions Of dollars worth of
goods-on an average half as much again
annually as during the previous four years,
when many of our people were consuming
nothing but necessaries, and some of them
scanty supply even of these.
Two years ago. in speaking at Logans-
port, Ind, said:
THE one consideration which must never
be omitted In a tariff changeis the imperative
need of preserving the American standard
OF living for the American workingman.
The tariff rate must never fall below that
man by allowing for the difference between
the general labor cost here and abroad, so
as at least to equalize the conditions arising
from the difference in the standard Of labor
here and Abroad difference which 1t
should be our aim to foster in so far as it
represents the needs of better educated,
better paid, better fed and better clothed
workingmen of higher type than any to
be found In foreign country At all haz-
ards, and no matter what else is sought
for or accomplished by changes of the tariff
the American workingman must be pro-
tected in his standard of wages, that is, in
his standard of living, and must be secured
the fullest opportunity of employment Our
laws should in no event afford advantage to
foreign Industries over American industries.
They should in no event do less than equal
ize the difference in conditions at home and
abroad
Benefits Of Protection.
It is a matter Of regret that the protect
i've tariff policy which, during the last
forty odd years, has become part Of the
very fiber Of the country, is not now ac-
cepted as definitely established Surely we
have right to say that it has passed be-
yond the domain of theory, and right to
expect that not only its original advocates,
but those who at one time dstrusted 1t on
theoretic grounds, should now acquesce in
the results that have been proved over and
over again by actual experience. These
forty odd years have been the most pros
porous years this nation has ever seen;
more prosperous years than any other ma
prosperity could not have come If the
American people had not possessed the nee
essary thrift, energy and business intelli-
gence to turn their vast material resources
to account. But 1t is no less true that II is |
our economic policy as regards the tariff |
and finance which has enabled us as a ma
ton to make such good use of the indi- |
vidual capacities of our citizens and the |
natural resources of our country Every |
class Of our people is benefited by the pro- ]
tective tariff. During the last few years
the merchant has seen the export trade of |
this country grow faster than ever in orr
previous history. The manufacturer could |
not keep his factory running If it were not |
for the protective tariff. The wage worker |
would do well to remember that If protec- |
ton is robbery" and is to be punished ac
cordingly he will be the first to pay the |
penalty; for either he will be turned adrift |
entirely, or his wages will be cut down to |
the starvation point.
AS conclusively shown by the bulletins of |
the bureau of labor, the purchasing power
of the average wage received by the wage
worker has grown faster than the cost of |
living. and this in spite Of the continual
shortening of working hours. The accumu-
lated savings of the workingmen of the
country as shown by the deposits in the
savings banks, have increased by leaps I
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 employer as dur
ing the seven years that have just passed.
the Basis Of Civilization.
The farmer has benefited quite as much
as the manufacturer, the merchant and
the wage worker. The most welcome and
impressive fact established by the last
census is the wide and even distribution of |
wealth among all classes of our country
men. The chief agencies in producing this
lf.%rs 6Vff ,y. c1, I,~rA
the development of manufactures, and the |
application OF new inventions to universal