New-York tribune., 1905-04-23
A BLOODY WAR FOUGHT FOR A MARKET.
SETH LOW POINTS OUT THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE RUSSOJAPANESE STR UGGLE

for a decade ~ che masses OF the voters haa
not believed that it tended 70 elevate their
standard OF living. They know that under thu
pohey OF fFee trade at home and protection.
through customs duties. against foreign compe-
ution not only are wages higher here than
elsewhere. but also the standard OF living Is
higher among American worklngunen than IN
any OF the countries from which they so largsIP
come. There are serious objections that can Be
urged against our policy OF protection 10 does
lend itself to an increase OF corruption in pubIo
and commercial life; II does have the effect oF
placing our manufactures and all our industries
more or less on an artificial basis. These ara
serious and weighty objections and they would
quickly be fatal to II if there were not. upon
the other side. considerations that. IN the gen
eral judgment. outweigh them First OF all, and
perhaps the most important OF ALL is the one
already referred TO. that the policy OF prOtec-
tion has been accompanied by the creation and
maintenance Of a standard OF living for ths
great masses OF our people that nowhere elsa
prevails.
In addition. there are two other things to bo
said for 1t Of farreaching Importance. 1t has
doubtless greatly stimulated immigration TO this
country. and in so doing it has relieved ths
pressure OF population upon European countries.
as it could not otherwise have been relieved
ANY one who IS familiar with economic condi-
tions, and the conditions of lie for the masses
OF men, upon the Continent OF Europe. must
shUdder when he thinks what these would have
been IL the outlet to the United states had noe
existed. and had not been made as attractive as
1t has been The maintenance OF very high
wages In this country. furthermore, has so slim
uIated invention as 70 lead Americans not only
but even to seek economy In the operation ot
machinery itself with the result that the
united states. in many instances, has shown it,
seil aDle 70 produce the cheapest goods although
paying the highest wages and WORKING the shOr5
est hours OF any people IN the world This for
tUnats demonstration that machinery y-bal
carried TO It's highest perfection, where labor IS
Intelligent both relieves men from excessive
hours or labor and increases their paw IS =
demonstration OF fncalculable value TO mankind
4AIs demonstration, IL IS not too much to say.
is due 70 that necessity which is the mother -
invention. which has been fostered Certainly. IL
not created by the protective system OF the
United states. and which has been maintained
IN the interest Of a high standard OF living for
the masses OF the people. 1t is easv TO see thas
z nation that has been willing. IN the general
interest to pay more for every manufactured
thlng that II consumes. until time secures a do
mest1c product as cheap as the imported wss
nv 4INsiy 20 permit It's standard of living 70 bJ
undermined by the admission in large rI1r7ha~4
OF people ike the Chinese. whose standard 0f
me Is so far below that OF the American Iaborer
as 10 threaten the latter with exterp2ira, ion
Wherever Chinese competition became sario--s
Ihe standard OF life of mary Fy;,r17ear frr.r-f
sIaHts IN the last few years IS far enough below
tHat prevailing in the United States bu+ I0,,,
as II IS, the difference is not so great as ~ 60
A-OA~ IIIeiL III a rev years the standards
OF the newcomers viii be lifted ID - rEe 49,
OF those already here. With the Chinese how
EeL; lhe standard OF living is so p71lcb I1vra-
SiII as % make the attempt seem hopeless v-rit
me stranseness OF their tongue and the fac+ +E--
tS tnsy 20 nor. or indeed. cannot. readily becor,
Justification to the policy OF excursion .I Ven
pursued. ssr--rIr J5t dCSls1I-y
SEIH Low.
tIhsse remarks were originally raads N, n, - =,
q speech at Philadelphia April before ths .-,, =
Academy Of Political and Social scieneaI