Year: 1866

s simply question OF wages Unlike other branches
of manufacture in this the raw material s Of prac
tca worth and its ultimate cost value depends upon
the wages expended In It's transformation.


Assuming tbot it requires the same amount OF labor
TO produce tun of iron here that il does in England 1t
becomes easy comprehend how Iron masters in the
latter country who work labor at less than oneird the
Price paid by u.s. can underse us in own markets.
If understand your theory it is not intended to involve
q total abandonment Of domestic manufactures; yet you
must see that iron cannot be produced at European
price without reducing the producer to European rates
Of wages and condition of life That is the real issue.
clearly stated in the sentence partly quoted by


The American laboer burdened by the multfaious nc-
dents and responsibitie. OF m position as citizen OF ice
country is engaged In desperate competition With the
foreign aborer who tolls for back and belly alone The Gov
eminent which is vi,aly nteesetn the contest looks on in
differently or opposes her own Children


| Why ignore this issuef Why not claim what is di'
rcctly involved in your theory, either that domestic
manufacturing industry should cease, or that wages
should be reduced TO the European standard, II right
you would be sustained by the consciousness OF recti
ude If the impoverished masses confer upon you
the soubriouet Tcncent" long borne by an Amor.
can statesman.


The Indifference with which you would take the first
horn Of the dilemma. might be initiated by the Iron
masters of the country but should be matter OF sur
prise to the American workingInan and the thousand
interests which cluster around manufacturing centers
You to think rifing thing to divert the labor
of manufac turing operatives into other channels. 1t
so easy Can be pretended that Labor possesses the
same mobility as Capital


Capital has affections passions; ii is never sick
hungry; it depends upon single trade or business,
and possesses no inyincible habudes piece OF
paper will transfert to the ends Of the earth Every
thing ministers to its activity and increasei ana IL
hbernates annuties without diminishing Its fatness
Is it thus with Labor Ask the aborer. State to him
plainly what is involved in your theory and see what
will be his response.


When you argue this question and give retro
specive view of the fluctuations of wages conlequent
upon high and low tariff you may properly quote my
letter as plea for an American scale Of wages for the
American workingman "who is burdened with the
muifarious incidents and responsibilities OF his position
as citizen of free country" not the least OF which
is yindcaton Of the National honor by paying the Ma
tional Debt His proportion Of this particular burden
il was the effort of my letter to show and thinh
demonstrated that the Government had overweiah'ed
him. and that be does not enter into the race upon
equal terms with his foreign competitor.


1t is mistake to demand Free Trdds; for. compared
with internal taxes. direct and incidental tue tarh
duties on iron-not twithstanding your assertion that II
ia protected to the rate Of than 100 per centare
now below zero and the enemies OF domestic industry
should claim additional Protection for the foreign pro-
ducer


In all fairness this is the position you must occupy II
you would adopt the statement Of my letter.


Ihaye said that the works with which / am con
nected ght be benefited rather than injured by low
duties; but it would be for the that home com
petition would be removed and cheap labor secured


Domestic competition destroyed and the foreign
manufacturer made the unquestoned master Of the
field such works az survive would make large profits,
until checked by general renewal OF industry The
due.t intellect must perceive what would be the effect
Of closing large majority Of the American mills. and
calling upon England for additional million tuns Of
manufactured iron per annum. poorer way to
cheaper iron 10 enable the country to pay for It, II
ever 9 cheap, could not be invented.


After this frank statement. you may have as great
difficulty in discovering my motive for pleading for
Protection as have in understanding why you advo
cate Free Trade. hilsnthropc.considcratons having
little weight In questions Of business be pleased to
gard my claim the suggestion of enlightened
selfshness which can conceive OF no valuable
or permanent success to individual enterprise.
which does not flow from the prosperity Of all
business and the wealth and security Of the whole
country. Deprecating controversy. TO which am IN
used should not have addressed you did not think
that you have made unjust attack upon the whole
iron interest OF the country as well as an unfair spp
cation Of letter which has attained degree of pub
licty never contemplated by its author Yours truly


D.. j. MoREELL
Cambria Iron. Work., Johnstorn. Pa Dec 2s, 1865.