Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1888 — TARIFF AND WAGEWORKERS. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF AND WAGEWORKERS.

The Washington correspondent of the Chicago Times, in speaking of President Cleveland’s views om the tariff and the protection of American labor, says: The fact is the whole discussion is a play upon words. Says Watterson: “A tariff -or revenue only.” Says Radall: “A tariff which will produce enly the needed revenue.” Whether to reduce the income by taking off duties from some articles new taxed or bv adding to the present rate on others so much that imports will cease, does present a wide divergence. But every Republican and every Democrat is in favor of some additions to the free lists, and every protectionist will disclaim the idea of a prohibitory tariff on anything. I There can be no revenue by a tariff that is not a protective tariff,

for every impost impedes importation of the taxed article to some extent. We ca oply impose duties as a tax or a penalty. Would the enemies of a tariff for revenue only impose a tariff as a penalty against importation ? THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN FAVOR: 1. Of reducing the surplus revenues. 2. Of a readjustment of the tariff. 3. Of protecting the interests of American labor in such readjustment.

4. Of protecting the capital interested in American manufactures in such readjustment. 5. No reduction of any duty that reduee the demand for labor or diminish its wages. Singularly enough, these positions are all earnestly maintained by President Cleveland in his a»nual message which dishonest Republican politicians and those who have never read it call a free-trade document. Probably not ene in ten of the average Republican newspaper readers ever read the message, although they have read the republican catch-word cries against it, and taken it for granted that it advocates free-trade.

I hays culled oat a few of its plainest sentences to enable tbe reader, without trouble to himself, to see just how much capital the Repul: lican paper protectionist can make out of the message. It js|just as well to* exercise a little common sense in discussing public men and to keep the truth in view when we undertake to criticise the words they have written. Ii we ge off on a tangent and make statements concerning their utterances, to which th* |cold type when appealed to, will give a flat contradiction, we shall bruise ourselves and disgust the disinterested bystanders. Of course I concede the Republican necessity of shewing that Blaine, and not Cleveland, is the real friend of the laborer, just as Dickens’ Codlin, and not Short, was| the friend of t Little Nell, but jt had better be shown in some way that can not be immediately con-

tradicted. Her > are some of President Cleveland's views on she tariff and the protection of American labor, taken from his m -*ssage: THE INTERESTS OF LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED. It must be extensively continu d as the source of the government’s income; an * in a readjustment of, out tariff the interests of American labor engaged in m nufacture should be carefully considered, as well as of our manufacturers. tt may be called protection or by any other name, but relief from the hardships and dangers of our present tariff laws should be devised with especial precaution against imperiling the existence of our manufacturing interests. But this existence should not mean a condition which, without regard to the publio welfare or a national exigency, must always insure the realization of immense profits instead of moderately profitable returns.

But the reduction of taxation demanded should be so measured as not to nec ssitate or justify either the loss of employment by the workingman nor the lessening of his wages; and the profits still remaining to the manufacturers,after a necessary readjustment, should furnish on excuse for the sacrifice of rhe interests of his employes, either in their onportunity to work or in the diminution of their compensation. The simple and plain duty which we owe the people is to reduce taxation to the necessary expenses of an economical operatiom of the gi vernment, and to restore to the business of the country the money which we hold in the treasury thro’ the possession of governmental powers.’ The.se are sound views and they are entertained by the great body of the people with ut distinction of party. The onlyrGbjection made to them must be from thos* who “without regard to the public welfare or a national exigency, must always insure the realization of immense profits instead of moderately profitable returns.” I have quoted President Cleveland’s language to put rational Republicans on their guard against the folly of saying what is not true about him for want of knowledge.

If t •-ere is to bo any ’ying done* there should be a lying bureau? f.ven into careful hands Mr. laine must be kept away from it entirely. He Jacks the prudence nec ssai-y for tho work. His last oampaigivproveii diat Just think of his 'declaration that he never did own a share ot Hocking-Valley stock, ank then reca.l tli e \ lools to the contrary, over f is own signature, with which lie was instantly confronted. Such clumsiness wo’d shame a schoolboy when dodging a slippering for playing “hookey” or a servant girl explaining how the broken plate wbh the pieeps all in her hands was “broke before.” “That some may think your story

irue, Keep probability in view.” If Republicans observe this sag.* advice they will| agree with the President, th ,t “our progress toward a wise conclusion will not be improved by dwelling upon the theories of protection and free trade.” This savors too much es bandying epithets. It is a condition which confronts us, not a th j ory. These thoughts were suggested by reading in the house proceedings that a resolution had been introduced declaring against “a tariff fir revenue only ” Unless we are to have a surplus continued we must have les& revenue. Taxes enough for revenue only will protect whether theorists like it or not.

Steel Laos.—The wonders of invention never cease. Lace is now made of steel and is said to be fine as Brussels and as s< ft to the touch. Senator Ingalls, of Ivannas, says: “The Kausxs prohibitionists hare all the law thev want, and the whisky-drinkers have *ll the whisky they want.’”