Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1891 — THE GLITTERING BAIT OF CHEAPNESS. [ARTICLE]

THE GLITTERING BAIT OF CHEAPNESS.

The free trade attorney is always ready with his promise of cheap things. The farmer is assured that his implements may be had for less money: the mechanic is to lie required to pay less for his tools, andheadsof families are told they will need less money for purchasing the essentials^to comfort and convenience. All these are promised in return for votes backing up the European demand that our tariff shall be “reformed 1 ’ to a basis of practical free trade. It may be well for voters to consider for a moment the sham that so persistently parades under this garb of cheapness. As in the case of the gaudy fly with which the angler tempts the fish, the promise of cheapness is arranged to conceal what its victims are expected to learn by costly experience. And as the ultimate results from any radical change in our economic policy will press most directly upon that large majority of voters who work for their living, these are the men who should see to it that no mistake is made. It will not do to lose sight of thejfact that the opportunty to buy cheap is not the main requisite to comfort and independence. Before a man can buy at all he must have the money to tender in payment; and if he is really a prudent man he will hesitate to spend the dollar already in his pocket until the sees some chance to replace it with another. This is the point of view from which to contemplate the issue between the policies of Protection and free trade. Free trade would put the money paid for the majority of manufactured articles in the pockets of foreign workers and dealers. Protection insists thatevery article which can be as well made in this country as in any other shall be made here, and that the money paid for it shall go into the pockets of American citizens. Money cannot be sent to Europe to pay for work done there without by just so much depleting the supply in this country. Hence the effect of free trade must be to diminish the ability of American workers to make purchases, as it forces money abroad to pay for labor so long as foreigners are content to accept lower wages than are- paid here. On the other hand. Protection facilitates purchases by so far as possible furnishing all who are willingto work, the opportunity to get money with which to pay for what they want. And this is the consideration of chief importance to the workingman, however glibly free trade attorneys may prate of cheapness.