IECOuLD. July 14. 1882. page 6034.) Volumes might be filled with extracts from the speeches and writings of every leading statesman of the country of all shades of political opinion condemning the policy now advocated by the Republican leaders. but I tm content to stand on the decision of the courts and the opinions of theeminent men from whom I have quoted. Turning to the discussion of the general proposition. it. may be truthfully said that when the arguments of the ablest ani fairest advocates of the protectivetariff system are analyzed. they are all based on the false assumption that the tax is paid by foreigners. or is imposed on7 goods imported to prevent foreigners from taking advantage of the cheap pauper labor employed by them in thQ production of their goodK and to protect American laborers. who receike higher wages here in the production of like articles. against such degrading competition. The truth is. as the President very clearly shows. that the American consumer not only pays every dollar of the tariff tax imposed on goods imported. but he pays a price equal to the foreign price. with the tariff tax added. on all similar goods manufactured in this country. and. as fourfiftlhs. on an average. of all such goods consumed here are made at home. and only onefifth imported. the Government. which coll.cts only the tax on goods imported. gets but onefilth of the tax. while Congress requires all American consumers to pay the other fourfilths to their protected pets. many members of both Houses of Congress being the beneficiaries. and they patriotically call that protecting American industry. I know that the leading advocates of protection. among them Senators in carefully prepared speeches. have denied that the price of the homemade product is enhanced to the extent of the tax on the imported goods. but their denial does not alter the fact.
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pauper labor