202 LAND AND LABOR. 



iron and steel and their manufactures, $13,968,275 for 

 1878, and $19,029,759 for 1882 ; and boots and shoes, 

 $468,436 for 1878, and $527,914 for 1882 ; total, 

 $26,417,713 for 1878, and $33,129,391 for 1882. It 

 is in these four products that the great effort has been 

 made to force the cost of production to the lowest pos- 

 sible point, by paying the smallest wages, that we may 

 successfully compete in foreign markets. Most cer- 

 tainly the increase in the four years from 1878 to 

 1882 is not very encouraging. 



Thus, after seventeen years of national effort of 

 legislation, of subsidizing, of treaties and conventions 

 of every nature, and superhuman efforts at cheap pro- 

 duction, by the reduction of wages and salaries, the 

 substitution of machinery for muscle, and the throw- 

 ing of millions into idleness we have got so far be- 

 low the cost of manufacturing and producing in India, 

 in Brazil, in England, or any other country, as to in- 

 crease or make a foreign market for our manufactures 

 to the amount of, say, one hundred million dollars, 

 and of our general products of, say six hundred mil- 

 lions of dollars per annum. 



Has it paid ? Does it now pay ? 



Let us see the cost' We have all the factors neces- 

 sary for thorough examination and illustration. We 

 have at this time, in our whole country, at least four- 

 teen millions belonging to the great industrial class 

 that is, to those dependent on their salaries or wages 

 for subsistence. Of this class only will we speak, ex- 

 cluding those persons who, as officials in civil or gov- 

 ernmental employ, or as superintendents or foremen, 

 or those in professional or clerical positions, who 



