Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-01-23
The Labor interests.
To Pay ;he Taxes we must Protect orr
Industry.

lu tile Hoisen II Rcprt scntalycs, al Washing
ton, on Saturday, Hon Vim. d. Kelley, of Prnn-
syvania, addressed the House, at enstu on the
general subjects Of Taxation the productive In
dus,ry Of the coustry, contraction OF the Cur
rency, &c.
He said that the war for the suppression Of the
rebellion developed u production power in this
country, more than equal to the indcbN tlness
national, State and municipal incurred ia sup
port Of 1t and by the payment of bauuties aud
pensions. And when grnlc...cu speak Of sccur-
Ing the results of the wng ask them To regard
this fact, and To sec to i; illt IT, Is well us the
purely political results of the struggle, be secured
in order that those who survive It's victims may
share its happier consequences. The policy which
had with rare aud brief intervals controlled the
legislation OF the country from its foundation to
TO develop the resources or improve the cond-
ton Of the laboring people OF the country. 1t
did not aim at these results. II was conceived
and enforced by those whose intrtvSts were pcctl-
liar and adverse to The general prosperity. Under
the ancient regimr the legislative power of the
county tsids,i more han sixty years in Demo-
cratic congressional caucus, the preponderince
III which OF the shareholders Of the South was
almost, il not absolutely, without ,ntermission.
Controlling the caucus Of the dnniinent lmity,
they controlled the Legislation Of Congress, and
except in the brief periods from 1925 to 1888 and
from 1918 To 1917 the policy of the caucus was TO
prevent the divcrsifcation of employments, i'm
pair the demand for, aud so diminish the wages
OF, free labor, and by compelling the masses to
engage in The production of provisions TO so
cheaper them as to make il to the advantage of
The slaseowner to produce nothing but leading
staples, and depend upon the farmers OF the North
for cheap food for themselves, their animals, and
slaves. II was tEcir aim to make mechanical la
Dor Improbable and degrading, that they might
be able to discourage immigration by contrasting
the condition of the wcll-fed slave with that of
the laborer of the North, who in freedom should
by tue exercise of his skin be able to obtain but
II prccarious support for himself and family |
do not make this arrangement. History presents
IL.
The growth of productive industry In the West
has been truly immense, since 1861. lie refci-
red to the development Of the Lake Superior iron
region, and OF the coal fields of Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri Iowa, and Kansas the growth Of West
ern cities aud towns, now engaged In fine and
costly manufactures, which, In 1861, were not
even located. and said that so immensely had
ready dclnad the rapid circulation nf coninlodi-
ties aud prompt pay in greenbacks stimulated
our industry that the amount of American pro-
neutrality-suspicious.. mineral, scientific, or inc.
ehanicul-that had been devoted to the work of
nm glfatp
of the requirements for civil life In season of
prosperity, and certainly In increasing excess of
the production of former years.
MIR. Kelley argued at length that the ability of
the country to pay taxes would depend upon the
legislation of Congress. II must be for the pro-
lection of the National industry. He quoted from
speech two years ago, In which he had taken
this ground. He showed by citations of figures
from the Saving Banks, how the increasing pres
sure upon working people forced them To with
draw their deposits of small sums. He said the
attempt to force resumption of specie payments
by contracting volume of currency which was
actively, legitimately, and profitably employed Is
as dishonest as it Is unwisc The object and cf-
ect of such II movement Is to increase the pur-
chasing power, the yalne of tho rich man's hoard
ed or invested dollars, and Its projectors pause
not though they discover that ii robs millions of
their laborers of their whole estate The laborers
income is derived from the exercise of his thews
and sinews and the skill of his cunning right
hand. These nre his estate-these end his little
savings and OF these millions are being robbed
by the mad attempt OF the Secretary of the Treas
ury to bring about specie payments while the bal
ance of trade Is heavily against us and our gold
bearing bonds arc so largely held by foreigners
that resumption would In lees than thirty DAYS
induce the return of bonds enough to drain lis of
specie
Gentlemen talk of "glut In the marketn
Sir, the time has never been when the markets
OF the world were gluttcd. When that event
shall come, every home will be well furnished
and every human being well clothed. A super
abundance of the necessarics of life can not exist
while the urgent wants of millions cannot he
Supplied. Our markets are not glutted. The
stock of goods OF every kind in the hands of
merchants Is unusually low, and there are unem-
ployed people in the country who need them all
and who would gladly labor for the means to
purchase them all. The wretch that shiyers in n
cheerless home without food, fuel. or adeotlote
clothing she who ll-fcd herself, shares her Inst
crust with her hungry children; and they who in
The midst of winter deprived of the privilege
OF toillng and as their goods are thrown rudely
into the street realize landlords power when |
rent is In arrear, do not believe shat the market
Is glutted.
Fires are blown out and machinery left to rust |
IN ldienes, not because there Is no demand for |
goods, out because throughout the South and |
west there is no circulating medium with which |
70 effect exchanges; and the policy of the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury with the cry Of the creditor
CLASS for resumption have destroyed confdenc In
Individual credit.