, 1884-07-19

ClllllIltS lllO hluoG llClNdl NIAit WI
would not rcciprocally enter into, countrie.
to which we should be surrendering ever
advantage of trade from which we should
be gaining nothing in return.
EFFECT UPON H MECHANIC AND TIL
LABoRER.
a policy of this kind would be disastrous
to the mechanic and w~orkingmen of the
United States. Wages are undoubtedly
reduced when an industrious man is not
able By his earnings to live in comfort,
educate his children and lay by a sufficient
amount for the necessities of age. The
reduction of wages inevitably consequent
upon throwing our home market open to
the world, would deprive them of the
power to do this. 1t would prove a great
calamity to our country. 1t would pro-
duce a conflict between the poor and the
rich, and in the sorrowful degradation of
labor would plant the seeds of a public
danger. The Republican party has
steadily aimed to maintain just relations
between labor and capital, guarding
with care the rights of each. a
conflict between the two has al
ways led in the past and will always
lead in the future to the injury Of both.
Labor is indispensable to the creation and
profitable use OF capital, and capital in
creases the efficiency and value of labor;
whoever arrays the one against the other
Is an enemy Of both. That policy is
wisest and best which harmonizes the two
on the basis OF absolute justice. The Re
publican party has protected the free
labor OF America so that its compensation
Is larger than is realized in any other
country. 1t has guarded our people
against the uniform competition Of con-
tract b from China, and may be called
upon to prohlbite
THE dRowTH OF a SIMILAR EVIL
from Europe. 1t Is obviously unfair to
permit capitalists 10 make contracts for
cheap b In foreign countries to the
hurt and dlsparagement OF the labor Of
American citizens. Such apolicy like that
which would leave time and other condi-
tons OF home labor exclusively IN the con-
troll OF the employer) Is injurious 10 all
parties, not the least to the unhappy per-
sons who are made the subject OF the
contract. The institutions Of the United
States rest upon h Intelligence and virtue
OF all the people. Suffrage Is made un-
iversal rs a just weapon of self protection
to every citizen. 1t IS not the interest
OF the Republic that n economic
system should be adopted which involves
the reduction OF wages to the hard stand
ard prevailing elsewhere. The Republi-
cans aim to elevate and dignity labor, not
to degrade it. As a substitute for the
industrial system, which under Republ-
can administrations has developed such
extraordinary prosperity, our opponents
offer a policy which is but a series of ex-
perlments upon our system of revenue, a
policy whose end must be harm to II
manufacturers and greater harm to u
labor. Experiment IN the industrial and
financial system Is the country greatest
dread as stability IS Its greatest boon.
Even the uncertainty resulting from the
recent tariff agitation IN Congress has
hurtlully affected the business OF the en-
tire country. Who can measure the harm
to our shops and our homes, to II farms
ana our merc II the uncertainty OF
perpetual tariff agitation Is to he inflicted
upon the country! We are IN the midst
OF an abundant harvest; we are on the
eve OF a revival OF general prosperity.
Nothlng STANDS IN GU way but the dread
OF a change IN the industrial system which
mas u such wonders IN the last
twenty years and which, with the power
OF Increased capital VIII work still greater
marSeis oil prosperity IN the twenty years
10 come
OUR fohEloN oLicf
Our foreign relations laVof our domestic
ueVeiopmeht- we are at peace with the
world at peace upon a sound OASIS, with
no unsettled questions oil sufficient
magnitude 10 einDarrasS OF distract us
happily removed by our geographical po-
slt'oh participation or interest those
questions OF dynasty or boundary which
SO frequently disturb the peace OF Europe
we are lett to cultivate friendly relations
with all and are Tree from possible entan
clement IN quarrelS OF any. The United
states has no cause and no desire to en-
gage IN conflict wlth any other power on
earth and we may rest assured with con-