Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-10-30

Mr.. Erastus Corning, Of Albany, one OF
the chief ironmasters in the United States,
the number of hands in his works being
nearly three thousand, has written the fol-
lowing letter:
ALBANY, N. Y, Oct. 81, 1884.
Mr.. James -Naioney President OF the Sixth
Ward Club, Troy
Dear Sir-I regret that l cannot avail
myself OF your invitation to attend the
meeting of your club, this evening, hut J.
beg leave 10 assure you of the deep interest
feel in the success Of the cause you will
meet to promote. La my opinion, the pros
perity of the country will be largely ad-
vanced by the election Of the democratic
national ticket at the approaching election.
More especially will it benefit the industria
interests Of the country, which have sufier-
ed and are now suffering deeply from the
blisbting policy of the republican admins
traton. You and know well how great
is the suffering OF those engaged in manu-
featuring. Employers and employed: al
ways equally affected. are alike the victims
of mistaken republican policy. The wages
of labor everywhere depend upon The earn
ings of the business in which 1t Is en-
ployed. We were told by the republican
leaders four years ago that the prosperity
of the country depended upon the sue
cess of the republican, ticket. Unfortunately
for the country it was elected, ana now
sad has been the result. The promises made
were q delusiou and snare. Ever since
that election the country has been rapidly
declining, manufactures have been Obliged
to suspend business for want Unemployment.
Manufacturing can only be carried on now
at a loss-often ruinous Prices have fallen
too low 10 be renumerative. Thousands OF
laboriag men are thrown out Unemployment
in almost every State of the Union. While
taxation has not been reduced, ofwhich the
laboring man pays his ful! share, the wages
of labor have sadly lessenad. At this mo-
ment the country is struggling under greater
distress than has ever before existed in our
memory. Last week 235 failures OF busl-
ness men and firms were announced, ana
that is but little more than the average OF
each week for the last six months. Every
failure throws men out of employment ana
wideus the extending circle of pecunlary
distress and ruin.
And ell this occurs when Heaven has
blessed the labors of the husbandman with
abundant crops. The generous earth yields
us much more than is required 10 feed our
fifty. five millions of people, and we export
largely of our products to feed other coun-
tries less favored by Providence. With
such abundant crops and balance of trade
largely in our favor, the ills we suffer can
only be charged upon the unwise policy OF
of our rulers--a policy which has
driven our ships from the ocean
and given all the profits Of carrying our
large exports aud imports and the vast
passenger business across the ocean, with
hardly an exception, to the ships OF other
nations and under foreign flags; policy
which still subjects US to internal revenue
taxes, a tax imposed only as necessity OF
war, but still continued though we have
had profound peace for nearly twenty years;
policy which, at this moment, holds locked
up in the public treasury $4oO,OOO,OOO III
gold and silver exacted by tax from the hard
earnings Of the people and withheld from
the channels of business where it IS so much
needed, and constantly increasing in amount
as the pecuniary suffering of the country
increases 1t is certain now that we can
not thrive under such a ruinous policy. 1t
is driving the country to bankruptcy and
ruin. II threatens with starvation vast
numbers Of people thrown out Of employ
ment. The country demands change.
and there can be no change for the
worse. 1t demands return to the
simplicity and honesty of the earlier
days Of tho Republic. IL demands that
extravagunt and unnecessary approprl-
ations by Congress shall cease; that the
public treasure shall no longer be lavished
on political favorites. 1t demands full
examination of the public records and
Just accountability Of those who have EN-.
bezzled and wasted the public funds: All
this in my JUDGMENT can be accomplished
by the election of Grover Cleveland. he
has the honesty and the courage which are
.indispensably necessary to the accomplish
ment OF reforms, without which the return
of better times will be hopeless. Pardon
10Y earnestness on this subject. feel deep
", not only for my own interests, but also
for the interests of all in my employment
and of all around me, the absolute necessity
for the change.
We must not be misled by the specious
arguments of willy politicians, who have no
interest in the industrial pursuits of the
country, and who only seek to secure pro-
longation of their political power. In the
hope that we shall not be again deceived
by them, am, very truly yours.
To