The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-09-19

amount of which is variously stated, has
directed public attention to the console
ration Of the method by which the ma
tional income may best be reduced to
the level of wise and necessary ezpedi-
lures. This condition has been seized
upon by those who are hostile to pro-
tective custom duties as an advantageous
base upon our tariff laws. They have
magnifed and nursed the surplus, which
they affect to deprecate, seemingly for
the purpose of exaggerating the evil, in
order 10 reconcile the people to the ex-
treme remedy they propose. A proper
reduction of the revenue does not neces-
state, and should not suggest, the
abandonment or impairment of the pro-
tective system. The methods suggested
by our Convention will not need to be-
exhausted in order to effect the necessary
reduction. We are not likely to be called
upon, think, to make present choice
between the surrender Of our protective
system and the entire repeal of internal
takes. Such contingency, in 7eiw OF
the present relation of expenditures to
revenue, is remote. The inspection and
regulation of the manufacture and sale
of olemargarine is important, and the
revenue derived from it is not so great
that repeal of the law need enter into
any plan OF revenue reduction.
The surplus now in the Treasury
should be used in the purchase of bonds.
The law authorizes this use of it, and if
it is not needed for current or deficiency
appropriations, the people, and not the
banks in which it has been deposited,
should have the advantage of its use by
stopping the interest upon the public
debt. At least those who needlessly
hoard it should not be allowed t. use
the fear of a monetary stringency thus
produced to coerce public sentiment
upon other questions.
Closely connected with the subject OF
the tariff is that of the importation OF
foreign laborers under contracts of SER
vice to be performed here. The law now
in force prohibiting such contracts re-
cei7ed my cordial support in the Senate,
and such amendments as may be found
necessary effectively to deliver our work.
ingmen and women from this most
iniquitous form of competition will have
my sincere advocacy. Legislation pro-
hibiting the importation of laborers un-
der contracts to serve here will, however,
afford very inadequate relief to our
working people if the system of pro-
tective duties is broken down. If the
products of American shops must COM
pete in the American market, without
fsvoring duties, with the products OF
cheap foreign labor, the effect will be
different, if atall, only a degree, whether
cheap labor is across the street or over
the sea. Such competition will soon re-
duce wages here to the level of those
abroad, and when that condition is
reached We will not need any laws for
bidding the importation of laborers un-
der contract-they will have no induce
ment to come, and the employer no in
ducement to send for them.
In the earlier years of our history,
public agencies to promote immigration
were common. The pioneer wanted q
neighbor with more friendly instincts
than the Indian. Labor was scarce and
fully employed. But the day of the i'm
migration bureau has gone by. While
our doors will continue open to proper
immigration, we did not need to issue
special invitations to the inhabitants OF
other countries to come to our shores or
to share our citizenship. Indeed, the
necessity of some inspection and limita-
ton is obvious. We should resolutely
refuse to permit foreign governments to
send their paupers and criminals to our
ports. We are also clearly under the
duty to defend our civilization by ex-
cluding alien races, whose ultimate as
similation with our people is neither
possible nor desirable. The family has
been the nucleus of our best immigra-
ton and the home the most potent as
similating force in our civilization.
The objections to Chinese immigration
are distinctive and conclusive, and are now
so generally accepted as such that the ques-
ton has passed entirely beyond the stage
of argument. Laws relating to this sub
iect would, if / should be charged with
their enforcement, be faithfully executed.
Such amendments or further legislation SIS
may be necessary and proper to prevent
eyasions of the laws and to stop further
Chinese immigration would also meet my
approval The expression Of the Conven-
tion upon this subject is in entire harmony
with my views. Our civil compact is
government by majorities; and the law
IL ;t, nd ha
respect when the compact is broken.
The evil results of election frauds do not
expend themselves upon voters who are
robbed of their rightful influence in public
affairs. The individual or community or
party that practices or connives at election
frauds has suffered irreparsble injury, and
will sooner or later realize that t. exchange
the American system of majority rule for
minority control is not only unlawful and
unpatriotic, but very unsafe for those who
promote it. The disfranchisement Of
Single legal elector by fraud or intimidation
is crime too grave to be regarded lightly.
The right of every qualified elector to cast
one free ballot and to have il honestly
counted must not be questioned. Every
constitutional power should be used to
make this right secure and punish frauds
upon the ballot. Our colored people do
not ask special legislation in their interest,
but only to be maze secure in the common
rights of American citizenship. They will,
however, naturally mistrust the sincerity
of those party leaders who appeal to their
race for support only in those localities
where Suffrage is free and election results
doubtful, and compass their disfranchise-
ment where their votes would be controll-
ing, and their choice cannot be coerced.
A nation, not less than a State, is de
pendent for prosperity and security upon