The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-13

menace to the prosperity OF the people'
This vast accumulation or loIe lunus rep
resents that much money Drawn hioln 'lio
circulating medium of the country. which
is needed in the channels of trade and
business.
It is a great mistake to suppose that the
consequences which follow the continual
withdrawal and boarding by the govern
ment of the currency of the people are not
of immediate Importance to the mass of
our citizens, and only concerns those en-
gagged in large financial transactions. In
the restless enterprise and activity which
free and ready money among the people
produces is found that opportunity for Ia
bor aud employment and that impetus to
business and production which bring in
their train prosperity to our citizens in
every station and vocation. New ventures,
new investments in business and manu-
factures, the construction of new and inn
portant works, and the enlargement of
enterprises already established, depend
largely upon obtaining money upon easy
terms. with fair security; and ali these
things are stimulated by an abundant
volume of circulating medium. Even the
harvested grain of the farmer remains
without market unless money is forth
coming for its movement and transporta-
tion to the seabOard.
The first result of a scarcity of money
among the people is the eXaction of severe
terms for its use. Increasing distrust and
timidity is followed by refusal to loan
or advance on any terms. Investors re-
fuse all risks and decline all securities,
and in Il general fright the money still in
the hands OF the people is persistently
boarded. 1t is quite apparent that when
| this perfectly natural, il not inevitable,
stage is reached there will be in every
business and enterprise, as necessary
| consequence, lesseHing of the opphr-
| tunity for work and employment, and a
reduction of salaries and of the Wages OF
labor. Instead, then, Of being exempt
| from the influence aud effect OF an I'm
| mense surplus lying idle in the national
| treasury, our wage -earners and Others who
| rely upon their labor for support are most
of all directly concerned in the situation.
| Q, hers seeing the approach of danger may
provide against it. but it will find those
depending upon their daily toll for bread
| unpreparel, helpless, and defenseless.
Such a state of affairs does not present a
case of idleneSS resulting from disputes
| between the labOring man and his employ
| er, but it produces All absolute and en-
forced stoppage of employment and wages.
| In reviewing the bad effects of this ac-
cumulated surplus aud the scale of tariff
rates by which it Is produced, we must
not overlook the tendency toward gross
and scandalous public extravaganza
which Il cOugested treasury induces, nor
the fact that we are maintaining, without
excuse, in q time of profound peace, sub
lstantially the rate of tariff duties imposed
government justified the imposition of the
weightiest burdens upon the people.
Divers plans have been suggested for
the return of this accumulated surplus to
the people and the channels of trade.
Some of these devices are at variance with
all rules of good finance, some are delus
i've, some are absurd, and some betray by
their reckless extravaganza the demQral
izing influence of great surplus of pub
lie money upon the Judgment of individu
ais,
While such efforts should be made as
are consistent with public duty and sane
toned by sound judgment to avoid danger
by the useful disposition of the surplu;
now remaining in the treasury, it is evi
dent that if its distribution were accom-
plished another accumulation would sooI
take its place if the constant flow of re
dundant income was not checked at 1t:
source by Il reform in our present tariff
law.
We do not propose to deal with thes,
conditions by merely attempting to satisf,
the people of the truth of abstract theorie
nor by alone urging their assent to politi
cal doctrine, We present to them tn
propositions that they are unjustly treatet
in the extent of present federal taxation
that as a result condition of eXtrem
danger exists and that it is for them t
demand remedy, and that defense am
safety promised i'll the guaranty of thei
free government. We beneve that tn
the treasury of its present surplus an
prevent its recurrence should cneapen t
our people the cost of supplying their dali
wants. Both of these objects we seek i
part to gain by reducing the present tarii
rate upon the neceSSarieS of life.
| We fully apprecl;l, the Importance t
the country of our domestic industria
enterprise, In the rectitication of existin
wrongs their maintenance and prosperit
should be carefully and in friendly spiri
/, l lava 1nl
present revenue arrangements as hav
. | been invited or encouraged should be fail
: y'and justly regarded. Abrupt and rad
; cal changes, which might endanger sue
enterprises and inJuriodsly affect the il
terests of labor dependent upon their su,
cess and continuance, are not contempl'
ted or intended.
But we know the cost Of our domesti
manufactured product is increased an
their price to the consumer enhanced u
the duty imposed upon the raw materis
used in their manufacture We kno
that the increased cost prevents the sa
of our productions at foreign markets
competition with these countries wkic
have the advantage of raw material. "
know that, confined to d home market oil
manufacturing interests are curtailed an
their demand for labor irregular and IL
rate of wages paid uncertain, We pr
pose, therefore, to stimulate our dOmest
industrial enterprises by freeing from dut
the imported raw materials which by tt
employment of labor are used in our hon
manufactures, thus extending the ma
kets for their sale and permitting an il
creased and steady production with IL
allowance of abundant profit. True
the undertaking course of the democrat
party, we will not neglect the interests
labor and our Workingmen. In all effor
|, to remedy existing evils, we will furnis
no excuses for the loss of employment
|, the reduction of the wages of honest toi
On the contrary, we propose in any az
justment of our revenue laws to conced
such encouragement and advantage
the employers of domestic labor as wi
| easily compensate for any difference the
may exist between the standard of wage
, which should be paid to the labQring me
and the rate allowed in other countrfe
We propose, too by extending the ma
kets for our manufactures, to promote tn
steady employment of labor, while
cheapening the cost of the necessaries
life we increase the purchasing power {
the workingman's wages and add to tf
comfort of his home, and before passin
from this phase of the question / am col
strained to express the opinion that, Will
the interests of labor should be alway
jealously regarded in any modification
our tariff laws, an additional and mor
direct and efficient protection to these il
terests would be afforded by the restril
ton and prohibition of the immigration c
importation of laborers from other coul
UrleS, VINO swarm upon our SnOreS, naV1n
no purpose or intent of becoming our fe
low-citizens or acquiring any permaneI
interest in our country, but who crow
every field of employment with unintell
gent labor at wages which ought not
satisfy those who make claim to America
citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late ma
tiQnal conYeltion Of our party contain
the following declaration; t:Judged b
democratic principles, the interests of tn
people are BETRAYED when by unnecessar
taxation trusts and combinations are pei
mitted and fostered which, while updul
enriching the few that combine, rob tn
body of our citizens by deprivinS them a
purchasers of the benefits of natural CON
petition
Such combinations have always bee
condemned by the democratic party, Th
declaration of its national convention i
sincerely made, and no member of ou
party will be found eXcusing the existenc
of or belittling the pernicious results O
these devices to wrong the people. Unde
various names they have been punished b
the common law for hundreds of years
and they have lost none of their hatefu
features because they have assumed tn
name of trusts instead of conspiracies
We believe that these trusts are the natu
raj offspring of a market artificially re
stricted; that an inOrdinately high tariff