Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-09-21


BY way of recompense for this
reduction in his wages, and the loss
OF the American market, il is sug.
gested that the diminished wages OF
the workingman will have an I'M.
diminished purchasing power, and
that he will be able to make up for
the loss Of the home market by an
enlarged foreign market. Our
workingmen have the settlement of
the question in their own hands.
They now obtain higher wages and
live more comfortably than those
Of any other country. They will
make choice between the substan-
tial advantages they have in hand,
and the deceptive promises and
forecasts of those theorizing reform
crs.
THEY WILL DECIDE FOR THEM.
SELVES
and for the country whether the
protective system shall be continued
or destroyed. The fact of treasury
surplus, the amount of which is
variously stated, has directed public
attention to u consideration Of the
methods by which the national in
come may best be reduced to the
level of wise and necessary ex.
penditure. This condition has been
seized upon by those who are hos.
tile to protective custom duties as
an advantageous base of attack up
on our tariff laws. They have
magnfied and nurscd the surplus,
which they affect to dcprccate,
seemingly for the purpose Of exag-
gerating the evil in order to recon.
cile the people to the extreme rem
edy they propose. A proper re-
duction of the revenue does net ne
cessitate and should not suggest the
abandonment or improvement of the
protective system. The method
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 a present choice be.
tween the
SURRENDER OF OUR PROTECTIVE
SYSTEM,
and the entire repeal of the internal
taxes. Such contingency, in view
OF the present relation of expcndi-
lures to revenues, is remote. The
inspection and regulation of the
manufacture and sale of oleomarga-
rine is important, and the revenue
derived from it is not so great that
the repeal of the law need enter in.
to any plan of revenue reduction
The surplus in the treasury should
he used i'll the purchase ofbonds. The
aw authorizes this use of it, and if il
is not needed for current deficiency
appropriations, the people, and not
the banks in which it has been depos-
tied, should have the advantage of
It's use by stopping interest upon the
public debt. AT least those who need
lessly hoard it should not be allow.
ed to use the fear of monetary
stringency thus produced to coerce
pubic sentiment upon other ques
tons.
Closely connected with the sub.
Ject of tariff is that of the importa.
ton of foreign laborers under con.
tracts of service to be performed
here. The law now in force pro-
hibiting such contracts received nv
cordial support in the Senate, and
such amendments as may be found
necessary effectively to deliver
OUR woRKINCMEN AND WOMEN
from this most inevitable form of
competition, will have my sincere
advocacy. Legislation prohibiting
the importation of laborers under
contract to serve here will, howev.
or, afford very inadequate relief to
our working people if the system of
protective duties is broken down.
II the products of American shops
must compete in the American mar
ket, without favoriug duties, with
the products Of cheap foreign labor.
the effect will be different. if at all
only in degree, whether the cheap
laborer is across the street, or over
the sea. Such competition will
soon reduce wages hereto the Level
of those abroad and when this con.
dition is reached, we will not need
any laws forbidding the importa
ton Of laborers under contract
they will have 70 inducemert 10
come, and the employer, no induce
ment to send for them.
In the earlier years Of our history
public agencies to promote imm;-
grafton were common. The pioneer
wanted a neghbor with more
friendly instincts than the Indian.
Labor was scarce and fully employ.
ed, but the day Of the immigration
bureau has gone by. While our
doors will continue open to
PROPER IMMIGRATION
we do not need to issue special i'm
vitations to the inhabitants Of othe,
countries to come to our shores OF
to share our citizenship. Indeed
the necessity Of some inspection
and limitation is obvious. We
should rcsolutely refuse to permit
foreign governments TO send their
paupers and criminals TO our ports
We are also clearly under a duty to
defend our civilization by excluding
alien races whose ultimate assimila.
ton with our people is neither pos.
slble nor desirable. The family has