Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06

to our working people if the system of
protective duties is broken down. Ii the
products OF American shops must COM
pete in the American market, without IA
yoring duties, with the products OF cheap
foreign labor, the effect will be no differ
ent. if at all only in degree. whether the
cheap labOrer 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 forbidding the
importation of labOrers under contact
they will have no inducement to come, and
the employer no lnducement to send for
them. Ia the earlier years of our history
public agencies TO promote immigration
were common. The pioneer wanted
neighbOr with more friendly instincts than
the Indian labor was scarce and fully en-
ployed. But the day OF the immigration
bureau has gonSby. While our doors will
continue open to proper immigration, we
do not need to issue social Invitations to
the Inhabitants of other countries to come
to our shores or share our citizenship. In
deed, the necessity of some inspection and
limitation is obvious. We should resolutely
refuse to permit foreign paupers and Grim
inals to our ports. We are also clearly
under duty to defend our civilization by
excluding alien races whose ultimate as.
similation with our people is neither pos.
sible nor desirable. The family has been
the neuclus of our best immigration, and
the home the most potent astonishing
force in our civilization.
The objections to Chinese immigration
are distinctive and conclusive, and are
now so generally accepted as such that the
question has passed entirely beyond the
stage of argument. The laws relating to
this subject would, if should be charged
with their enforcement, be faithfully exc
cuted. Such amendments or further leg
lslatiOn as may be necessary and proper to
prevent evasions of the laws and to stop
further Chinese immigration would also
meet my approval. The expression of the
convention upon this subject is in entire
harmony with my views.
Our civil compact is government by
majorities, and the law loses its sanction
and the magistrate our respect when this
compact is broken. The evil results of
election frauds do not expend themselves
upon the voters who are robbed of their
rightful influence in public affairs. The
individual. or community, or party that
practices or cOnniyes at election frauds
has suffered irreparable injury. and will
sooner or later realize that to exchange the
American system of majority rule for
minority control is not only unlawful and
uDpatr1Otlc, DuG very unSaIe TOT CnOSe VINO
promote it. The Acknowledgement of
single legal elector by fraud or intimida-
tion is crime too grave to be regarded
lightly. The right of every qualified
elector to cast one free ballot and to have
it honestly counted must not be ques-
toned. Every constitutional power should
be used to make this right secure and pun
ish frauds upon the ballot. Our colored
people do no ask special legislation in their
interest, but only to be made 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 the suffrage is free
and election results doubtful, and compass
their Acknowledgement where their votes
would be controlling and their choice can
not be coerced.
The nation. not less than the States. is
dependent for prosperity and security upon
the intelligence and morality of the peo-
pie. This common interest very early
suggested national aid in the establish
ment and endowment of schools and col
leges in the new states. There is, l be-
lieye, present exigency that calls for still