Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-09-14

an advantageous base of attack upon our
| tariff laws. They have magnifed and
nursed the surplus-which they affect to
to deprecate-seemingly for the purpose Of
eXagKeratlng the evil in order to reconcile
the people to the extreme remedy they pro-
pose. A proper reduction of the revenue
does not necessitate and should not sug-
gest the abandonment or impairment OF
| the protective system. The methods sug.
gested by our convention will not need to
DC exhausted in order to effect the neces-
sary reduction. We are not likely to be
called upon, think, to make present
choice between the surrender of our pro-
tective system and the entire repeal of our
internal taxes. Sucha contingency in view
| of the present relation of expenditures to
revenue Is remote. The inspection and
regulation of the manufacture and sale Of
oleomargarine is important, and the reve-
nue. derived from it Is hot so great that the
| 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 II it is not needed for current or
the banks in which it has been deposited,
should have the advantage of its use by
stopping interest upon the public debt. At
least those who needlessly hoard it should
not be allowed to use the fear of monetary
stringency thus produced to coerce public
sentiment upon other questions.
SOUND LABOR SENTIMENTS.
Closely connected with the subject of the
tariff is that of the importation of foreign
laborers under contracts of service to be
performed here. The law now in force
prohibiting such contracts received my
cordial support in the senate and such
amendments as may be found necessary
to effectually deliver our working men and
women from this most inequitable form of
competition Willhave my sincere advocacy.
Legislation prohibiting the importation Of
labOrers under contract 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 pro-
ducts OF American shops must compete in
the American market without favoring du-
ties with the products OF cheap foreign la
Dor. the effect will be different, ii at all,
only in the degree whether the cheap la
bOrer is across the street or over the sea.
Such competition will soon reduce wages
mere to the level of those abroad, and when
that condition is reached we will not need
any laws fOrbidding the importation of la
borers under contract. They will have no
inducement to come and their employers
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 employed, but the
day OF the immigra n bureau has gone by
While our doors will remain open t0 proper
immigration we do not need to issue spec
ial invitations to the inhabitants of other
| countries to come to our shores or to share
our citizenship. Indeed, the
NECESSITY OF SOME LIMITATION
| and inspection is obvious. We should res
olutely refuse to permit foreign govern
ments to send their paupers and criminals
to our ports. We are also clearly under
duty to defend our civilization by excluding
| alien races whose ultimate assimilation
with our people is neither possible nor
desirable. The family has been the nu-
cleus of our best immigration and the
homes the most potent assimilating force
in our civilization. The objections to
Chinese immigration are distinctive and
conclusive and are now so generally ac-
cepted as such that the question has
passed entirely @ beyond the stage of argu-
| would, it [ should be charged with their
enforcement be faithfully executed. Such
amendments or further legislation as may
be necessary and proper to prevent eva.
slOns OF the laws and to stop further Chi
nese immigration would also meet my ap-
prOval. The expression of the convention
upon this subject is in entire harmony with
my view.
WANTS AN HONEST BALLOT.
Our civil compact is government by
majorities and the law loses it's 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 connives at election frauds has
suffered lrreparable injury and will sooner
or later realize that to exchange the Ameri-
can system OF majority rule for minority
control is not only unlawful and unpatri-
otlc but very unsafe for those who promote
1t. 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 it honestly counted
tional 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
! 10 be made secure in the common rights Of
American citizenship. They will, how
CvOA3 o1Ay uASGIuSt Glo SluCcClGy OF
those party leaders who appeal to their
race for support only in those localities
where the suffrage is free and election re-
suits doubtful and compass their disfran-.
chisement where their votes would be con
trolling and their choice cannot be coerced
OUR REDUCATIoNAL SYSTEMS
The nation, not less than the state, is
dependent for prosperity and security
upon the intelligence and morality of the
people. This common interest very early
suggested national aid in the establishment
and endowment of schools and colleges in
the new states. There is, believe, pres
ent exigency that calls for more liberal
and direct appropriations in aid of COM
mon school education in the states The
territorial form of government is tempor-
ary exigent and not a permanent civil con-
dition. 1t is adapted to the exigency that
suggested it, but becomes inadequate and
even oppressive when applied to fixed and
populous communities. Several territories
are well able to bear the burdens and dis
charge the duties of four commonwealth
IN the American union. To exclude them
fr Al =