The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-13

ducts of cheap foreign labor. The effe'
will be different, If at all, only in degre'
whether the cheap labor is across tn
street or over the sea.
Such competition will soon reduC
wages here to the level OF those abroad
and when that condition is reached W
will not need any laws forbidding III
importation of laborers under contract
They.
WILL HAVE NO INDICTMENT TO CONE
and the employer reimbursement to sen
for them.
In the earlier years Of our history
public agencies tn promote immigration
were common The pioneer wanted
neighbor with more friendly instinct
than the Indians. Labor was scarce ant
fully employed. but the day of the i'm
migration bureau has gone by. Will
our doors will continue open to prope
immigration, we do not NEED to issu
special invitations TO the Inhabitants o
other countries to come to our shores o
to share our citizenship. Indeed, tn
necessity of some inspection and limita
ton is obvious. We should resolutely
refuse to permit foreign governments t
send their paupers and criminals to ou
ports.
We are also clearly under a duty t
defend our civilization by excluding
alien races whose ultimate assimilation
with our people 10 neither possible moi
desirable. The family has been thenu
cleus Of our best immigration, and thu
home the most potent assimilating forc'
in our civilization. Objections to Chi
nese immigration are distinctive, con
elusive, and are now 80 generally accept
ed as such that the question has passed
entirely beyond the stage Of argument
Laws relating 10 the subject would, il
should be charged with their enforce
went. be faithfully executed. Such
amendments or further legislation al
may be necessary and proper to prevent
evasions OF the laws and
STOP FURTHER CHINESE IMMIGRATION
would also meet my approval. The ex
preston of the convention upon THU
subject is in entire harmony with my
views.
Our civil compact is government by
majorities; and law loses its sanction
anc magistrate our respect when thin
compact is broken. Evil results Of cleo
ton frauds do not expend themselves
upon voters who are robbed Of then
rightful influence in public affairs. The
Individual or community or party that
practices or cOnnives 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 ia not only unlaw.
full and unpatriotic, but very unsafe fol
those who promote it. The diSenfran.
chisement Of a single legal electOr by
fraud or intimidation is a crime TIC
grave to be regarded lightly. The right
OF every qualified elector to cast one
free ballot and have 1t honestly counted
must not be questioned, Every consti'
tutional power should be used to make
this right secure and punish frauds upon
the Hot. Our colored people do not
ask special legislation in their interest
but only to be made secure in the COM
mon rights of American citizenship.
They WILL however, naturally mi-trust
the sincerity of those party leaders who
appeal to their race for their support
only in those localities where suff age ia
free and election results doubtful, and
compass their Acknowledgement where
their votes would be controlling aud
their choice cannot be coerced
The nation, not less than the states, is
dependent for prosperity and security
upon the intelligence and morality Of the
people. This common interest very ear
ly suggested national aid in the
ESTABLISHMENT AND ENDOWMENT OF
SCHOOLS.
and colleges in the new states. There is
believe, present exigency that calls
for still more liberal and direct appro-
priations in aid of common school edu.
cation in the states.
The territorial form OF government il
a temporary exp dent, not permanent
civil condition. II is adapted to the ex-
igency that suggested it, but becomes in,
adequate. and even oppressive, when ap-
piled to fixed and populous commune
ties. Several territories are we'll able Ia
bear the burdens and discharge the du'
ties of free commonwealth in the Amer.
lean union. To exclude them 10 to deny
the just rights of their people and may
well excite their indignant protest. Nc
question of the political preference Of
the people of a territory should close
against them the hospital door which
has opened TO two thirds of the existing
states but admission should be resolute.
ly refused to any territory majority OF
whose people cherish institutions that
are repugnant to our civilization or in
consistent with a republican form Of
government.
The declaration of the convention
against "all combinations Of capital, or
ganized in trusts or otherwise, to con-
troll arbitrarily the condition Of trade
among onr citizens" is in harmony with
the views entertained and publicly ex-
pressed by me long before the assembling
OF the convention. Ordinarily, capital
shares the losses of idleness with labor
but under the operation of the trust, n
in some of its forms
THE wAGE-woRKER ALONE SUFFERS
LOSE, while idle capital receives its divi
dends from trust fund. Producers
who refuse to JOIN the combination are
destroyed, and competition as an ele-
ment of prices is eliminated. 1t cannot
be doubted that the legislative authority
should and will find method of dealing
fairly aud effectively with these and
other abuses connected with this sub
ject.
1t can hardly be necessary for me to
say that / am heartily in sympathy with
the declaration of the convention upon
the subject of pensions to our soldiers
and sailors. What they gave and what
they suffered l had some opportunity TO
observe, and in measure, to experience.
They gave ungrudgingly. It was not a
trade, but an offering. The measure
was heaped up, and running over.
What they achieved, only a distant gen
GRAFTON can adequately tell. Without
attempting to discuss particular propo-
sitions, may add that measures in be-
half OF the surviving veterans of the war
and of the families of their dead com.
rades should be conceived and executed
in spirit of justice and OF the most
grateful liberality, and that, in the com
petition for civil appointment, honorable
military service should have appropriate
recognition.
The law regulating appointments tc
the classified civil service received my
support in the Senate. in the belief thai
1t opened the way to
AMUcH NEEDED REFORM
still think 80, and, therefore, cordially
approve the clear and forcible express
sion Of the convention upon this subject
The law should have the aid OF friend
ly Interpretation and be faithfully and
vigorously enforced. All appointment
under it should be absolutely free from
partisan considerations and influences
Some extensions Of the classified list are
practicable and desirable, and farther
legislation extending the reform to 9th
er branches Of the service. to which 1t i,
applicable, would receive my approval
In appointments to every grade and de
partment, fitness, and not party service
should be the essential and discriminat
ing test, and fidelity and efficiency thu