The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-09-11

the necessaries of life, we increase the
purchasing power of the worklngman'S
wages and add to the comforts of his
home.
Before passing from this phase of the
question am constrained to express the
opinion that while the interests of labor
should always be sedulously regarded in
any modification of our tariff laws, an
additional and more direct and efficient
protection to these interests would be
afforded by the restriction and prohibi-
ton of immigration, or the importation
of laborers from other countries who
swarm upon our shores, having no pur-
pose or intent of becoming our fellow
citizens or acquiring any permanent in
terest in our country, but who crowd ev-
cry field of employment with an unintel-
ligent labor which ought not to satisfy
those who make claim to American n cit
izenship.
The platform of our party contains
the following declarations: Judged by
democratic principles, the interests of
the people are betrayed when, by unnec-
essary taxation, trusts and combinations
are permitted and fostered, while only
enriching the few that combine for
oAO 4obDC1y VI SuI CltALOA6 Dy oOHiAFALS
them as purchasers of the benefits of
natural competition" Such combina-
tions have always been condemned
by the democratic party. The
declaration of its national con-
vention is sincerely made, and no mem
Der of our party will be found excusing
the existence or belittling the pernicious
results of these devices to wrong the peo-
pie. Under various names they have
been punished by the common law for
hundreds of years, and they have lost
none of their hateful features because
they have assumed the name of trusts
instead of consplracies. We believe these
trusts are the natural outspring of a
market artifcially restricted. An inor-
dinately high tariff, besides furnishing
| temptations for their existence, enlarges
| the limit within which they may operate
against the people, and thus increases
the extent of their power for wrong doing.
With an unalterable hatred of all such
schemes, We count the checking of their
baleful operations among the good re-
suits promised by revenue reform. While
we cannot avoid partisan misrepresenta-
tions our position upon the question of
revenue reform should be SO plainly
stated as to admit of no misunderstand-
| Ing. we nave upOu uO OIuodoC
of free trade. The reform we seek to in
augurate is predicated upon the utmost
care for established industries and en-
terprises, a jealous regard for the inter
ests of American labor and a sincere de-
sire to relieve the country from the in
Justice and danger of a condition which
threatens evil to all the people of the
land.
We are dealing with no imaginary 2an.
ger. Its existence, has been repeatedly
confessed by all political parties and
pledges of remedy have been made on all
sides. Yet, in the legislative body where
under the constitution all remedial meas
ures applicable to this subject must Or
iginate, when the democratic majority
were attempting with extreme modera-
ton to redeem these pledges common tc
both parties, they were met by the de-
termined opposition and obstruction OF
the minority refusing to cooperate IL
the house of representatives or to pro
pose another remedy; but they have re
mitted the redemption of their party
pledge to the doubtful power of the sen
ate.
The people will hardly be deceived by
their abandonment of the field of legis
lative action to meet in political conven
ton and flippantly declare in their party
platform that our conservative and care
full effort to relieve the situation is des
tructive to the American system of pro
lection, nor will the people be misled BY
the appeal to prejudice contained in the
absurd allegation that we serve the in
terests of Europe while they support the
interests of America.
They propose in their platform to thus
support the interests of our country by
removing the internal revenue tax from
tobacco and upon spirits used in the arts
and for mechanical purposes. They de
clare also that there should be such re-
vision of our tariff laws as shall tend tC
check the importation of such articles a&
are produced here. Thus in proposing tt
increase the duties upon such articles tC
nearly or quite prohibitory point, they
confess themselves willing to travel back
ward in the road of civilization and de-
prive the people of markets for theil
goods which can only be gained by sem
blance at least of an interchange OF
business, while they abandon our con.
sumers to the unrestrained repression of
democratic trusts and combinations
which are in the same platform perfume
torily condemned.
They propose further to release entirely
from import duties all articles of foreign
production Except luxuries), the like OF
which cannot be produced in this country
The plain people of the land and the
poor who scarcely use articles of any de
scription produced exclusively abroad ano
not already free, will find it difficult to
discover where their interests are regard
ed in this proposition. They need il
their homes cheaper domestic necessaries
and this seems to be entirely unprovideo
for in this proposed scheme to serve the
country.
Small compensa ton for this neglected
need is found in the further purpose here
announced and covered by the declara-
tion that if after the changes already
mentioned there still remain q larger
revenue than is requisite for the wants
of the government, the entire internal
taxation should be repealed rather than
surrender any part of our protective sys
tem." Our people ask relief from the
undue and unnecessary burden of taxa,
tion now resting on them. They are of
fered free tobacco and free whisky
They ask for bread and they are given 9
stone.
The implication in this party declara.
ration that desperate measures are justi.
fed or necessary to save from destruction
or surrender what is termed our protect
i've system should confuse no one. The
existence of such system is entirely
consistent with the regulation of the ex,
tent to whicn it should be applied and the
correction of its abuse. OF course in 9
country as great as this, with such won.
derful variety of interests, often leading
in entirely different directions, it is i'm
possible to settle upon perfect tariff
plan, but in accomplishing the reform We