The Delta independent., 1888-12-11

| pay for the benefit of others such enhanced
| prices for the things they need that the
scanty returns of their labor fail TO furn-
| ish them support or leave any margin for ac-
cumulation.
THE woRKINGMEN WILL COMPLAIN.
Our workingmen, enfranchised from all
| delusions and no longer frightened by the
| cry that their wages are endangered by
| Just revision of our tariff laws, will reason
ably demand through such revision stead
| ier employment and cheaper means of liv
| ing in their homes, freedom for themselves
| and their children from the doom of per
petual servitude, and an open door to their
advancement beyond the limits of a laborlng
class. Others of our citizens whose com
| forts and expenditures are measured by
moderate salaries and fixed incomes will
| insist upon the fairness and justice of
cheapening the cost of necessaries for
themselves and their families.
THE COMMUNISM OF wEATH.
When to the selfishness of the benticiar-
| les OF uniust discrimination under our laws
| there shall be added the discomfort of those
who suffer from such discrimination, we
| will realize the fact that the beneticcnt
| purpose of our Government, dependent
| upon the patriotism and contentment of our
| people, are endangered. Communism is a
hateful dread and menace topeace and or
J ganized government, but the commun-
, .sm Of combined wealth and capital,
] me outgrowth of over-wcening Gu
pidity and selfshness which in
siduosily undermines the justice
of integrity of free institutions is not less
| dangerous than the communism of op
pressed poverty and toll which, exasper-
| ated by injustice and discontent. attack
with wild disorder the citadel of rule. He
| mocks the people who propose that the
| Government shall protect the rich and that
| they in turn will care for the laboring poor
| Any intermediary between the people and
| their Government or the least delegation of
has to the humblest citizen in the land
| makes the boast of free institutions a gilt
| tering delusion and the pretended boon of
| American citizenship shameless imposi-
| ton.
rAHIYF REVISION DEMANDED.
A Just and sensible revision Of our tariff
| laws should be made for the relief of those
| OF our countrymen who suffer under the
present conditions. Such revision should
| receive the support of all who leve that Jus
| lcc and equality due to American citizen
ship, Of all who realize that in this justice
and equality our Government finds its
| strength and its power to protect the citi-
| zen and the property OF all who believe that
| the contented competence and comfort OF
| the many bears better with the spirit Of
| our institutions than colossal fortunes un-
fairly gathered In the hands OF few; of
| all who appreciate that the forbearance and
| fraternity among our people who recognize
| the value Of every American interest are
| the surest guarantee of our National pro
| grcss, and of all who desire TO see the pro
| duet of American skill and ingenuity In
| every market OF the world with resulting
| restoration of American Commerce
MEANS or REDUCING TIIE KEvENUE.
The necessity of the reduction of our rev
cnue is so apparent as TO be generally con
codcd. but the means by which this end
shall be accomplished and the sum of direct
benefit which shall result 20 our citizens
present a controversy Of the utmost import
| ance. There should be no scheme accepted
as satisfactory by which the burdens OF
the people are only apparently removed.
| Ertravagant appropriations of public money
| with all their dcmoralizing consequences,
| should not he tolerated either means
| of relieving the Treasury of its present sur
| plus or ms furnishing prcteNts for resisting
| proper reduction In tariff rates. The cx-
| isting evils and injustice should be honestly
| recognized, boldly mot and effectively rem
| cdicd. There should be no cessation of the
| struggle until plan is perfected, fair and
| conservative toward existing industries,
| hut which will reduce the cost TO consumers
OF the ncccssarics of life, while il provides
| for our manufacturers the advantage of
frccr raw materials, and permits no injury
| to the interests of American labor. The
| cause for which the battle is waeed is com
rrTsod within lines clearly and distinctly
defined. II should never be compromised.
| IL Is the peoples cause.
l
II cannot be denied that the selfish and
| private interests which are SO persistently
| heard when efforts are made to deal in u
| Just and comprehensive way with our tar
| in laws, are related to II they are not re
| sponsible for, the sentiment largely pre-
| vailing among the people that the General
| Government is the fountain of individual
| and private aid, that IL mag be expected to
| relieve with paternal care the distress OF
citizens and communities, and that from
| the fulness Of its treasury II should, upon
| the slightest possible prctext of promoting
the general good, apply public funds to the
| bcncfi. of localities and individuals. Nor
| can II be denied that there is n growing as
sumption that, as against the Government
and in favor OF private claims and inter
ests the usual rules and limitations of bus
mess principles and Just dealings should be
waived These ideas have been, ,uuhappily,
much encouraged by Legislative acquies-
ccncc.
Relief from contracts made with the
Government is too easily accorded in favor
of the citizen; the failure TO support claims
against the Government is often supplied
BY no better consideration than the wealth
OF the Government and the poverty of the
claimant.
DEFENDING PENSION vEToEs.
Gratuitics in the form OF pensions are
granted upon no other real ground than the
needy condition of the applicant or for rca
sons less valid, and large sums are cxpcnd.
cd for public buildings and other improve
mcnts upon representations scarcely
claimed To be related TO public needs and
necessities. The extent TO which the con
sidcration OF such matters subordinntcs
| and postpones action upon subjects of
| great public Importance, but involving no
| special private or partisan interest, should
receive attention and lead to reformation.
| FEW ILLUSTRATIONS.
A few OF the numerous Illustrations of
| this condition may be stated. The crowded
| condition of the calendar of the Supreme
| Court and the delay 10 suitors and denial
of justice resulting thcrcfrom has been
strongly urged upon the attention of Con
gress with n plan for the relief of the situ-
alton approved by those who We're able to
Judge of its merits. While this subject ro-
mains without effective consideration
many laws have passed providing the hold
ing OF terms of inferior courts ut places to
suit tho convenience of localities or to lay
tho foundation of an application for the
a. q ...l.t tx,.tl.