Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-09-13

/ TeiuSdl 10 lOdu OT duVduce on any
terms. Investors refuse all risks and
decline. all securities, and in general
fright the money still in the hands OF
the people is persistently boarded. II
is quite apparent that when this per.
fectly natural, ifnot inevitable, stage is
reached depression in all business and
enterprise will, as a necessary conse-
quence, lessen the opportunity for work
and employment and reduce salaries
and the wages of labor.
Instead, then, of being exempt from
the influence and effect of an immense
surplus lying idle in the national
treasury, our wage-earners and others
who rely upon their labor for support
are most of all directly concerned in
the situation. Others, seeing the ap-
prOach of danger nay provide agairsr
it, but it will find those depending upon
their daily toll for bread unprepared,
helpless and defenseless. Such a state
of affairs does not present. case of idle
ness resulting from disputes between
the laboring man and his employer, but
it produces an absolute and enforced
stoppage of employment and wages. In
reviewing the bad effects of this az
cumulated surplus and the scale of
tariff rates by which it is produced, we
must overlook tendency toward gross
and scandalous public extravaganza
which congested treasury induces nor
the fact that we are maintaining, with
out excuse, in time of profound peace,
substantially the rate of tariff duties
imposed in times of war, when the
necessities of the government justified
the imposition of the weightiest bur-
dens upon the people.
Divers plans have been suggested for
the return CT the accumulated surplus
to the people and the channels of trade.
Some OF these devices are at variance
with all rules of good finance; some
are delusive, some are absurd, and
some betray by their reckless extrava-
gance the demoralizing influence of a
great surplus Of public money upon the
judgments of individuals. While such
efforts should be made as are eonsis-
tent with public duty and sanctioned
by sound Judgment, to avoid danger by
the useful disposition Of the surplus
now remaining in the treasury, it is
evident that if its distribution were ac-
complished another accumulation
would soon take its place, if the con-
slant flow of redundant income was
not checked at its source by reform
in our present tariff laws.
We do not propose to deal with these
conditions by merely attempting to
satisfy the people of the truth of alb
stract theories, nor by alone urging
their assent to political doctrine. We
present to them the propositions that
they are unjustly treated in the extent
OF present federal taxation; that as
result condition of extreme danger
exists, and that it is for them to de-
mand a remedy, and that defense and
safety promised in the guarantees of
their free government.
We believe that the same means
which are adopted to relieve the treas
ury of its present surplus and prevent
its recurrence should cheaper to our
people the cost of supplying their daily
wants. Both of these objects we seek
Ia part to gain by reducing the present
tariff rate upon the necessaries of life.
We fully appreciate the importance
to the country of our domestic indus
trial enterprises. In the rectifcation
of existing wrongs, their maintenance
and prosperity should be carefully and
in friendly spirit considered. Even
such reliance upon present revenue ar
rangements as have been invited or
encouraged should be fairly and Justly
regarded. Abrupt and radical changes
which might endanger such enter
prises and injuriously effect the inter
ests of labor dependent upon their sue
cess and continuance are not contem-
plated or intended.
But we know the cost of our domes-
tic manufactured products is increased,
and their price to the consumer en-
hanced by the duty imposed upon the
raw material used in their manufac-
ture. We know that this increased
cost prevents the sale of our produc-
tions at foreign markets in competi-
tion with those countries which have
the advantage of free raw material -
We know that confined to a home
market our manufacturing operations
are curtailed. and their demand for
labor irregular and the rate of wages
paid uncertain. We propose, therefore,
to stimulate our domestic industrial
enterprises by freeing from duty the
imported raw materials which, by the
employment of labor, are used in our
home manufactures, thus extending
the markets for their sale and permit
ting an increased and steady production
with the allowance of abundant profits.
True to the undertaking course of the
Democratic party, we will not neglect
the interests of labor and our working
men. In efforts to remedy existing
evils, we will furnish no excuse for the
loss of employment or the reduction
of the wages of honest toll. -
On the contrary, we propose, in any
of our revenue laws, to con-
cede such encouragement and advan-
tage to the employers ofdomestic labor
as will easily compensate for any differ
ence that may exist between the
standard of wages which should be
paid to our laboring men and the rate
in other countries. We pro-
pose, too, by extending the markets for
our manufactures to promote the
steady employment of labor, while by
cheapening the cost of the necessaries
of life we increase the purchasing pow
er of the workingman's wages and add
to the comforts Of his home. And be-
fore passing from this phase of the
question [ am constrained to express
the opinion that, while the interests of
labor should be always sedulously re-
garded 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 prohibition Of the immigration or
importation Of laborers from other
COUNT rioa who aura rnn Ilnnn ni,r oh onnn