Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10

the opportunity for work and employ
mont and reduce the salaries and wages
OF labor. Instead, then, of being ex-
empt from the influence and effect OF
the immense surplus lying idle in the
national Treasury our vage-earners and
Others who rely upon their labor for sup
port are most Of all directly concerned IN
the situation. Others
SEEING THE APPROACH OF THE DANGER
may provide against it, but it will find
those depending upon their daily toll
for bread unprepared, helpless, and de-
( fenceless. Such state OF affairs does
not present a case Of idleness resultin &
from disputes between the laboring man
and his employer. but it produces an
absolute and enforced stoppage of en-
ployment and wages.
In reviewing the bad effects Of this &C
cumulated surplus aud the scale Of tariff
rates by which it is produced We must
not overlook the tendency towards gross
and dscandalous public extravaganza which
a congested treasury induces, nor the
fact that we are maintaining without ex-
cuse, in the time of profound peace,
substantially the rate of tariff du-
ties imposed in the time of war,
when the necessities of the Gov
ernment justified the imposition OF
the weightiest burdens upon the peo-
pie. Divers plans have been suggested
for the return of this accumulated sur
plus to the people and the channels OF
trade. Some of these devices are at va
rance with all the rules OF good finance,
some are delusive, some are absurd, and
some betTay by their reckless extraya-
gance
THE DEMORALIziNG INFLUENCE OF A
GREAT SURPLUS
Of the public money upon the judgments
of individuals. While such efforts should
be made as are consistent with public
duty and sanctioned by sound judgment
to avoid danger by useful disposition
of the surplus now remaining IN the
! Treasury, IT is evident that If its dlstri-
/ button were accomplished another accu-
mutation would soon take its place. II
the constant flow Of redundant income
was not checked at its source 10y
reform in our present tariff laws. We
/ do not propose to deal with these condl-
tions by merely attempting to satisfy the
people Of the truth of abstruct theories,
nor by alone urging their assent to politi-
cal doctrines. We present to them the
propositions that they are uniustly treat
ed in the extent Of the present Federal
taxation; that as a result a condition OF
extreme danger exists, and that IT is for
them to demand the remedy and that
defence and safety promised in the
guarantee Of their free government
We believe that the same means which
are adopted to relieve the Treasury OF
its present surplus and prevent its re-
currence should cheaper to our people
the cost OF supplying their daily wants.
Both of these objects we seek in part to
| gain by reducing
! THE PRESENT TARIFF RATES UPON THH
NECEssARIEs OF LIFE.
We fully appreciate the importance to
the country of our domestic industrial
enterprises. In rectiiicatiOn OF the ex-
isting wrongs their maintenance and
prosperity should be carefully and in q
friendly spirit considered. Even such
reliance upon the present revenue ar
rangements rs have been invited or en-
couraged should he fairly and justly re-
garded. Abrupt and radical changes,
which might endanger such enter
prises and iniuriously affect the
interests Of the labor dependent
upon their success and continuance, are
not contemplated or intended but we
! know the cost OF our manufactured do
mestic products is increased and their
price to the consumer enhaEced by the
| duty imposed upon the raw material
| used in their manufacture. We know
! that this increased cost prevents the sale
/ Of our productions at foreign markets
/ in connection with those countries which
| have the advantage OF free raw material.
We know that confined to the home
market our manufacturing operations
are curtailed, their demand for labor
irregular, and the rate Of wages paid
| uncertain.
We propose, therefore, to stimulate
our domestic industrial enterprises 10y
freeing from duty the imported raw ma
terials which by the employment OF
labor are used in our home manufactures,
thus extending the markets for their sale
and permitting an increased and steady
production, with the allowance Of abun-
dant profits
TRUE TO TIE UNDERWRITING COURSE OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
we will not neglect the interests OF labor
and our workingmen. In all efforts to
remedy the existing evils We will furnish
no excuse for loss OF employment or re-
duction Of the wage Of honest toll. On
the contrary, we propose III any adjust
ment Of our revenue laws to cOncede
such encouragement and advantage
to the employers of domestic labor
as will easily compensate for any
difference that may exist between
the standard OF wages which should be
paid to our laboring men and the rate
allowed in other countries. We propose,
too. bv extending the markets for our
manufacturers TO promote the steady EN-
ployment Of labor while 10y cheapening
the cost OF the necessaries OF life we IN
crease the purchasing power OF the
wOrklngman wages ana adu 10 tne
comforts OF his home, and before passing
from this phase of the question l am
constrained to express the opinion that
while the interests Of labor should be al
ways sedulously regarded in any modiii-
cation Of our tariff laws, additional and
more direct and efficient protection to
these interests would he afforded by the
restriction and prohibition Of immigra-
tion or the importation Of laborers from
other countries, who swarm upon our
shores, having no purpose or intent of
becoming our fellow-citizens, or Of ac-
quiring any permanent interest in our
country, but who crowd every field Of
employment with
UNINTELLIGENT LABOR AT WAGES
which ought not TO satisfy those who