Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-21

Such a contingency, in view Of the present
relation of expenditures to revenue, is re-
mote. The inspection and regulation of the
manufacture and sale of oleomargarlne is inn
portant and the revenue derived from it is
not so great that the repeal of the law need
enter into any plan of revenue reduction.
The surplus now in the treasury should be
used in the purchase of bonds. The law author
ICES this use of it, and if it is not needed for
current or deficiency appropriations, the peo-
pie and not the banks in which it has been
deposited, should have the advantage of its
use by stopping interest upon the public
debt. At least those who needlessly hoard it
should not be allowed to use the fear of a
monetary stringency thus produced to coerce
public sentiment upon other questions.
Foreign Contract Labor.
Closely connected with the subject Of the
tariff is that Of importation Of foreign labor
es under contracts of service to be performed
here. The law now in force prohibiting such
contracts received my cordial support in the
senate, and such amendments as may be
found necessary to effectively deliver our
w%orkingmen and women from this most in-
equitable form Of competition will hive my
sincere advocacy. Legislation prohibiting
the importation of laborers under contracts
to serve here, will, however, afford very in
adequate relief to our working people if the
system Of protective duties is broken down.
II the product of American shops must COM
pete in the American market without favor
ing duties, with the products of cheap foreign
labor, the effect will be different, if at all,
only in degree, whether the cheap laborer is
across the street or over the sea.
Such competition will soon reduce wages
here to the level of those abroad, and when
that condition is reached we will not need any
law forbidding the importation of laborers
under contract; they will have no induce
ment to send for them.
In the earlier years Of our history, public
agencies to promote immigration were COM
mon. The pioneer wanted a neighbor with
more friendly instincts than the indian. La
Dor was scarce and fully employed; but the
day Of the immigration bureau has gone by.
While our doors will continue open to proper
immigration, we do not need to issue special
invitations to the inhabitants of other coun-
tries to come to our shores or to share our
citizenship; indeed, the necessity of some in
spection and limitation is obvious.
We should resolutely refuse to permit for
eign governments to send their paupers and
criminals to our ports. We are also clearly
under a duty to defend our civilization by
excluding alien races whose ultimate assimi-
lation with our people is neither possible nor
desirable. The family has been the nucleus
of our best immigration and the home the
most potent assimilating force in our ~civiliza-
ton.
Chinese immigration.
The objections to Chinese immigration are
distinctive and conclusive and are now so
generally accepted as such that the question
has passed entirely beyond the stage of ar
gument. The laws relating to this subject
would, if l should be charged with their en-
forcement, be faithfully executed. Such
amendments or further legislation as map be
necessary and proper to prevent evasions of
the laws and to stop further Chinese immi-
grafton would also meet my approval. The
expression of the convention upon this sub
ject is in entire harmony with my views.
Our civil compact is a government by major
tiles; and the law loses its sanction and the
magistrate our respect, when this compact is
broken.
The evil results of election frauds dc not
expend themselves upon the voters who are
robbed of their 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, is not only unlawful and
unpatriotic, but very unsafe for those who
promote it. The Acknowledgement of a single
legal elector by fraud or intimidation is a
crime too grave to be regarded lightly. The
right of every qualified elector to cast one
free ballot and to have It honestly counted
must not be questioned. Every constitutional
power should be used to make this right
cac,,ra md munich fro,1o ,,po,, the ballot
Our colored people do not ask special legis
lation in their interest, but only to be made
secure in the common rights of American
citizenship. They will, however, naturally
mistrust the sincerity of those party leaders
who appeal to the race for support only in
those localities where suffrage is free and
election results doubtful and compass theiI
Acknowledgement, where their votes would
be controlling and their choice cannot bs
coerced.
Schools, Territorial Government and Trusts
The nation, not less than the states, Is de
pendent for prosperity and security upon the
intelligence and morality Of the people. Thi,
common interest very early suggested ma
tional aid in the establishment and endow
ment Of schools and colleges in the new
states. This is, l believe, a present exigency
that calls for still more liberal and direct ap
preparations in aid Of common school educa
ton in the states.
The territorial form Of government is
temporary ~expedient, not a permanent civi
condition. 1t is adapted to the exigency tina
suggested 1t, but becomes inadequate anc
even oppressive when applied to fixed anc
populous communities. Several territories
are well able to bear the burdens and dis
charge the duties of free commonwealth il
the American union To exclude them is Il
deny the just rights of their people and may
well excite their indignant protest. No ques
ton of the political preference of the peopl
of a territory should close against them tn
hospitable door which has opened to two
thirds of the existing states. But admission
should be resolutely refused to any territory
a majority of whose people cherish institu
tons that are r%epugnant to our civilization
or Inconsistent with a Republican form o
government
The declaration Of the convention agains
''all combinations of capital, organized il
trusts or otherwise, to control arbitrarily tn
condition Of trade among our citizens" is il