The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-09-20

working people, II the system of protective
duties is broken down. II the products OF
American shops must compete In the Ameri-
can market, without fayoring duties, with the
products Of cheap foreign labor, the enect VIII
be different IL at all only in degree, whether
the cheap laoorer IL 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 laws forbidding the importation OF
laborers under contract-thIy will have no In
ducement TO come, and the employer noin-
ducemcSf TO send for them.
In tho earlier years OF our history, public
agencies 10 promote immigration were COM
mon. The pioneer wanted neighbor with
more friendly interests 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 ?, oper immt-
grafton, we do not need to issue special invita-
tions TO the Inhabitants OF other countries TO
come TO our shores or 20 share our citizenship.
Indeed, the necessity OF some inspection and
limitation is obvious. We should resolutely
refuse TO permit foreign governments 70 send
their paupers and criminals to our ports We
are also clearly under a duty TO defend our civ
ilizaton by excluding alien races whose ulti-
mate assimilation 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 civ
ilizaton.
The objections TO Chinese immigration are
distinctive and conclusive, and are now so gen.
orally accepted as such, that the question has
passed entirely beyond the stage Of argument
The laws relating to this subject would, II
should be charged with their enforcement be
faithfully executed. Such amendments or
further legislation as may be necessary and
proper TO prevent evasons OF the laws and 10
stop further Chinese immigration would also
nj No ~ he nm
vention upo this subject is in eutire harmony
with my views. Our civil compact is govern
ment by majorities; and the law loses its sane
tion and the magistrate our respect when this
compact is broken The evil results OF
election frauds do not expend themselves
upon the voters who are robbed OF their
rightful influence in public AFFAIRS. The in
dividual, or community, or party, that prac-
tices or connives at election frauds. hos suf-
fered irreparable injury aud will sooner or
later realize that TO exchange the American
system OF majority rule for minority control Is
not only unlawful and unpatriotic, outvcry I'M
safe for those who promote it. The disfranchise-
ment Of @ single legal elector by fraud or in
timidation is q crime too grave to be regarded
lightly. The right Of every qualified elector to
cast one free ballot, and to have II honestly
counted, must not be questioned Every con-
stitutional power should be used to make this
right secure and to punish frauds upon the
ballot. Our colored people do not ask special
legislation 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 their race for support only In
those localities where the suffrage is free and
election results doubtful and compass their
Acknowledgement where their votes would be
controlling and their choice can not be coerced.
The Nation not less than the States, is de-
pendent for prosperity and security upon the
intelligence and morality OF the people. This
common interest very Carly suggested Nation
al aid in the establishment and endowment OF
schools and colleges in the new States. There
is, believe, present exigency that calls for
still more liberal and direct appropriations in
aid OF common school education in the States.
The Territorial form Of government is tenn
porary expedient, not permanent civil condi-
ton. 1t is adapted to the exigency that sug-
gested 1t, but becomes inadequate, and even
oppressive, when applied TO fixed and Populous
communities. Several Territories are well
able TO bear the burdens and discharge the du-
ties OF free commonwealth in the American
Union. To exclude them Ii to deny the just
rights Of their people, and may well excite
their indignant protest No question Of the
political preference OF the people Of a Territory
should close against them the hospitable door
which has opened to two-thirds OF the existing
States. But admission should be resolutely re-
fused to any Territory, majority OF whose
people cherish institutions that are repugnant
to our civilization, or inconsistent with re-
publican form OF government.
The declaration Of the convention against
''nll combinations OF capital, organized in
trusts or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the
condition Of trade among our citizens" is in
harmony with the views entertained and pub
hcly expressed by me long before the assem-
bling OF the convention. Ordinarily, capital
shares the losses Of dleness with labor, but I'M
der the operation OF the trust, in some of its
forms, the wage-worker alone suffers loss
while idle capital receives its dividends from a
trust fund. Producers who refuse to join the
combination are destroyed. and competition as
an element OF prices is eliminated II can not
be doubted that the legislative authority should
and will find method Of dealing fairly and eff.
fectively with these and other abuses connect
ed with this subject 1t can hardly be neces
sary for me to say that am heartily In sympa.
thy with the declaration OF the convention upon
the subject OF pensions TO our soldiers and
sailors. What they gave and what they suf-
fered 1 had some opportunity TO OBJ
serve, and in q small measure, 10 experience.
They gave ungrudgingly; twas not trade,
but an Offering. The measure was heaped up
running over. What they achieve1 only o
distant generation can adequately tell With
out attempting to discuss particular proposi
tons, may add that measures in behalf Of the
surviving veterans OF the war and of the fami-
lies of their dead comrades should be con-
ceived and executed in spirit OF justice and OF
the most grateful liberality, and that in the
competition for civil appointments, honorable
military service should have appropriate recog
milton.
The law regulating appointments to the class
flied civil service received my support in the
Senate, in the belief that 1t opened the way to
a much needed reform. I still think So and,
therefore, cordially approve the clear and forci
BILE expression OF the convention upon this sub
ject. The law should have the aid OF q friend,
ly Interpretation, and be faithfully and vigor-
ously enforced All appointments under
it sho uld be absolutely free from partisan
considerations and influence. Some extensions
OF the CLASSIFIED list are practicable and desira-
BILE, and further legislation extending the re-
form TO other branches OF the service, to which
it is applicable, would receive my approval
In appointments to every grade and depart
nsent, fitness, and not party service, should be
the essential and discriminating test, aud fidel-
ity and efficiency the only sure tenure OF office
Only the interests OF the public service should
suggest removals from Office. / know the
practical difficulties attending the attempt 10
apply the spirit OF the CiYl-Servlce rules TO all
appointments and removals. It Will however,
be my sincere purpose, If elected to advance
the reform.
not omit to express its solicitude for the pro-
motion of virtue and temperance among our
people. The Republican party has always
been friendly to every thing that tended to
make the home life OF our people free pure
and prosperous and VIII in the future be true
to its history in this respect.
Our relations with foreign powers should be
characterized by friendliness and respect. The
right OF our people and of our ships to hospit.
able treatment should be insisted unon w tn