Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-12


stopping the interest upon the public debt
Al least, those who needlessly hoard 1,
should not BE- allowed to use the fear of n
monetary stringency thus produced to coerce
IPueiic sentiment upon other questions. Closely
connected with the subject of the tarifi
is that II the importation of foreign lsborer,
under contracts of service to be performed
here. The Law now in force prohibitinp
such contracts received my cordial support
in the Senate and such amendments as NAV
be found necessary effectively to deliver our
workingmen and women from this most in
equitable form of competition will have nv
sincere advocacy. Legislation prohibiting
the importation of laborers under contracts to
serve here will, however, afford very inade-
quate relief To our workingmen if the system
OF protective duties is broken down. IL the
products of American shops must compete in
the American market without the fayoring
duties with the products of cheap foreign
labor, the effect would be different, il at all,
only in a degree whether the cheap labor is
across the street or across the Atlantic.
Such competition will soon reduce the
wages here to the level of those abroad, and
when that condition is reached we will need
no laws forbidding the importation of labor
ers under contract They will have no in
ducement To come and the employer no in
| ducement TO send for them In the earlier
years of our history public agencies TO pro-
mote immigration were common. The
pioneer wanted a neighbor with more friend
ly instincts than the Indian. Labor was
scarce and fully employed, but the day of
the immigration bureau has gone by. While
our doors will continue open TO proper inn
migration We don't need To issue special in
vitalions TO the inhabitants of other countries
TO come to our shores or TO share our CITIZEN
ship. Indeed the necessity of some inspec-
tion and Limitation Is obvious. We should
resolutely refuse to permit foreign govern
ments TO send their paupcrs and criminals
10 our ports. We are also clearly under .
duty TO defend our civilization by excluding
alien races whose ultimate assimilation with
our people is neither possible nor desired.
The family has been the nucleus of our
best immigration and the home the most po-
tent sssimilating force in our civilization.
Objections to Chinese immigration are dis
uncIive and conclusive and now SO generally
accepted AS such that the question has passed
entirely beyond the stage of argument.
Laws relating to this subject would, If
should be charged with their enforcement,
be faithfully executed. Such amendments
or further legislation rs may be necessary
and proper to prevent eyasious of laws and
stop further Chinese immigration would a.so
meet my approval. The expression of the
convention ON this subject is in harmony
with my views.
Our civil compact is government by ma
jorities, and law loses its sanction and the
magistrate our respect when this compact 10
broken. The evil results of election frauds
do not expend themselves ON voters who are
robbed of their rigbtiul 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 ex-
change the American system of major ty
rule Tor minority control is not only unlsw-
ful aud uupatrio,ic, but very unsafe for
those who promote 1t.
The disfranchisement of single legal
election by fraud or intimidation is crime too
grave to be regarded lightly. The right Of
every qualified eector TO cast one free ballot
aud 10 have it honestly counted must not be
questioned. Every constitutional power
should be used to make this right secure and
punish frauds upon ballots. Our colorcd
citizens 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
to their race for support only in those local
tiles where suffrage Is tree aud election re-
suits doubtful, aud compass their disfran-
chismen NJ where their votes would be con-
trolling and their choice cannot be coerced.
The nation not less than the States 10 de-
pendent for prosperity and security upon the
intelligence and morality of its people. This
common interest very early suggested Ba-
tioual aud in the establishment aud endow-
ment OF schools and colleges in the new
States. There is, | believe, n present ex-
gehcy that calls for still more liberal and
direct appropriations to the aid of common
school education IN the States.
Territorial form of government is a tenn
porary expedient, not permanent civil
condition. 1t is adapted to the exigency that
suggested it but becomes inadequate and
even oppressive when applied TO fixed and
populuus communities. Several territories
are well able to bear the burdens and dis
charge the duties of free commonw ealths In
the American Union. To exclude them
is 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 territory should close against
them the hosptable door which has opened
to two thirds of the existing States. But
A mission should be resolutely refused to
any territory, a majority of whose people
cherish institutions that are repugnant to our
civilization or inconsistent with the relubli-
can form of government. The declaration
of the convention against call combinations
of capital organized in trusts or Otherwise TO
control al btrarily the cen htlon of trade
among our citizens" is in harmony with the
views entertained ard publicly ex-
L..C. tt,r
assembling Of the convention. Ordinarily
capital shares the losses of idleness with la
bor but under the operation of trust in some
of its forms, the wage-workers alone suf-
fer, loss while idle capital receives its divi-
dends from trust fund. Producers who
refuse to join the combination are destroyed,
and competition as an element of prices Is
eliminated. 1t cannot be doubted that leg
islative authority should and will find
method of dealing fairly and effectively
with these and other abuses connected with
this subject. Ii can hardly be necessary for
me to say tha, | am heartily in sympathy
| with the declaration of the committee upon
the subject of pensions to our soldiers and
| sailors. What they gave and what they suf-
| fered, hal some opportunity to observe and
in small measure to experience. They
| gave ungrudgingly, it was not trade but
offering. The treasury was heaped up and
running over. What they achieved, only q
| distant generation adequately tell. Without
attempting to discuss particular propositions,
may add that measures in behalf Of surviv-
ing veterans Of war. and of the families Of
their deal comrades should be conceived
an1 executed in spirit of justice and Of
most grateful liberality, AMI that in compe-
tilion for civil appointment, honorable mill
tary service should have appropriate recogi'
| ton.
The Law regulating appointments to clas-
sized civil service received my support In
the Senate in the belief that it opened the
way to a much needed reform. still think
80 and cordially approve the clear and for
chile expression of the convention upon this
subject The shoull have the aid of friend
ly interpretation and be faithfully and Wig
orousIy enforced. All appointments under
it shoull be absolutely free from partisan
consi lerations an indusncey. Some exten-
sons Of the classified list are practical and
desirable and further legislation extending
thereform to other branches of the service
to which it is applicable, would receive my
approval. In appointments to every graded
department, fitness and not party service
IL n l.. A. Il laIst a.