Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-09-19

been taught to venerate the principle that
The government was for the protection of
the people; that in this country man is cap
able of government; that the best and
happiest condition is where a man governs
himself; that the greatest trouble always
arises where the Government encroaches
upon the rights of its people. In every
for many years there had been some
great issue for the ballot.bo to determine.
and the issue now was different from any
other one within the last quarter of GEN.
fury. The great man from Maine had said
that the issue now was "labor-labor from
skin to core, and from core back to skin
again." and the speaker accepted this. It
was with his hearers. he said, to determine
which of the great parties they would fol-
low. He went back to the days of Patrick
Henry and unfolded very carefully the roll
ed.up history of the Republican party on
the matter of war.taxes and how it has al
ways st BOD with reference to the laboring
class. When the war closed the Republi-
cans, who then had entire control of the
Government, proceeded at once to relieve
the taxes of the wealthy, but let remain the
onerous burdens on domestic products.
With national debt of 80, 900, 600, 900 this
tax on income was repealed. That's the
kind of friend to labor the Republicans are.
The tax at that time on woollen goods was
from fifty to sixty cents, and the 8 per cent.
tax taken off of manufacturers relieved them
of about 1927. 000.0 900. Out of the popula-
ton of the United States at that time Co.,
600, 000) not half million were effected by
this tax. There were taxes on railroads, ex.
press companies, and other concerns which
were coming money, and these were taken
of, but the burdens on the property of the
poorer classes were allowed to remain.
Were the Republicans such friends to the
laboring man? AS soon as the war was
over they didn't want to pay the debt, but
were so anxious to commend themselves to
these wealthy concerns that they regarded
only their interest.
THE QUESTION.
The Democrats are now in power again
They have surplus in the Treasury of
about $3.50, 600, 600 wrung from the people
by unnecessary and dishonest taxation, and
the Republican party now stands indicted
for this maladministration. Another mat
ter to be considered is that when the Repub-
licans stopped production and consumption
by taking this money out of its legitimate
business channels transportation was also
stopped and people were left without en-
ployment. Now we have got to turn this
money back into the channels of business,
and we propose to do it by reducing taxa
ton on the necessaries of life. Take off
the tax on raw material entirely, and let it
come in free, in order that our own people
nay have the privilege of making up these
goods, that our manufactures may be built
up. The manufacturers can so manage
their business as within eight months to
make all the goods that will be consumed
in year, and the remaining four months
the operatives are locked out. The manu-
faeturers can 90 abroad and spend a pleas
ant season, but the laborers can go nowhere,
nor have they accumulated the money ne
cessary to live at home. This wrong has
got to be remedied, and we are going to
remedy it by making more markets. We
must produce the things that 60 into mar
keu in order to have the markets. Labor
and material are prime factors in the con-
troll Of this matter. Our labor is the cheap
est in the world in the manufacture of nine
out of ten articles. a laborer hero gets
more and does more.
Where he gets three times as much as q
foreign laborer he does six times as much
work. We are the smartest people in the
world; we excel all other nations in prOduc-
tive qualities as we excel them in civiliza-
tion and advancement. We are on high
er plane and enjoy privileges that they do
not. They have never paid for them as we
have. Cur Chief Magistrate was eight
years ago only sheriff of his comfy, and
four years before he was and unostentatious,
modest citizen. The conditions that sur
round us are greater. Our people are in.
veutiye and progressive, and where our
workman gets five times as much money as
foreigner he does twelve times as much
work. The speaker illustrated by showing
that 10 this country a man can, with machin
cry, make more door-kno for fifteen cents
ard make 5 3 per day at it, wilhelm Germany
an operative working at the same business,
and By hand, can make only forty cents per
day.
eHEAP Qoops
Great Britain sent over an expert to ex-
amiuo into the Misunderstanding industries OF
the United States, and he reported that the
people of Rhode Island can beat the people
of England on cheap goods. He declared
that the labor here is cheaper than in Eng
land. We must now reduce the cost of the
material, said Mr.. Mills, and see if We can
not have our workingmen paid better and
given more steady employment. This is
the aim OF the Democratic party. The
Democratic party has always been the poor
mans party. Its fundamental principle is
equal and Just rights to all. [Applause.
Is LABOR PROTECTED?
But you may say, is not a protective tar
if good for the poor maj? Well, let US
see. Is your labor protectedP Is there a
protective tariff on labor 10 this country?
Nc; it ia tho manufacturer that is protected
and not the laborer. If you can tell me
how you can get the money that has been
paid as duty on pig-iron out Of the manu-
facsurer's pocket and put it into the pocket
of the poor man, will stop my speech right
here and speak for Harrison, Morton, and
free whiskey. [Great applause.l
WOOL.
The tariff protects capital. And work
ingmen, don't you expect men TO give you
anything because they are rich. They will
give you just what is the market price for
labor and no more. You must make such
laws as will aid to create demand for the
products of your labor, and then you will
be we'll paid.
Mr.. Mills then discussed the tariff On
wool and showed the people how tho money
received as duty on wool is lost in the price
paid for woollen goods.
TIE PIG TAIL.
Mr. Mills then told the audience that it
was getting late, and be would not detain
them longer. He said that if the people
wanted poverty and wished to 80 back to
the old log-cabins of 1910, and have a
Chinese plg.tal stuck ia their hats, then
they could vote for Harrison, Morton, and
free whiskey; but if they wanted more
money for labor, cheaper goods, aud better
times, then vote for Cleveland, Thurman,
and Tariff reform
A false statement emphatieally denied By
Cleveland.
PHILADELPHIA, September 15.-The fol-