Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-03

ledge the force of an argument which In
wolves the welfare and liberal compensation
of our lsboring people. Our labor is honora.
BILE in the eyes OF every American citizen
and as it lies ut the foundation Of our de-
velopment and progress, it is entitled,
without affectation or hypocrisy, to the Mt.
most regard. The standard Of our labor
ers' life should not be measured by that
of any other country les favored, and they
are entitled to their full share Of all our
advantages. But the reduction
Of taxation demanded should be 80 meas
ured rs not 10 necessitate or justify either
the loss of employment by the working.
man, not the lessening of his wages; and
the profits still remaining to the manufsc-
turers after a necessary adjustment
should furnish no excuse for the sacrifice
of the interest of his employees either in
their opportunity to work or in the dimin-
ution of their compensation.
So we see that
THE CRY OF THE DEMAGOGUE
the country over that the President and his
policy are aiming at the lessening OF a
just reward Of the labor of the country is
as indecent as it is false. The system Of
taxation in force in this country for the
last twenty years has been q standing me-
mace and a source of constant injury to the
laborer himself. 1t has made four OF five
States of the Union more wealth than all
the rest command, and has proven an apt
illustration Of the doctrines aud theories OF
the Republican party, which have had for
their object the creation and fostering OF
privileged classes and special advantages
against the masses and the many. Under
its divine inspiration for the promotion OF
the Interests of the workIngmsn''
il has squandered millions
of acres of the public domain on private
corporations and foreign s~yndicatas, thus
establishing in free America a system Of
l~andlordism unbeard Of until the Republi-
can party came into power. IL has appeal
ed for the votes Of the people upon liberal
application of their wi treasury to pur-
poses of avarice and corruption. 1t has
said to the s%hip-owner, give Us your sup
port and we will subsidize your ships out
of the peoples money. 1t hiss said to the
manufacturer, give rs your support and
we will enrich your Golfers out Of the pub
lie treasury by what We will call your pro-
lection. At the same time We will main
tain labor at star Vation rates by the in
creased coat Of its consumptions. We will
maintain a system Of free competition to la
Dor, both at home and from abroad, even
to the extent of $50, 900 imported China
men who are now driving lyour industrial
strong arms from the Pacific coast. 1t has
take the great corporations of this country
into the high places, as in the Instance OF
the tempter OF old; it has pointed out TO
them vast empires OF the peoples domain
and said unto them: Give us your sup.
port aud all this shall be yours" and il
has kept the pledge. | shall not quote in
detail the action of the honorable Senator
from Ohio in favor of these great subsidies
IN lands, although you will find the record
interesting one in contrast with his oh.
servation in the House in 1850, that to
Invite every man who desires to locate on
Western lands 10 90 there and make for
himself n home, is the only honest, the
only noble, the only msuly system of dis.
posing of the public lands"
An so the political machine goes On.
Who will deny that the system which has
prevailed under Republican administra.
tions in this country, and for years past
Ia MADE MORE STRIKES,
driven more men from employment, filled
the country with more tramps, aggravated
more distress, created wider discomfort,
and produced more staI walton and death
than any other system the country ever
saw. IL it not time for a change? And
yet when the President of tina United
States, confronting brayely the solemn
requirements Of his high Office and
daring TO preserve a patriotic regard
for his public responsibilities, ventures the
suggestion of a remedy which has over and
over again been presented and demanded
by one Administration after another, he is
by one of the acknowledged leaders
of the Republican organization as frivolous
in bis action or bent on destruction. Sir,
it had az well he understood now ~ here
after that this movement for reform and
the relief OF public burden in which the
President has calamity and maniully taken
the lead, means practical result. The
country is aroused 10 the justice OF its de-
mands. The ranks will be closed. A
spirit of fairness and of Justice will prevail
10 all things, and both the benefits and
the burdens OF our system Of taxation will
he distributed fairly. That system, both
internal and external, will be treated as q
whole.
True, the President does not recommend
the reduction of internal revenue taxes;
true also that in discussing the wool ques-
ton, speaking Of raw wool, be uses this
language: Reasons are suggested why the
removal or reduction Of this duty shOuld
be Included in a revision OF our tariff
But it is equally true, as | have
quoted, that with reference to this
and every other suggestion made by him,
the President declares, THE considera-
tons which have been presented touching
our tariff laws are intended only to enforce
an earnest recommendation that the sur
plus revenues of the Government he
prevented by the reduction Of our customs
duties" etc.
The Senator from Ohio has been greatly
agitated over the wool question. II may
be that his vote in 1882 to reduce the duty
on wool, when as a leading member Of the
conference committee which practically
framed that revision lie led in the move
ment, has made him undnly sensitive on
this subject. | may be pardoned the sug-
gestion that having aided in reducing the
product of the wool-growers, he may now
feel impelled 10 pull the wool over their
eyes, should not use such an expression,
Mr.. President, lift were not for the state
ment made in open Senate and in the
hearing of the country by the honorable
Senator in 1881, and ! quote his words
that anything that will beat down that
party and build up II oTn is UNSUITABLE
in morals and in law"
But, Mr.. President, both the internal
and external tax systems will be treated as
q whole. The tax on tobacco will, | do
not doubt, he reduced or wholly repealed
of this ! shall be glad, and my vote on the
subject will be governed by what deem
to be the fairness Of the general revision.
Iron and coal and the wool and other pro
ducts of labor and Of care and Of enter
prise will not be sacrificed in this revision.
They will stand as other industries Of the
country stand, subject TO their fair shart
in the benefits of whatever the system may
be as revised, and bearing as they ought
M hear their fair share Of thu