Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-09-12

laborers under contracts oil SsrVice 10 De
performed here. The law 10 force r)hlbit-
ing such contracts received my cordial sup
mort in the Senate, and such amendments as
NAV be found necessary effectively to deliv-
er our working men and women from THIS
most ineouitable form of competition will
have my sincere advocacy. Legislation pro-
hibitug the importation OF laoorers under
contracts to serve here will, however, afford
very inadequate relief 10 our working PEG
ole if the sSstem of protective dutlesls orok-
en- down. If the products OF American shops
must compete in the American market,
without favoring duties, with the products
of cheap foreign labor, the effect Will be no
different, if at all only in degree, whether
tina cheap laborer ia across the street or over
the sea. Such competition WILL soon reduce
wages here to the level of those abroad, and
when that condition ia reached we will not
need any laws forbding the importation OF
Iaborers under contract-they Will have no
inducement to come, and the employer no
jnducement to send for them. In the earlier
wears of our history public agencies to pre-
mote immigration were common. Inc
pioneer wanted neighbor with more friend
iy instincts than the Indian labor was
scarce and fully employed. But the day OF
the immigration bureau has gone by. Wnlle
cur doors will continue open to proper I'M
| MIGRATION, we do not need to issue social In
yitations 10 the Inhabitants OF other countries
to come to Our shores or 10 share our cltl
zenship. Indeed, the necessity OF some IN.
speciion and Limitation is obvious. we
shall resolutely refuse 10 permit foreign pau
pers and criminals to our ports. We are
also clearly under duty to defend our civil
| ization by excluding alien races whose ulti-
mate assimilation with our people is neither
noss;i,ie cor desirable. The family has been
the nucleus of Cur beat immigration, and the
home the moat potent assimllating force IN
our civilization.
The objections to Chinese immigration are
distinctive aud conclusive, and are now so
generally accepted as such that the question
nap passed entirely beyond the stage OF ar.
eument. The laws relating to this subj ct
would, il should be charged with their en-
forcement, be faithfully executed. Such
amendments or further legislation as may
be necessary and proper to prevent evasions
of the laws and to stop further Chinese
Immigration would also meet my approval.
RE expression OF the convention upon
this subject is in entire harmony with my
views.
Oar civil compact ia q government by
msi0rities, and the law loses its sanction and
the magistrate our respect when this com
uact is broken. The evil results OF election
frauds do not eXpend themselves upon the
voters who are robbed OF their rightful in.
nuence in public affairs. The individual, or
community, or party that practices or con
hives at election frauds has suffered ire.
parable injury, ana will sooner or later re-
alze that TO exchange the american system
of majority rule for minority control is not
only unlawful and unpatriotic, bnt very IN
safe for those who promote it, The dis
reimbursement Of q single legal eleotor by
fraud or intimidation is q 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 secure
and punish frauds upon the ballot. Our
ooIored people do not ask special Legislation
in their interest, but only to be made secure
in the common rights of American citizen
ship. They will, however, naturally mis-
trust the aincerty of those party leaders
who appeal to their race Tor support only
in those localities where the suffrage is free
aud election results doubtful. and compass
their disfranchsement where their votes
would be controlling and their choice cam
| not be coerced.
The nation, not less than the States IS de
pendent for prosperity end security upon
the intelligence and morality Of the people.
| This common interest very early suggested
national aid in the establishment and en-.
dowment of schools and colleges in the new
States. There is, | believe, present ext.
gency that calls for still more liberal and
direct appropriations Ill aid of common
school education in the States.
The territorial form of government is a
temporary expedient, not permanent civ.
il condition. 1t is adapted to the exigency
that suggested it, hat becomes inadequate
and even oppressive when applied to fixed
and populous communities Several terri
tories are we'll able 10 bear the burdens and
discharge The duties of free Commonweslths
| in the American union. To exclude them
Is to deny the lust 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 hospitable door which has opened
TO two.thirds of the existing States. But
admission should be reSolu;ely refused to
any Territory maj ,rlty OF whose people
cherish institutions that are repugnant TO
our civilization or inconsistent with re-
publican form OF government.
The declaration If The convention against
sail combinations of capital, organized in
trusts or otherwise, TO control arbitrarily the
condition OF trade among our citiz ns," is 10
harmony with the views entertained and
publicly expressed by me long before the as.
sembling of the convention. Ordinarily
clpital shares the losses of idleness with
labor, but under the operation OF the trust,
| n - ba boz lor
suffers loss, while idle capital receives its
dividends from trust fund. Producers
who refuse to join the combination are des-
troyed, aBd competition as an element of
prices is eliminated. 1t cannot be doubted
that the legislative authority should and will
find method Of dealing fairly and effective.
~ with these and other abuses connected
with this subject
1t can hardly be necessary for ne to say
that lam heartily in sympathy with the
declar alton Of the convention upon the sub.