Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-10


of labor
Instead then of being exempt from the In.
fuence and effect of an immense surplus lying
idle in the national treasury. our wage-earne
and others who rely upon their labor for support
most of all directly concerned in the situation
Others seeing the approach of danger may pro.
vide against it, but it will find those depending
upon their daily toll for bread unp-epared. help
less and defenceleSs. Such state of affairs does
not present case Of ideness resulting from dis
putes between the laboring man and his employer
but il produces an alb dilute and enforced stoppage
of employ -aent and wages.
In reviewing the bad effects of this accumu
lated surplus, and The scale of tariff rates 10y
which it rs produced, must not overlook the
tendency toward gross and scandalous public
travagance which a congested treasury induces,
nor the fact that we are maintaining, without ex
cuse, in time of profound peace, substantially
the rate of duties imposed in time of war when
the necessities of the government justified the
imposition of the weightiest burdens upon the
people.
Divers plans have been suggested for the return
of this accumulated surplus 10 the people and the
channels of trade. Some of these devices are al |
varance with all rules of good finance, some are
delusive some are absurd and some betray by
their reckless extravaganza the demoraliling in
huence OF great surplus of public money upon |
the judgments of individuals While such efforts /
should he made as are consistent with public duty /
and sanctioned by sound Judgment to avoid
danger by the useful disposition OF the surplus |
now remaining the treasury it is evident that |
If its distribution accomplished another ac |
emulation would soon take its place if the con- |
slant flow of redundant income was not checked |
at its source by reform in our present tariff |
laws, We do not propose 70 deal with these con.
ditions by merely attempting to satisfy the PEG.
pie of the truth OF abstract theories by alone
urging their assent to political doctrine We pre-
sent 10 them the propositions that they are un-
| justly treated in the extent of present federal
taxation; that a result condition of extreme
danger exists, and it is for them to demand
| remedy and that defense and safety
| promised in the guarantees of their free
| government We believe that the same
means which are adopted TO relieve the
treasury Of its present surplus and prevent its re
currence should cheaper to our people the cost of
supplying their daily wants. Both of these OBJ
iects seek in part TO gain by reducing the pres
ent tariff rates upon the necessares of life
We fully appreciate the Importance to the coun
| try of our domestic Industrial enterprises. In the
rectifcation of existing wrongs their maintenance
and prosperity should he carefully and in a
friendly spirit considered Even such reliance
upon present revenue arrangements as have been
invited or encouraged should be fairly and Justly
| regarded Abrupt and radical changes which
might endanger such enterprises, and iuiuriously
affect the interests of labor dependent upon their
success and continuance, are not contemplated or
intended But we know the cost of our domestic
manufactured products is increased and their
price to the consumer enhanced by the duty i'm
posed upon the material used in their manu-
facture We know that this increased cost pre-
vents the sale of our productions at foreign mar
kets in competition with those countries which
have the advantage of free raw material We
know that. confined to a home market, manu-
featuring operations are curtailed, their demand
for labor irregular, and the rate of wages paid
uncertain, We propose, therefore, to stimulate
our domestic industrial enterprises by freeing
from duty the imported raw materials which by
the employers of labor are used in our home man.
ufactures, thus extending the market for their
sale and permitting an increased and steady pro
duction with the allowance of abundant profits
True to the undertaking course of the Demo
cratic party we will not neglect the interests of
labor and our workingmen. In all efforts to rem
edy existing evils We will furnish no excuse for
the loss of employment or the reduction of tn
wage of honest toll. On the contrary We propose
in our adjustment OF our revenue laws TO con
cede such encouragement and advantage to EN-
pioyers of domestic labor as will easily com
| pensate for any difference which NAV exist he.
tween the standard of wages which should be
paid to our laboring men AMI the rate allowed in
other countries, We propose too, by extending
the markets for our manufactures 10 promote
the steady employment of labor while by cheap
ening the cost of the necessaries of life. We in
crease the purchasing power of the workingma ;
wag s. and add TO the comforts of his home
And before passing ftom this phase of the
question, am constrained to express the opinion
that while the interests of labor should be alway.
; sedulously regarded in any modification Of oui
tariff laws, additional and more direct and eff
Gent protection TO these interests would h. af
forded by the restriction and prohibition of the
immigration or importation of laborers from
other countries, who swarm upon oar shore hav
ing no purpose or intent of becoming our fellow
citizens or acquiring any permanent interest ii
T our country, but who crowd every field Of EN-
g poyment with nnntelligent labor at wages which
ought not TO satisfy those who make claim Il
| American citizenship.
= lAThe platform adopted by the late national con
vention OF our party contains the following
declaration: Judged by Democratic principles
the interests Of the people are betrayed when
unnecessary taxation trusts and combinations ar,
: permitted and tostsred which, while unduy en-
riching the few that combine rob the body Of oul
Q citizens by depriving them as purchasers Of the
\ benefits of natural competition
II Such combinations have always been condemned
a by the Democratic party The declaration Of it
q national convention is sincerely made aud nc
/ member of our party will be found eNcusing tbs
IT existence belittling the pernicious results O
II these devices to wrong the people. Under vari
a Gus names they have been punished by the com
,, mon law for hundreds Of years. and they have
lost none Of their hateful features because they
= have assumed the name of trusts instead of con
!, spracies, We believe that these trusts are tbs
natural offspring OF market artifically restrict
II ed; that Unfortunately high tariff besides fur
!, nishng the temptation for their existence en-
larges the limit within which they NAV operate
.s against the people and thus increases the extern
n of their power for wrong-doing With an un
"a alterable hatred for all such schemes we. coun
\. the checking of their haleful operations anon,
i the good results promised by revenue reform.
G While we can not avoid partisan misrepresenta
20 ton, our position upon the question of reveun
"a reform should be plainly stated to admit o
/. no misunderstanding. We have entered upon n
n, crusade of free trade. The reform we seek to in
~ augurate is predicated upon the utmost care 70
Is established industries and enterprises, leaou
10 regard for the interests of American labor and
sincere desire to relieve the country from the il
"a justice and danger of condition which threaten
10 evil to all the people of the land We are dealin
i, with no imaginary danger Its existence has bee
repeatedly confessed by all political parties, an
At pledges of a remedy have been made all side,
!. Yet, when in the legislative body where, unde
II the constitution all remedial measures applieabl
h to this subject must originate, the Democrat
"a majority were attempting with extreme moder;
a ton to redeem the pledge common TO both pa
ties, they met by determined opposition an
ia obstruction and the minority refusing to eo-oI
,r crate In the house of representatives propos
,e another remedy, have RENTED the redemption
IL their party pledge to the doubtful power of III
n senate.
IL The people will ardly be deceived by the
T. abandonment of the field of legislative action
vs in political convention and f1ippantlv decai
" In their party platform that conservatiy
To- and careful effort to relieve the situation is d
q strlctive 10 the American system of protection
ne Nor will the people be misled by the appeal
H. prejudice contained in the absurd allegation tn,
To serve the interests of Europe while they wi
n. support the interests of America. They propo.
rs in their platform to thus support the interests
81 country by removing the internal revenI
n. tax from tobacco and from spirits used in the ar
Iy and for mechanical purposes. They declare al
of that there should be such revision of our tart
laws shall tend to check the Importation of SUE
in articles are produced here Thus. in propo
IN ing to increase the duties upon such articles
as nearly or quite prohibtory point, they confe
ct themselves willing to travel backward in the
Pile of civilization and TO deprive people of Il
err markets for their goods which can only be gain,
ct and kept by the semhlance, at least of an inte
oh change Of business, while they abandon our co
ng sumers to the unrestrained oppression of Il
300 domestic trusts and combinations which are
the same platform perfunctorily condemned.
IN. They propose further to release entirely fro
he import duties all articles of foreign products
zen Except luxuries) the like of which can not
Use produced in this country. The plain people
lily the land and the poor; who scarcely articI
m of any description produced exclusively abroi
,ns and not already free will find 1t difficult to d
as cover where their interests regarded in tl
md proposition. They need in their homes cheap
i