Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-14

wages and add 10 the comforts or his home:
And before passing from this phase OIL
| this question am constrained 10 express
the opinion that while the interests OF labor
| should be always sedulOuly regarded IN
any modification Of our tariff laws, an ad
ditional and more direct and efficient pro.
lection 10 these interests would be anorded
BY the restriction and prohibition OF the
immigration or importation OF laborers
from other countries who swarm upon our
| shores, having no purpose or intent OF De
| coming our fellow citizens, or acquiring
any permanent interest In our country, but
who crowd every field Of employment with
unintelligent labor al wages which ought
not Ia satisfy those who make claim 10
| American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the Late national
convention OF our party contains the f0l-
| lowing declaration:
Judging by democrat principles the in
terests OF the people are betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation trusts and combina-
tions are permitted and fostered which,
while unduly enriching the few that com
bine, rob the body OF our citizens by depriv-
ing them as purchasers Of the benefits or
natural competition.
| Such combinations have always been con
| demned by the democrat party. The dec
laratiOn Of Us National convention Is sin
| cerely made, and no member or our party
| will be found excusing the existence or be
| bttliIpg the pernicious results or these de-
names they have been punished by the com
| mon law for hundreds Of years; and they
| have lost none OF their hateful features pc
cause they have assumed the name OF trusts
| instead OF conspiracies. We believe ina
| these trusts are the natural offspring OF a
market artificailly restricted; that an in
! ordnately high tariff beside furnishing the
| temptation Tor their cX stence enlarges the
limit within which they may operate
against the people, and thus increases the
a
With an unalterable hatred for al such
! schemes we count the checking OF their
! balcful operations among the good results
promised by revenue reform
While we cannot avoid partisan misrep-
! rcscntation our position upon the question
Of revenue reform should be so plainly
stated as 20 admit Of no misunderstanding
| We have entered upon no crusade or free
trade. The reform we seek 10 inaugurate
| is prcdicsted upon the utmost care for es-
! tablishcd industries and enterprises
! jealous regard forthe interests of American
| labor and "A sincere desire TO relieve the
country from the injustice and danger OF
| condition which thrC atens evil 10 al the
! people Of the land.
We are dealing with no imaginary dan
! ger. It's existence has been repeatedly
confessed hy all political parties, aud
pledges of a remedy have been made on all
sides
Yet when in the legislative body. where
ures applicable TO the subject must origi-
nate, the democrat majority were at
tempting with extreme moderation 10 re-
! deem the pledge common 10 both parties,
they were met by determined opposition
! and obstruction; and the minority refusing
! 10 cooperate in the house of representa-
tives. or propose another remedy, have re-
mitted the redemption OF their party pledge
| 10 the doubtful power OF the senate. Inc
people will hardly be deceived by their
/ no, ,l,v Of ~. Ha1 Of 40
| tion 10 meet in political convention and
! fiippautly declare in their party platform
that our conservative and careful effort 10
| relieve the situation Is destructive TO the
American system of protection. Nor will
| the people be mislcd by the appeal 20 pre.u
die, contained in the absurd allegation that
/ we serve the interests OF Europe, while
| they will support the interests IF America.
/ They prOpc So in their platform 20 thus
support the interests of our country by re
moving the internal revenue tax from TO-
| bacco and from spirits used in the arts and
! for mechanical purposes. They declare,
| also that there should be such revision
! of our tariff laws as shall tend % check the
! importation of sucharticles as are produced
! here. Thus, in prOpOs NJ 10 increase tue
| duties upon such articles TO nearly or quite
! prohibitOry point they confess themselves
! willing 10 travel backward in the road of
| civilization and 20 deprive our PEOPLE of the
! markets tor their goods which can only be
/
OF an interchange OF business, while they
! abandon our consumers 10 the unrestrained
! oppression Of the domestic trusts and COM
! bluatious which are in the same platform
! perfunctOrily condemned.
/ They propose further 70 release entirely
| from import duties ali articles OF foreign
| production except luXuries) the like OF
which cannot bc produced in this country.
! The plain people OF the land and the poor,
! who scarcely use articles of any descrip-
| faFtf ~, ~ q a. I - al "a
already free, will find il difficult 10 dis
| cover where their interests are regarded in
| this proposition. They need in their homes
! cheaper domestic necessaries; and this
seems 10 be entirely unprovided for in this
proposed scheme 20 serve the country.
Small compensation for this neglected
need 10 found in the further purpose here
announced and covered by the declaration
| that if after the changes already mention
| ed there still remains larger revenue
than is requisite for the wants OF the
government the entire Internal taxation
should be repealed, rather than surrender
any part of our protective system"
Our people ask relief from the undue
and unnecessary burden of tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They are offered
! free tobacco and free whisky. They ask
for bread and they are given "a stone.
The implication contained in this party
declaration that desperate measures are
| justified or necessary TO save FROM destruc-
ton or surrender what is termed our pro-
| tective system should confuse no one. The
existence OF such a system is entirely con-
sistent with the regulation OF the extent 10
which il should be applied and the correc-
| ton Of its abuses.
| OF course in country a. great as ours,
with such a wonderful variety of interests,
often leading in entirely different direc-
tons, II is difficult, II not impossible, 10
settle upon perfect tariff plan. But in
accomplishing the reform we have entered
upon, the necessity OF which Is 50 obiivi-
Gus, | believe we should not be content
with a reduction Of revenue involving the
prohibition Of importations and the remov-
| al of the internal tax upon whisky. II can
| be better and more safely done within the
lines Of granting actual relief TO the people
in their means of living, and at
the some time giving an impetus To our
domestic enterprises and furthering our
national welfare
II misrepresentation Of our purposes and
motives are 10 gain credence and defeat
our present effort in this direction there
seems TO be no reason why every endeavor
in the future 10 accomplish revenue reform