The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-10
DEMOCRATIC CLAIMS.

as the old.
DEMOCRATIC CLAIMS.
If there are two claims that the Democratic
others they are it's pretended friendship for
the workingman and for foreigners. These
claims have been an essential feature Of Dem
ocratic platforms and speeches until they
have become as familiar as s'old Sumptuary."
There is such thing as mans repeating
lie until he actually believes it true. and posi-
bly, this is the case with the Democracy and
these time honored claims. But asserting
lie does not make it true. no matter how often
it is repeated. The alleged friendship of the
Democratic party for the workingman and
the foreigner is sham and fraud. 1t has
no foundation in principle or in practice.
History shows that the Democratic party dur
ing a large part of its existence was the worst
enemy of labor and of wcrkingmen. As the
advocate and defender of slavery duringa long
term of years it contributed to the depression
of wages and the degradation of labor, not only
in the South, but in the North. Its whole
energies were directed to the support of
slavery and to resisting the spread of free
labor, and its whole policy tended to making
labor disgraceful. It succeeded in accomplish
ing this in the South, and, so far as its infiu-
ence extended, in the North. Slave labor al
ways casts stigma on free labor. That which
we call the dignity of labor cannot co-exist
with slavery. Neither can fair wages. Sla-
very degrades both labor and wages Its in
fuence in this regard is still felt very percep-
tibly in the South, and will continue to be as
long as that section remains solidly Demo-
cratic The long alliance between the Demo
cratic party and slavery gives the lie to its
professions Of friendship for the laboring man.
In another respective course of the Democ-
racy has been conspicuously opposed to the
interest of American workingmen. It has
always opposed the policy of protection to
American industry, which has resulted in
giving employment to millions of working
men, and has favored the policy of free trade,
which would take the bread out of their
mouths and give it to foreigners. In this
respect, it must be admitted, the Democratic
party has ever been the friend of foreigners.
The present industrial and manufacturing
system of the United States is mainly due to
Democracy have always opposed.
If Democratic policy had prevailed
we should have no manufactures, or next to
none, and hundreds of thousands of American
laborers who are earning good wages
would be--well, heaven only knows what
they would be doing. IF the working men of
America would be benefited by the abolition
of manufacturing then the Democratic party
has been their friend. If they are better off
by reason of the existence of our iron-mills
and foundries, our woolen-mills, cotton mills,
glass factories and the almost endless variety
of productive industries that constitute our
manufacturing wealth. then the Democratic
party has been their enemy, because it has
persistently opposed the policy that has pro-
duced these industries.
If the Democratic profession of friendship
for workingmen is false pretense, that of
friendship for foreigners is equally SO. It has
never done anything for foreigners at home
or abroad. Every important treaty for the
protection of the rights of foreign-born
American citizens abroad has been negotiated
under Republican administrations. Nearly
all the foreigners who come to this country
come as workingmen, and in opposing the
interests of free labor and the policy of pro-
lection to American industry, the Demo
cratic party has certainly not been their
friend. We take no stock in the demagogy
that would pander to foreign-bor citizens, or
any other class, and do not recognize any
merit in the Democratic claim of friendship
for foreigners even if it were true. But it is
not true.
recently given proof of the sincerity of the par
tvs professions in this regard, in the contest
ed election cases of Thobe- Carlisle and Low
ry-White. In one the contestant was work
ingman, and after prematurely deciding the
case against him the Democrats refused his
application to reopen it and give him chance
was foreigner, and large majority of the
Democrats voted to unseat him because, his
naturalization papers having been burned, he
could not produce record evidence of his citi-
zenship. The two cases are a fair illustration
of the sincerity of Democratic professions
relative to workingmen and foreigners.