The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-19

pressions of sympathy for our protected indus
tries and our working people, but it will GER
talnly come If these early steps do not arouse
the people 10 effective resistance.
The republican party holds that a protective
tariff Is constitutional, wholesome and neces-
sary. We do not offer fixed schedule, but
principle. We will revise the schedule, modify
rates, but always with an intelligent provision
as to the effect upon domestic production and
the wages OF our working people We believe it
to be one of the worthy objects of tariff legisla-
ton to preserve the American market for Amer
lean producers and to maintain the American
scale of wages by adequate discriminating
duties upon foreign competing products The
effect OF lower rates and larger importations
upon the public revenue is contingent and
doubtful, but not so the effect upon American
production and American wages. Less work
and lower wages must he accepted as the inevi-
table result of the increased offering of foreign
goods in our market BY way of recomPense
for this reduction in his wages, and the loss OF
the American market, it Is suggested that the
diminished wages of the workingman will have
an undlminished purchasing power, and that
he will be able 10 make up for the loss of the
home market by an enlarged foreign market.
Our workingmen have the settlement of the
question in their own hands. They now obtain
higher wages and live more comfortably than
those of any other country. They will make
choice between the substantial advantages they
have in hand and the deceptive promises and
forecasts of these theorizing reformers. They
will decide for themselves and for the country
whether the protective system shall be contin-
ued or destroyed.
The fact of a treasury surplus the amount of
which is variously stated, has directed public
attention 70 a consideration of the methods by
which the national income may best be reduced
to the level OF o wise and necessary expendit-
ure. This condition has been seized upon by
those who are hostile to protective custom du-
ties as an advantageous base of attack upon
our tariff laws. They have magnifed and
nursed the surplus, which they affect 10 depre-
cate, seemingly for the purpose of exaggerating
the evil in order 10 reconcile the people to the
extreme remedy they propose. A proper re-
duction of the revenues does not necessitate,
and should not suggest, the abandonment or
impairment OF the protective system. The
methods suggested by our convention will not
need to be exhausted in order TO effect the
necessary reduction. We are not likely
TO be called upon, l think. to make
present choice between the surrender of the
protective system, and the entire repeal of the
internal taxes. Such contingency, in view of
the present relation of expenditures TO reve-
nues, Is remote. The inspection and regula-
ton of the manufacture and sale of oleomar-
garlne is important, and the revenue derived
from 1t is not so great that the repeal of the
law need enter into any plan OF revenue reduc-
| ton. The surplus now in the treasury should
be used in the purchase OF bonds The law
authorizes this use of it. and if it is not needed
for current or deficiency appropriations, the
people, and not the banks in which it has been
| deposited should have the advantage of its
use by stopping interest upon the public debt.
| At least those who needlessly hoard it should
not be allowed to use the fear of a momentary
stringency, thus produced, to coerce public
sentiment upon other questions.
Closely connected with the subject of the
| tariff is that of the importation of foreign
| labOrers under contracts of service to be per-
| formed here. The law now in force prohibit
| ing such contracts received my cordial support
in the senate and such amendments as may be
/ found necessary effectively to deliver our
| workingmen and women from this most in
/ equitable form OF competition will have my
sincere advocacy. Legislation prohibiting the
| importation of laborers under contracts to
/ serve here will, however, afford very inade-
| quate relief to our working people if the sys-
/ tenn of protective duties is broken down. III
| 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 different, If at all, only
| in degree, whether the cheap laborer is across
the street or over the sea- Such competition
will soon reduce wages here TO the level OF
those abroad, and when that condition is
reached we viii not need any laws forbidding
/ the importation of laborers under contract
they will have no inducement 10 come, and the
employer no inducemeut TO send for them.
In the earlier years Of our history public
| agencies to promote immigration were common.
| The pioneer wanted a neiehbor with more
| friendly instincts than the Indian. Labor was
scarce and fully employed. But the day of the
immigration bureau has gone by. While our
| doors will continue open 10 proper immigration,
we do not need to issue special invitations to
the inhabitants of other countries to come to