Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-09-15

workingmen. In all efforts to
remedy existing evils, we will
furnish no excuse for the loss of en-
ployment or reduction of the wages
Of honest toll. On the contrary, we
propose in any adjustment of the
revenue laws, to concede such en-
enlargement and advantage to the
employers of domestic labor as will
easily compensate for any difference
that may exist between the standard
of wages which should be paid to our
laboring man, and the rate allowed
in other countries. We propose, too,
by extending the markets for our
manufacturers to promote steady
employment of labor, while by
cheapening the cost of the necessaries
of life we increase the purchasing
power Oh the workingman's wages
and add to the comforts of his home.
Before passing from this phase of the
question | am constrained to express
the opinion that while the interest of
labor should be always sedulously
regarded in any modification of our
laws, an additional and more direct
and efficient protection to these
interests would be afforded by the
restriction and prohibition of immi-
grafton or the importation oflaborers
from other countries, who swarm
upon our shores, having no purpose
or interest for becoming our fellow
citizens, or acquiring any permanent
interest in our country, but who
crowd every field Unemployment with
unintelligent labor, at wages which
ought not to satisfy those who make
claim to American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late
convention ofthe party contains the
following declaration; Judged by
democratic principles, the interests of
the people are betrayed when, by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and
combinations are permitted and
fostered, which, while unduly
enriching the few that combine, rob
the body of our citizens by depriving
them, as purchasers, of the benefits of
competition. Such combinations
have always been condemned by the
democratic party" The declaration
of the national convention is sincerely
made, and no member of the party
will be found excusing the existence
or belittling the pernicious results of
these devices to wrong people under
various names. They have been
punished by common law for
hundreds of years and they have lost
none of their hateful features because
they have assumed the name oftrusts
instead of conspirators. We believe
that these trusts are the natural off
spring of market artificially
restricted that an Unfortunately high
tariff, besides furnishing a tempta-
ton for their existence, enlarges the
t limit within which they may operate
: against the people, and thus increases
t the extent of their power for wrong
> doing.
With unalterable hatred of all such
schemes, we count the checking Of
2 their baleful operations among the
&. good results promised by revenue re-
5 form. While we cannot avoid
2 partisan misrepresentation, our posi-
] ton upon the question of revenue
reform should be so plainly stated as
: to admit of no misunderstanding.
: We have entered upon no crusade Of
: free trade reform we seek to inaugu-
l rate relief predicated upon the utmost
= care for established industries and
: enterprises. A jealous regard for the
: interests of American labor, and a
s sincere desire to relieve the country
Y from the injustice and danger of a
Y condition which threatens evil to all
: the people of the land.
: We are dealing with no imaginary
+ danger. Its existence has beer
: repeatedly confessed by all politica
l parties, and pledges of remedy have
h been made on all sides. Yet in {
e legislative body, where, under thu
n constitution, all remedial measures
{ applicable to this subject must origi
e nate, the democratic majority Were
+ attempting with extreme moderation
4 to redeem a pledge common to both
q parties, they were met by determined
v opposition and obstruction, and thu
3 minority, refusing to cooperate il
t the house of representatives or pro
IS pose another remedy, have remitteC
N 7