The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-09-19

allowed to cali their project Tariff Re
form" ifthe people understand that in
the end the argument eompels free trade
in all competing products. This end may
not be reached abruptly, and its approach
may be accompanied with some expres-
sions of sympathy for our protected in
dnstries and our working people, but it
will certainly come, if these early steps
do not arouse the people to effective re-
sistsnce-
REPUBLGcAN DOCTRINE.
The Republican party holds that a pro-
tective tariff is constitutional wholesome
and necessary. We do not offer a fixed
schedule, but principle. We will re-
wise 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 be-
lieve it to be one OF the worthy objects Of
tariff legislation to preserve the American
market for American producers. and to
maintain the American scale Of wages By
adequate discriminating duties upon for
eign competing products. The effect Of
lower rates aud larger importations upon
the public revenue IS contingent and
doubtful, but not 50 the effect upon Ameri-
can production and American wages.
Less work and lower wages must be ac-
cepted as the inevitable result Of the in
creased 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 ofthe workingman
will have an undiminished purchasing
power, and that he will be able to make
up for the loss of the home market by IN
enlarged foreign market Our working
men 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
viii make choice between the substantial
advantages they have in hand and the
deceptive promises and forecasts Of
those theorizing reformers. They viii
decide for themselves and for the coun-
try whether the protective system shall
be continued or destroyed
TIE TREASURY SURPLUS
The fact Of treasury surplus, the
amount Of which is variously stated, has
directed public atte.tion to a considera-
ton Of the methods by which the VA
tional income may be reduced to a level
Of wise and necessary expenditure.
This condition has been seized upon by
those who are hostile to protective custom
duties as an advantageous base Of attack
upon our tariff laws. They have magni-
fed and nursed the surplus. which they
affect to deprecate, seemingly for the
purpose of exaggerating the evil in order
to reconcile the people to the extreme
remedy they propose. A proper reduc-
ton Of the revenue does not necessitate,
and should not suggest, the abandonment
or Impairment of the protective system.
The methods suggested by our conven-
ton will not need 10 be exhausted in
order to effect the necessary reduction.
We are not likely to be called upon.
think, to make present choice between
Che surrender Of our protective system
and the entire repeal ofthe internal taxes
such a contingency, in view Of the pres
ent relation Of expenditures to revenues,
is remote. The inspection and regulation
of the manufacture and sale Of oleomar-
garine is important, and the revenue de-
rived from it is not so great that the re-
peal of the law need enter into any plan
Of revenue reduction. She 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 adj
vantage of its use by stopping interest
upon the public debt At least those who
needlessly hoard it should not be allow
ed to use the fear of monetary stTin-
gency, thus produced, 70 eoerce public
sentiment upon other questions
IMPORTATION or FoREiGS LABOR.
Closely connected with the subject Of
the tariff is that Of the importation Of
for, ign laborers under contracts of ser
vices to be performed here. The law
now in force. prohibiting such contracts
received my cordial support in the Senate
and such amendments as may be found
necessary effectively to deliver our work
ingmen and women from this most newt
able form Of competition viii have my
sincere advocacy. Legislation prohibit
ing the importation of laborer5 under
contracts to serve here will. however,
afford very inadequate relief to our work
ing people if the system Of protective
duties is broken down. Ifthe products
of American shops must compete in the
American market, without faT0ring 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 raached we viii not
need any laws forbidding the importa-
ton of laborers under contract-they viii
have no inducement to come, aud the
employer no inducement to send for
them.
In the earlier years of our history pub
lie agencis to promote immigration were
common. The pioneer wanted neigh
Dor with friendlier instincts than the In
dian Labor was scarce and fully en-
ployed. But the day Of the Immigration
bureau his gone By While our doors
will continue open to proper immigra-
ton we do not need TO issue special in
vitations to the inhabitants Of other
countries TO come to our shores or to share
our citizenship. Indeed, the necessity Of
some inspection and limitation IS obvious
We should resolutely refuse to permit
foreign Governments to send their pau
pers and criminals to our ports We are
also clearly under duty to defend our
civilization by excluding alien races whose
ultimate assimilation with our people
is neither possible nor desirable. The
family has been the naeleus OF our best