The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-08-10
Protection to Labor.

Since the Presidential nominations have
occurred much is happening every day to
give color to what ia likely to be the final
positions of the only two prominent candi-
dates. If President Cleveland had done
nothing else for this great country, he is GER
tainly entitled to the gratitude of all well
linking people for having made plain, sim
pie, straightforward issue upon the most vi
tai political question OF the day. The wis
dom of his course in this regard is abundant
ly proven by the daily accessions of strength
the Democratic party is receiving from pro-
mnent newspapers and individuals all over
the country. Scarcely day elapses but
some journal of influence or man of wide
spread reputation declares for the principles
our President enunciated in his message
and which were endeavored to be given prac-
tcal effect TO in the Mills bill in Congress. 1t
would seem that reduction of duties upon the
necessaries of life and consequent relief to the
vast majority of our people, laboring men
and others of moderate means, who are pur-
chasers and consumers OF such articles, to-
gether with an economical administration of
the government were plain principles-and
only to be denied or refuted upon equally
plain tenets of opposition if the Republican
party is sincere in its opposition to them.
But what do we see Old dodges-stale po-
litical chestnuts are every day being resortsd
to on the part Of the Republican orators and
newspapers, instead of frank and straight for
ward opposition on principle. In the face
of every fact, they accuse the Democratic
party platform as announcing what they are
pleased to entitle by the old term of free
trade" when there is simply an advocacy of
a reduction from the old war rates Of duty.
Again, and most ludicrously of all, step forth
all the bloated, arisoCratical monopolsts
and pompously square their arms upon their
hips aud gravely announce their determine
ton to protect American workmen" Re
puOlicans, every one of them to a man, Mill
owners and such like, who have filled their
Golfers by the hardwrung labor of i'll com
pensated laborers. They talk about protec-
ton to American labor. American labor is
driven every day into strikes and other des-
pcratc means of redress by just such Repub-
lican monopolists. Men who without the
slightest computations of conscience will
close down their mills and throw out of em-
ployment men, women and children indis-
criminately, for months at time whenever
1t suits their purpose and their pockets to do
so. And this has been their steady and un-
waverng practice ever since the war closed,
and during the whole of which period they
have steadily enjoyed their high protective
tariff which they still wish 10 preserve. The
same tariff, too, that while it fosters their
monopolies, renders high in price and costly
to purchase the food and clothing of the
American workmen, whom they discard at
pleasure from any employment. Another
term of President Cleveland upon the plat
form of principles ofwhich he is the chief
originator, and these things will be rectitied
of course the aid ofCongress is as impera-
lively required as the exertions of the Presi
dent; but with the cooperation of both,
great and solid reforms may be looked for in
brief period, No intelligent man need
now be at loss as to how to vote. If he ia
vors protection to monopoly, vote for Hurri-
son. lf"protection to American labor" and
to the laboring mans family and home, as
well as the real material legitimate interests
OF every and all classes of American citizens,
vote for Cleveland, Thurman and Stump.