The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1888-09-19

pc DIG revenue Is contingent ana
doubtful, but not so effective upon
American production and American
wages. Less work and lower wages
must be accepted as the inevitable
result Of the increased offering of for-
eign goods in our markets. BY way
Of iecompense for this reduction in
his wages and loss OF the American
market, 1t is suggested that the die
minishe6 wages Of the workingmen
will have an undiminished purchas-
ing power, and that ne viii be able
to make up for tina loss of home mar.
ket 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 viii make
choice between the substantial ad.
vantages they have in hand and the
deceptive promises and forecast of
those theorizing reformers. They
will declare for themselves and for
the country whether the protective
system shall be continued or de-
stroyed. @ ar w- Mtg
The fact of the Treasury Surplus,
the amount Of which is variously sta
ted, has directed public attention to
the consideration of the methods by
which the national income may best
be reduced to the level of necess lry
expenses. This condition has been
seized upon by those who are hostile
to protective custom duties as an add
vantageous base of attack upon our
tariff laws. They have magnifed
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 reduction of the revenue
does not necessitate, and should not
suggest, an abandonment or impair
ment of the protective system. The
methods suggested by our convention
will not need to be exhausted in Or
der to effect the necessary reduction.
We are not likely to be called upon,
l think, to make the present choice
between u surrender Of our protec.
tive system and an entire repeal o.
the internal taxes Such q contin,
! gency, Ia view of the present relation
of expenditures TO feveDue, Is re
, mote.
Il The inspection and regulation o.
the manufacture and sale of oleomsr
, gariDe is important, and the revenu,
, derived from il is not 50 great tina
|. the repeal of the law need enter int
, any plan of the revenue reduction.
FL The surplus nov in the Treasur,
; should be used in the purchase o
bonds. The law authorizes this us
of it, and If it is not needed for cur
, rent or d, fciency appropriations, th
people and not the banks in whicI
it has Leen deposited should have tn
advan az Of its use by stopping III
. interest on the public debt. A
r least those who needlessly hoard
should not be allowed to use the fsa
of the momentary stringency thu
produced to coerce public sentiment
Another question closely cOnnecte,
. with the subject of the tariff Is thu
! ofthe importation Of foreign labor
ers under contracts Of service to b
performed here. The law now i
|. force prohibiting such contracts re
,. ceiyed my cordial support In th
: Senate, and such amendments as ma
be found necessary effectively to Dc
liver our workingmen aud wome
=, from this most negotiable form O
competition will have my SINGER
! advocacy. Legislation prohibition
the importation Of laborers, unde
contracts 10 serve here will, however
afford very inadequate relief TO on
/ working people il the system Q
: protective duties Is broken down
. II the products Of American shop
must compete in American market
Z without fayoring the duties with th
! products Of cheap foreign labor, th
effect will be different If at all, onl
in degree, whether the cheap lahore
Is across the street or over the sea
Such competition will soon reduc
wages here 10 q level Of tho,
i abroad and when that condition
/, reached we will not need any law
forbiddipg the Importation or labor
ers under contract. They will hay,
no Indictment TO come and the EN-
ployer no inducement 10 send 70
them.
I In the earlier years of our histor,
public agencies 10 promote immigra
ton, were common. The pionee
wanted other neighbors than The In
dian. Labor was scarce and full,
employed. But the day of the immi,
grafton bureau has gone By, whilt
our doors will continue open Il
proper immigration. We do moi
need 20 issue special invitations to
the. inhabitants VI other countries b
emma IL, nur ahara. nw A. H. =.