Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-21

competition VIII nave my sincere adv Ocacy.
Legislation prohibiting the importation OF
laborers under contracts 10 serve here will,
however, AFFORD very Inadequate re-
lief TO our working people if the system OF
protective duties is broken down. IL 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, IL at all,
only in degree whether the cheap labor 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 will not need any
avs for5idding the importation OF labor
ers under contradictory will have no in
ducement 10 come, and the employer no
inducement 10 send for them.
In the earlier years OF our history public
agencies TO promote immigration were com
mon. The pioneer wanted a neighbor 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 to
proper immigration, we do not need To issue
special invitations 10 inhabitants Of other
countries 10 come 20 our shores or 10 share
our citizenship. Indeed, the necessity of
some inspection and Limitation is obvious.
We should rcsolutely refuse 10 permit
foreign governments Ia send their paupcrs
and criminals 10 our ports.
We are also clearly under a duty 10 de-
fend our civilization by excluding alien
races whose ultimate assimilation with our
people is neither possible nor desirable.
The family has been the nucleus Of our
best immigration and the home the most
potent asslmilating force in our civilization.
Phc objections TO Chinese immigration
are distinctive and conclusive, and are now
80 generally acceded "a such that the ques
ton has passed entirely beyond the stage
OF argument. The laws relating TO this
subject would, if should be charged with
their enforcement be faithfully executed.
Such amendments or future legislation as
may be necessary ana proper TO prevent
evasions OF the laws and 10 stop further
Chinese immigration, would also meet my
approval. The expression OF the conven-
ton upon this subject is in entire harmony
with my views.
Our civil compact Ia a government by
ma orities; AID the law loses its sanction
and the riagistratc its respect when this
compact is broken. The evil results Of
election frauds do not expend themselves
upon the voters who are robbed OF their
rightful influence in public affairs. The
individual, or community, or party, that
practices or connives at election frauds,
has suffered irreparable injury and will
sooner or later realize that 10 exchange the
American system Of majority rule for mi
nority control Is not only unlawful and I'M
patriotic, but very unsafe for those who
promote it, The Acknowledgement of a
single legal elector by fraud or intimidation
is "A crime too grave 10 be regarded lightly.
The right of every qualified ele,tor 10 cast
one free ballot and TO have il honestly
counted must not be questioned Every
constitutional power should be used TO make
this right secure and punish frauds upon
the ballot,
Our colored peor'o DO not ask special leg
islation in their es,s, but only 10 be
IN adp seCil re in IN. NJ rights Of Amer
lean citizenship. II, however, nat
urally mistrust the of those party
leaders who appeal l race for sup
port only in those local where the sui
frage is free and election resul:s doubtful
and compass their disfranchisement where
the votes would be controlling and their
choice cannot be coerced.
The nation. not less than the states, is de-
pendent for prosperity aud security upon
the intelligence and morality of the people.
This common interest very early suggested
national aid in the establishment and en-.
dowment of schools and colleges in the new
states. There is, ! believe, n present ex
igency that calls for still more liberal and
direct appropr atoms in aid of common
school education in the states.
The territorial form OF government is a
temporary expcdieut not a permanent
civil condition. II is adapted 10 the ext
gency that suggested il. but becomes mad
To fixed and populous communities Sew
eral territories are we'll able 10 bear the
burdens and discharge the duties Of free
commemorative in the American union. To
exclude them il 10 deny the Just rights Of
their people and may well exc te indignant
protests No question Of the political pref
erencc of the people of territory should
close against them the hospitable door
which has opened TO two-thirds Of the cX
listing states. But admission should be-
rcSoiutely refused 10 any territory a major
ity Of whose pcopo cherish institutions
that arc repugnant 10 our civilization or in
consistent with republican form of gov
eminent.
The declaration Of the convention against
"all combinations Of capital organized in
trusts or otherwise, 70 control arb trarily
the condition Of trade among our citizens
10 in harmony with the views entertained
and publicly expressed by me long before
the assembling Of the convention. Ordinar-
lily, capital shares the losses Of idleness
with labor but under the operations Of the
trust, in some OF its forms. the wage worke2
alone suffers loss, while idle capital re
ceives its dividends from atrust fund. Pro
ducers who refuse 10 join the combination
are destroyed, and competition as an ele-
ment Of prices Is eliminated. II cannot be
doubted that the legislative authority
should and will find a method of dealing
fairly and effectively with these and other
abuses connected with this subject.
II can hardly be necessary for me 10 say
that | am heartily in sympathy with the
declaration Of the convention upon the sub
icct of pensions 10 our soldiers and sailors.
What they gave and what they suffered
had some opportunity 10 observe and in
small measure 10 experience. They gave
ungrudgingly; il was not trade. but an
Offering. The measure was hedped up,
running over. What they achieved only
distant generation can adequately tell.
Without attempting 10 discuss particular
propositions | may adj that measures in
behalf Of the surviving veterans of the war
and Of the families Of their dead comrades
should be conceived and executed in
spirit OF justice and the most grateful liber-
atty, and that, in the competition for civil
appointment, honorable military service
should have appropriate recognition.
The law regulating appointments to the
classified civil service received my support
in the senate, in the belief that il opened
the way 20 a much needed reform. / still
think so, and therefore cordially approve
the clear and forcible expressions of the
convention upon the subject. The law
should have the ala Of friendly interpre-
tation and be faithfully and vigorously en-
forced. All appointments under il should
be absolutely free from partisan considera-
tiOns and influence. Some extensions OF
the classified list are practicable and de-
sirablc, and further legislation extending