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

UNINTELLiGENT LABOR AT WAGES
which ought not to satisfy those who
make claim to American citizenship
The platform adopted by the late Ma
tional Convention Of our party con-
tains the following declaration:
Judged by Democratic principles.
the interests Of the people are be-.
trayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts and combinations are permit
ted and fosLered, which, while unduly
enriching the few that combine, rob
the body Of our citizens by depriving
them as purchasers Of the benefits Of
national competition !"
Such combinations have always
been condemned by the Democratic
party. The declaration of its Nation
al Convention is sincerely male aud
no member of our party will be
found excusins the existence or be-
littling the. pernicious results oil
these devices to wrong the people.
Uuder various names they have been
punished by the common law for
hCnd ed of years, and they have lost
none of their hateful FEATURES because
they have assumed the name of
trusts instead of canspiracies.
We believe these trusts are the nat
ural offipring GA market artifcially
restricted; that an inordiuately high
tariff. beside furnishing the tempta>
ton for their existence. enlarges the
limit within W lich they may operate
against the pc pie, and this increases
the extent of their powers for wrong
doing.
WITH USALTERABLE HATRED
vf all such schemes. we count the
checking OF their baleful operations
amcpg the good results promised BY
revenue reform. While we can iot
avoid partisan misrepresentation
our position upon the question OF
revenue reform should be SO plainly
stated as to admit of no misunder-
standing. We have entered upon no
crusade of free trade. The reform
we seek TO inaugurate is predicted
upon the utmost care for established
industries and enterprises; q jealous
regard for the interests Of American
labor and sincere desire to relieve
the country from injustice and the
danger Of q condition which threat
ems evil TO all the people Of the land.
We are dealing with no imaginary
danger. It's existence has been re-
pea.edly confessed by all political
parties, and pledges of q remedy haye
been made nall sides. -.
Yet, when in q Legislative body
where, under the Constitution all re-
medal measures applicable TO this
subject must originate. the DemI'
cratic majority were attempting with
extreme moderation 10 redeem the
pledge common TO bothparties they
were met by detained opposition and
obstruction, and the minority refused
TO cooperate in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes or proposing another rem'
edy have RENTED the redemption oi
their patty pledge the doubtful pow
Ter Of the Senate.
The people will hardly be deceived
by their abandonment Of the field o.
legislative action to meet in q politi
cal convention and fiippantly declar,
in their party platform that our con
servstive and careful effort to reliev,
the situation is destructive TO th,
American system Of protection. No
| will the people be misled by the ap
peal 10 prejudice contained in th,
absurd allegation that we serve th,
interests Of Europe while they vii
support the interests of America
They propose in their platform .,
thus support the interests ofour coun
try by removing the internal revenue
tax from tobacco and from spirit
used in the arts and for medical pur
poses. They declare also that ther
, should be such q revision Of our tarii
laws as shall tend 10 check the i'm
! portation Of such articles as are pro
duced here. Thus proposing TO in
crease the duties upon such article
10 nearly or quite the prohibitor.
| point, they confess themselves viii
ling 10 travel backward In the roa,
of civilization and 10 deprive our pee
pie Of markets for their goods, whic
I can only be gained and kept by th
semb..ance at least Of interchange O
business, while they abandon ou
consumers to the nnrestraine
J oppression Of domestic trusts an
} combinations which are in the sam
! platform perfunctorily condemned
J They propose further to release er
: ltireiy from import duties all articl;
{ Of foreign production except luxu
!. ries, The like Of which cannot be pr,
: duced 10 this country. The plai
J. people Of the land and the poor wil
: scarcely use articles Of any desc u
b ton produced exclusively abroad an
e not already free will md u ditiicu
a -