Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-02-09

country Of this taxation. IL must be ex-
tensively continued as a source of the Gov
ernment's income, and in the readiustment
Of our tariff the interests of American
labor engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as well as the pre-
servation OF our manufactures II may be
called protection, or by any other name,
but relief from the hardships and dangers
of our present tariff laws should be E.
vised with special precaution against i'm
periling the existence of our manufacture
inc interests All will acknow-
ledge the force of an argument which in
wolves the welfare and liberal compensation
of our laboring people. Our labor is honora-
BILE in the eyes of every American citizen /;
and as it lies at the foundation of our de-
velopment and progress, it is entitled,
without affectation or hypocrisy, to the ut
most regard. The standard of our labor
ers' life should not be measured by that
of any other country less favored, and they
are entitled to their full share of all cur
advantages. But the reduction
of taxation demanded should be so meas
ured as not TO necessitate or Justify either
the loss of employment by the working
man, not the lessening of his wages; and
the profits still remaining to the manufac-
turers after necessary readjustment
should furnish no excuse for the sacrifice
Of the interest of his employees either in
their opportunity to work or in the dimin-
utiOn of their compensation.
So we see that
THE CRY OF THE DEMAGOGUE
the country over that the President and his
policy are aiming at the lessening of a
just reward of the labor of the country is
as indecent as it is false. The system of
taxation in force in this country for the
last twenty years has been standing me-
mace and source of constant injury 10 the
laborer himself. 1t has made four or five
States OF the Union more wealth than all
the rest command, and has proven an apt
/ illustration of the doctrines and theories Of
the Republican party, which have had for
their object the creation and fostering of
privileged classes and special advantages
against the masses and the many. Under
its divine inspiration for the promotion Of
the interests of the wOrkingman"
| 1t has squandered millions
of acres of the public domain on private
corporations and foreign syndicates, thus
establishing in free America a system of
/ laDdlOrdism unheard of until the Republi-
can party came into power. 1t has appeal
ed for the votes of the people upon liberal
application of their own treasury to pur-
poses of avarice and corruption. 1t has
said to the ship-owner, give us your sup
] I rfaaid ohf ont
of the peoples money. 1t has said TO the
manufacturer, give US your support and
we viii enrich your Golfers out of the pub
lie treasury by what we will call your pro-
lection. At the same time we will main
| tain labor at star Fation rates by the in
creased coat of its cOnsumptiOns. We will
maintain a system of free competition to la
Dor, both at home and from abroad, even
to the extent of 5000 imported China
men who are now driving Iyour indu-tr.l
strong arms from the Pacific coast 1t has
take the great corporations of this country
into the high places, as in the instance OF
the tempter of old; it has pointed out to
them vast empires of the peoples domain
and said unto them: give us your sup
port and all this shall be yours" and it
has kept the pledge. / shall not quote IN
detail the action of the honorable Senator
from Ohio in favor of these great subsidies
il lands, although you will find the record
an interesting one in contrast with his OBJ
servatiOn in the House in 1860, that to
Invite every man who desires to locate on
Western lands to 60 there and make for
himself home, is the only honest, the
only noble, the only manly system Of dis
posing of the public lands"
An so the political machine goes on.
Who will deny that the system which has
prevailed under Republican administra-
tiOns in this country, and for years past
HAS MADE MORE STRIKES,
driven more men from employment, filed
the country with more tramps, aggravated
more distress, created wider discomfort,
and produced more starvation and death
than any other system the country ever
saw. Is it not time for change? And
vet when the President of tina United
States, confronting bravely the solemn
requirements of his high Office and
daring to preserve patriotic regard
for his public responsibilities, ventures the
suggestion of a remedy which has over and
over again been presented and demanded
by one Administration after another, he is
/ assailed by one of the acknowledged leaders
ofthe Republican organization as frivolous
/ in his action OF bent on destruction. Sir,
it had as well be understood now as here
after that this movement for reform and
the relief OF public burden in which the
President has CALAMITY and manfully taken
the lead, means practical result. The
country is aroused to the justice Of IFS de-
mauds. The ranks will be closed. A
spirit of fairness and OF justice will prevail
in all things, and both the benefits and
the burdens OF our system of taxation will
he distributed fairly. That system, both
internal and external, will be treated as a
whole.
True. the President does not recommend
the reduction of internal revenue taxes;
- A -.,rl.