Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-09-20

dcncc and respect manifested by the convcn-
tion and accept the nomination with n feeling
OF gratitude and full sense OF the responsible
lies which accompany II.
II Is matter Of cougratuation that the
declarations OF the Chicago convention upon
the questions that now attract the attention OF
our people arc so clear aud emphatic. There
Is further cause Of congratulaton IN the fact
that the convention uttcrances OF the Demo
cratic party, u In any do rec uncertain or con-
Trajectory. can now be judged and interpreted
by executive acts and messages and by definite
prop ositious IN legislation. This IL especially
true OF what is popularly known as the tarn
question. The issue can not now be obscurcd
II Is not a contest between schedules, but be-
tween wide apart principles. The foreign COM
petitors for our market have with quick instinct
seen how one issue Of this contest may bring
them advantage and our own people are not so
dun as 10 miss or neglect the great interests
that are involved for them.
The assault upon our protective system Is
open aud defiant Protection Is assailcd rs un-
constitutional in law or as vicious in principle
and those who hold such views sincerely can
moi stop short OF an absolute elimination from
our tnrin laws Of the principle OF protection
The Mills bill is only step. but Il is towards an
object that the leaders OF Democratic thought
nna legislation have clearly IN mind. Tho i'm
portant question is not 70 much the length OF
the step as the direction OF H. Judged by the
executive message OF December last by the
Mills bill, by the debates in Congress and by
the ST. Louis platform, the Democratic party
will, II Supported by the country. place the
tnttn laws upon npurely revenue basis. This Is
practical free trade-free trade in tho English
sense. The legend upon the banner may not
be free trade Il may be the most obscure
motto. tariff reform" but reither the banner
nor the inscription is conclusive or, indeed,
very Important Tho assault itself Is the i'm.
portant fact.
Those who teach that tho irpnort s,,v u,or
foreign goods sold In our market Is paid by the
consumer and that the price OF the domestic
competing article is enhanced to the amount OF
the duty on the imported rticle-that every
million OF dollars collected for customs duties
represents many mil ions more which do not
reach the treasury. but ere paid by our citizens
MS the increased cost OF domestic productions
resulting rom the tariff laws-may not intend
70 discredit In the minds OF others our system
OF levy ng duties on competing foreign pro
ducts, out II is clearly already dsereditcd IN
their own. We can not doubt without impuRn-
ing their integrity, that, II free TO act upon
their convictions. they would so revise our laws
rs 20 lay the burden OF the customs revenue
upon articles that are not produced In this
country and 10 place upon the free list all
competing foreign products
do not stop 10 refute this theori as to the
effect OF our iarin duties. Those who advance
Il are students OF maxims and not OF the mar.
kets. They may he safely allowed TO call their
project tarin reform, n the people undcrstand
that in the end the argument compels free
trade In all competing products. This end may
not be reached abruptly and its approach may
be accompanied with some expressions Of sym.
pathy for our protected industries and our
working people, but II will certainly come II
these early steps do not arouse the people 10
effective resistance.
The Repubhena party holds that protective
tarin Is constitutional wholesome and neoes-
sary. We do not offer hxed schedule, but a
principle. We win revise the schedule, modify
rates, but always with an intelligent provision
as 10 the effect upon domestic production and
the wages OF our working people. We believe
ft TO be one - the worthy objects OF tarii legs-
lation 20 preserve the American market for
American producers and 10 maintain the Amer
lean scale o. wages by adequate discriminating
duties uyon foreign competing products. Tho
ereet OF lower rates and larger importa-
tons upon the public revenue Is
contingent and doubtful but not so the
tnect upon American production and
American wages Less work and lower
wages must be accepted rs the newt
able result Of the increased Offering OF foreign
goods In our market by way OF recompense
for this reduction In his wages and tho loss OF
the American marbet u is suggested that the
diminished wages OF the workingman NFil have
an undlminished purchasing power and that he
Will be able 10 mako up for the loss OF the
hohe inAfhet by an enlufEcu foreign market.
Our worllingmen have the settlement OF the
question In their own hands They now OBJ
tain higher wages aud live more comfortably
than those OF any other country. They will
make choice between the substantial adynn.
tages they have in hand and the deceptive
promises and forecasts OF those thcoriz.
ing rcformers. They will decide for them.
selves and for the country whether the pro.
tectiye system shall be continued or destroyed
The fact OF treasury surplus the amount of
which Is yariously stated, has dir cted
public attention 70 consideration Of the
methods by which the National income may best
be reduced 10 the level OF o wise and necessary
expenditure. This condition has been seized
upon by those who are hostile 20 protective
custom duties as an advantageous base OF
attack upon our tari1 laws. They have mngui-
fled and nursed the surplus which they az
feet 10 dcprccaie, eemingly for the purpose
OF exnggerating the evil IN order 10 recon
Gle the people 10 the extreme remedy
they propose. A proper reduction Of the rev
enues does not neccssitate and should not sug
geet The abandonment or impairment OF toe
protective system. Tho methods suggested by
our convention viii not nee 10 be exhausted Ia
order 70 effect the necessary reduction. We
are not likely 10 be called upon, / think. 10
make a present choice between the surrender
OF the protective system and the entir repeal
OF the internal taxes. Such a contingency Ia
view Of the present relation Of Expenditures 10
revenues u remote The inspection and rem.
lntioa OF The mcrufaeture and sdie OF oleomar-
garino Is important and the revenue derived
from II Is not so great that The repeal Of the
! wneed enter into any plan OF revenue reduo.
tion.
The surplus now IN the treasury should be
used in The purchase OF bonds The law author.
izes this use Of II and u is not needed for cur.
rent or deficiency appropriations, the people
and not the banks in which IL has been depos.
ited-should have the advantage OF its use by
stopping interest upon the public debt Al
least those who neediessly hoard II should rot
be allowed 10 use the fear OF money strIn.,. |
ency thus produced 10 coerce public sentiment
upon other questions.
Closely connected with the subject Of the
tnrln IA that OF the importation OF foreign labor
ers under contracts Of service 10 be Performed |
here The law now "a force prohibiting such
contracts received my cordial support IN The
SENATE ana such amendments as may be found ]
necessary eheeiivcy 10 deliver our working |
men and women from this most incqnitabie |
form of competition win have my sincere I'D. |
fooncy. Legislation prohibiting the importa |
tion Of inborers under contracts 20 serve hero !
VIII, however, afford very Inadequate ielief
10 our working people n tho systom Of /
protective duties "a broken down n the prod. /
ucts 90 American shops must compete In tne \
American mersct without fayorng duties win
The products Of cheap foreign labor The eject
aul be dincrcnt ~ az nli only IA degree. whether
90 cheap lnhorer Il across ne street or over
ihr sea, huch competition viii foou reduce
wages here 70 thc loYel % those abroad. ana
when ihAf concipun h reached Nc will uoi need
any lnNs iofhdllag me imloriail ~ ~ inh0rens
Hnapf epnlfgel -lhey aM have w lgdaevmeal