The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-12-18
THAT PROCLAMATION
The Presidents NJ esEage to the
Fffty-SecOnd Congress Slightly
Reviewed.
BESJ4MINS LAST EFFORT IN THAT LINE
While IL Is Businesslike and Long Drawn
Ous Document, IL Paris to Touch
on the Subject Of Labor.

We have Perused the presidents
proclamation with care AS nm official
document it is business like and covers
H large range of subjects. In some Of
its parts 1t is argumentative and at
temps to bouistcr up the theories of
the administration. 1t deals with
Alaskan seal, the American hog. the
Russian e1iled Jew, the murdered
Italians, the assassinated sailors of the
Baltimore. the American subjects in
China, etc. Now it strikes us that
Charity begins at homet" and that
word is due to the American subjects
at home. We would suggest some
consideration for the American laborer
and wage Garner. How about the
Briceville miners strike, and the Ten
nessee war against prison contract
labor? How about recent investiga-
tiOns in ChicagoP ''rhe conditions of
the places visited were terrible. Over
crowding, long hours. and low pay
were the rule. Girls of 10 years of
age were found To be working ten and
twelve hours a day for eighty cents
per week. Women working fourteen
hours per day for 81 per week. Men
WORKING eighteen hours per day 81
per week" No mention of the starving
poor, and oppressed laborers at home.
Well it is supposed that these are
matters for the states themselves To
look to. The preamble to the constitu-
ton reads. 1--WE the people of the
United States, in order TO form n more
perfect union, to establish Justice. to
insure domestic tranquility, to provide
for the common defense, to promote
the general welfare, and to ensure the
blessings of peace to ourselves and our
posterity do ordain and establish this
constitution of the United States" It
strikes us here is q scope for the ex-
ereise Of executive thought and SYM
pathy for the oppressed and toiling
millions of America.
He recommends smokeless powder
for the army and big guns for the
navy. In other words; ''millions for
defense but not a thought for charity"
1t comes out, that the island of Navassa
in the West Indies is under government
control, but is owned by the Navassa
Phosphate company, being "A guanO
island. That contract labor was in
vogue there and that tcolOred laborers
were detained beyond the terms of
contract. practically as slaves. all
kept under prison discipline without
its cleanliness and comfort. The
laborers rebelled and killed few of
the bosses, and were taken 10 Balti-
more where three of them were tried.
and condemned to death. The presi-
dent did the magnanimous thing of
committing the death sentence TO inn
prisoment for life. or long term of
years. Was anything done to the
officers of the company or their miser-
able toolsp Oh no! Send the poor
aiggers to prison for life, and let the
kidnapping pirate company go scott
free. Consistency thou art jewel!
Does Harrison recommend any prose-
cution of the company Oh mol He
spreads himself on the Mckinley tariff
and goes into figures to show it benefi-
cial results.
The showing, to our minds, indicates
activity, but not necessarily prosperity.
Bradstreet reports the failures for the
last nine months at 1856; for the CO..
responding nine months of last year
1888 an increase of 1928; total liza
bilities for nine months this year, S13S,-
8IIs $40; last year for the same period
s92 ,541 $50, an increase Of s46, 2OS, 500.
This would indicate a condition of
prosperity with n vengeance. How
does this tally with tariff tafy7 Be
sides this the message shows that Eng
land has pulled Uncle Sans leg for
$40, 200, 900 in gold. Does this repre-
sent n balance of trade in our favor.
Surly John Bull could not come over
here and get our gold for nothing. 1t
is remarked in the document that the
gold is coming back to purchase our