The times., 1892-10-07

of which they are citizens and OF the
homes they have founded for their
wives and children.
No intelligent advocate OF pro,
tective tariff claims that it is apie, Oh
itself, to maintain a uniform rate OF
wages, without regard ITO fluctuations
in the supply of and demand for the
products of labor. But it's confident
ly claimed that protective dosies strong
ly tend to hold up wages aAa are the
only barrier against a reductio> to the
European scale.
"Markets of the World" FallarA
One of the favorite arguments aganzt
a protective tariff is that it shuts us out
from participation in what is called
with swelling emphasis "the markets
Of the world" If this view is not
false one, how does it happen that our
commercial competitors are not able to
bear with more serenity our supposed
surrender to them of tho markets of
the world?" And how does it happen
that the partial loss of our market closes
foreign tin plate mills and plush fac
tories that they still have all other
markets? Our natural advantages,
our protective tariff and the reciprocity
policy make it possible for us to have a
large participation in the markets of
the world" without opening cur own
to competition that would destroy the
comfort and independence of our peo-
pie.
The Silver Problem.
The resolution of the convention in
favor of bimetallism declares, think,
the true and necessary conditions of a
movement that has, upon these lines,
my cordial adherence and support.
am thoroughly convinced that the free
coinage OF silver, at such a ratio to
gold as will maintain the equality in
the commercial uses of the two coined
dollars, would conduce to the pros
perity of all the great producing and
commercial nations of the world. The
one essential condition is that these
dollars shall have and retain an equal
acceptability and value in all CONNER
cial transactions. They are not only a
medium of exchange, but a measure of
values; and when two unequal meas
ures are called in law by the same
name commerce Is unsettled and con-
fused and the unwary and ignorant
are cheated. Dollars of unequal COM
mercial value will not circulate to-
gether. The better dollar is with.
drawn and becomes merchandise.
The true interest. of all our people,
and especially of the farmers and
working people, who cannot closely OBJ
servo the money market, is that every
dollar, paper or coin, issued or author
lied by the government shall at all
times and in all it's uses be the exact
equivalent, not only in debt paying,
but in purchasing power, of any other
dollar. l am quite sure that if we should
now act upon this subject independent
of other nations, we would greatly pro-
mote their interests and injure our
own. The monetary conditions in Eu-
rope within the last two years have,
think, tended very much to develop a
sentiment in favor of larger use of
silver, and was much pleased and en-
couraged by the cordiality, promptness
and unanimity with which the invita-
tion of this government for an interna-
tional conference upon this subject was
accepted by all the powers. We may
not only hope for, but expect highly
beneficial results from this conference,
which will now soon assemble. When
the result of the conference is known,
we shall then be able intelligently to
readjust our financial legislation to
any new conditions.
Honest Elections.
In my last annual message to con-
gress l said:
81 must yet entertain the hope that
it is possible to secure q calm, patriotic
consideration of such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary
to secure the choice of the officers of
the govern nent, to the people, by fair
apportionments and free elections. |
believe it would be possible to consti-
tute a commission, non-partisan in it's
membership, and composed of patriot
ic, wise and impartial men, to whom a
consideration of the questions of the
evils connected with our election sys-
tenn and methods might be com mitted
with a good prospect of securing una
nimity in some plan for removing or
mitigating those evils The constitu =
ton would permit the selection of the
commission to be vested in the supreme
court, il that method would give the
best guaranty of impartiality. This
commission should be charged with the
duty OF inquiring into the whole sub
ject of the law of elections, as related
to the choice of officers of the national
government, with view to securing to
every elector free and unmolested
exercise of the suffrage, and as near an
approach to an equality of value in
each ballot cast as is attainable.
The demand that the limitations OF
suffrage shall be found in the law. and
only there, is just one, and no just
man should resent or resist it."
The Frauds In Alabama.
It seemed to me that an appeal to
our people to consider the question OF
readjusting our legislation upon abso-
lutely fair, nonpartisan lines might
find some effective response. Many
times l have had occasion to say that
laws and election methods designed to
give unfair advantages to the party
making them would some time be used
to perpetuate in power faction of a
party against the will of the majority
of the people.
ga Free Ballot and Fair Count"
Our old republican battle cry: "a
Free Ballot and Fair Count" comes
back to us, not only from Alabama,
but from other states, and from men
who, differing with us widely in opin-
ions, have come to see that parties and
political debate are but mockery, if,
when the debate is ended, the judg.
ment of honest majorities is to be re-
versed by ballot box frauds and tally
sheet manipulations in the interest OF
the party or party faction in power.
These new political movements in the
states and the recent decisions of some
Of the state courts against unfair APP
portionment laws encourage the hope
that the arbitrary and partisan election
laws and practices which have pre-
vailed may be corrected by the states,
The laws made equal and non partisan,
and the elections free and honest. The
rcnublican party would rejoice at such