The herald., 1896-09-18
,ent. Applause and voice. "Pennsyl-

cent. applause and a voice, "Pennsyl-
vania knows it.") Yes, and Pennsylva-
mia, like all the rest of the country, will
vote this year with that knowledge.
(Cries of Right, right.") In 1892, the
monthly averages of wages paid in these
establishments was $S4.50; in 1896, only
$31. My countrymen, l am one of those
who believe American workshops should
be protected so far as possible from the
foreign workshop to the end that the
American workingman may be constant
ly employed. and so protected, too, as to
be employed at American wages. (Tre-
mendous cheering.) Nor do want pro-
ducts cheapened at the expense of Amer
lean manhood (Applause.) Nor do
think that it is economy to buy goods
cheaply abroad il thereby it enforces
idleness at home. (Renewed applause.)
Such goods are the dearest that the
American people can buy. James G.
Blaine, (applause). that gifted states
man. in 1884, spoke words of wisdom
which seem singularly applicable to our
present situation and to the present
hour He said: "a policy that would
abandon the field of home trade must
prove disastrous to the mechanics and
workingmen of the United States.
Wages are unjustly reduced when an
industrious man is not able by his earn
ings to live in comfort. educate his chill
dren and save Il sufficient amount for
the necessities of age. The reduction of
wages. inevitably consequent upon
throwing our home markets open to the
world, would deprive the workingman
of the United States of the power to do
so. 1t would prove a great calamity to
our country. 1t would produce a con-
fiict between the poor and the rich and
in the sorrowful degradation of labor
would plant the seeds of public danger
The Republican party has steadily en-
deavored to maintain just relations be-
tween. labor and capital guarding with
care the rights of each. A conflict be-
tween the two has always led in the
past and will always lead in the future
to the injury Of both. Applause.) Labor
is Indispensable to the creation and
profitable use of capital and capital in
creases the efficiency and value of labor.
Whoever arrays the one against the
other is an enemy of both. (Aplause.)
That policy is wisest and best which har-
monizes the two on the basis of absolute
justice. The Republican party has pro-
tected the free labor of America so that
its compensation is larger than is real
lied in any other country. (Great ap-
plause)
But, my countrymen, as if the bust
ness conditions were not bad enough
and hard enough to bear, we have
thrust upon US at this critical time in the
business affairs of the nation PROPOSE
ton to debase the currency of the coun-
try and undermine the public credit.
We know what partial free trade has
done for the labor of the United States.
1t has diminished it's employment and
earnings. We do not propose now to in
augurate currency system that will
cheat labor of it's pay. Laboring men of.
this country when they give a days
work to their employers want to be paid
! in dollars good everywhere in the world.
| (Great cheering) We want in this coun-
try good work, good wages and good
| money. (Aplause.) We want to continue
our good government with it's generous
privilege and matchless opportunities,
and we want it to be a government
where law is supreme over all (cheers)
and for the equal benefit of all. Gre
newed cheering.) My fellow citizens, it
is gratifying to me to be assured by
your spokesman and my old comrades.
1t will be inspiring to the whole country
that the voice of labor here today de-
clares that no party which degrades
the honor of thenation, no party which
stands opposed to law and order or seeks
to array the masses against the classes
shall receive its vote and support
(Cheers.) Golden words are those which
will strike chord of sympathy in every
American home where virtue dwells and
truth abides. (Aplause.) We have this
year resting upon us as citizens a grave