The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-30
Class Legislation.
(Clinton Democrat.)

(Chnton Democrat)
Mr. Editor: While my heart was agloW
few evenings ago with the inspiring
sentiment which animated the author of
My county, it's of thee,
Sweet land of liberty
tine song which was called for every
day In the Teachers Institute, in Gin
ton, and sung with exultant voices-my
patriotic ardor was somewhat cooled by
letter received by a member of my
family from a gentleman who has spent
some time Visiting famous places in
Europe 1t was mailed in London, Au-
gust list.
mat may not be misunderstood, 1
quote few extracts from his references
TO Venice. Venice, he says, was full
OF Americans. There was a party from
Wilson, N. c., and l saw about fifteen
Texans, first and last. In Luzerne 1 met
a TREND from New York, and on the car
coming up from Milan 1 met man who
has two sisters in New York, friends of
ours. London is full of Americans"
Then comes the damper. 81 bought
lot OF the Venetian bead necklaces and a
small quantity of their point lace Such
things are very cheap there, but the
custom house In New York makes them
cost more. We have no trouble in Eu-
rope with custom house officers They
treat us civilly and do not search our
baggage. In New York and Boston we
are treated like suspected criminals. We
have to swear to what we have. and
they Will, not accept the oath as true.
In EuropeN they takes the tourists word
L got beautiful suit IN Venice
at about half what it would cost in
New York, and / am getting an over
coat made for less than ten dollars which
l could not duplicate in New York for
less than thirty dollars. Ready-made
clothing to the amount Of one hundred
dollars is free"
Now what does all this mean? 1t means
that ever since the close of the war be-
tween the States the Republican party
has compelled everybody who buys ready
made clothing made in the United States
to pay, IN addition to the foreign price,
fifty cents for every pound and forty
cents on every dollars worth, which to-
gether with the cost of transportation
usually amounts to as much as the for
elgn price, and on some goods to more.
This infamous robbery, of course, enables
the domestic manufacturer to charge
twice as much for his ready made cloth
ing as it Is worth; and we may be sure
that few manufacturers decline to take
advantage of their opportunities.
But the other statement in the letter.
system which robs the unprotected and
helpless people of the United States for
the enrichment of the manufacturers of
tends every mans sense of right and in
vltes the people to evasions, to Snug
Cling, to breaking; and soon the good
people of this country are all classed with
thieves by the officials of this Sweet
land of liberty" while in down-trodden
Europe their word is as good as their
oath.
This robbery and these insults have
been going on ever since the Republican
party came into power; and the promise
Is that If that party remains in control
of our Federal affairs, justice will never
be done to the toiling masses of our peo-
pie who need to purchase manufactured
goods.
The closing sentence of the latter ex-
tract reveals significant secret: it tells
which class of the people may expect fa-
vors from the Republican party. Those
who are financially able to spend their
summers in Europe may bring home,
without paying any tax, one hundred dol
lars worth of cheap goods manufacture
ed in Europe while other people, if they
purchase one hundred dollars worth OF
foreign or domestic goods, must pay
about two hundred dollars for them.
! / need not consume your space com
menting on this state of things. The facts
speak for themselves, and intelligent
readers whose families have for thirty
eight years been compelled by the Re-
publican party to pay about two prices.
for their dress goods and ready-made
clothing, may be trusted to arrive at
Just conclusion.
Very respectfully,
B. F. GRADY.
Clinton, N c., Aug 90, 1903.