Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1888 — A Demagogue unmasked. [ARTICLE]

A Demagogue unmasked.

In his last pronunciamento to the American people, from abroad, James G. Blaine says: “Were impossible for every voter of the Repul lie to see for himself the condition and recompense of labor i:i Europe, the party of ?r e trade in the United States would not receive tht support of one wage worker between the two oceans.” Political dishonesty is st'-inped on .he face of this statement. In Public Document No. 12, October 1881, Commercial Relations of the United Stares, cn page 98, in submitting to the House of Representatives the reports from the Consuls of the United States on cotton manufactures, this self-same James G. Blaine, then Secretary of State, m his “Introductory Letter,” savs:

“lhe Wages of spinners and weavers in Lancashire and Massachusetts, according! to the foregoing statements [tables of hours and wages in the cotton mills of both countries], were as follows per week: Spinners, English, $7.20 to $8.40 (master spinners running as high hb $12); American $7.07 to $10.30. Weavers: English, $3.84 to $6.04, subject, at the dates on which these ra + es were given to a reductibn of 10 per cert.; American, $4.82 to $8.73. The average wages of employees in the Massachusetts mills is as follows, according to th * official returns: Men, $7.30; women, 85.62; male children, $3.11; female children, $3.08 According to Consul Shaw’s report, the average wages of men employed in Hie Lancashire mills on the Ist of January, 1880, was about $8 per week, sub ject to a reduction of 10 per cent.; women from $3.40 to $4.30, subject to a reduction of 10 per cent. The hours of labor in the Lanca - shire mills are fifty-six, in the Massachusetts mills sixty per week The hours of labor in the mills m the other New England States, where the wages are generally less than in Massachusetts, are usu? lly 66 to 69 per week. Undoubtedly the inequalities in the wages of English and American operatives are more than equalized by the greater efficiency of the latter and their longer hours of labor. If If this shpuld prove to be a fact in practice, as it seems to be proven fiom official statistics, it would be a very important element in the establishment of our ability te compete with England for our share of the cotton-goods trade of the world.”

Secretary of State Blaine then goes on to say: “In the two prime factors which may be said to form the basis of the cotton manqfacturing industry, namely, raw material and labor, we hold the advantage over England in the first, and stand on an equality with het in the second.” Over $6,000,000 of gol 1 has been exported to Europe in the last fortnigh and the outflow still continues. The balance of trade is turning against the United States owing to the difficulties American farmers meet in exporting food products and offering them for sale in the free trade marker oi Europe. Commenting on this, the Republican Chicago Tribune says: If the farmers are not given some relief they cannot be depended upon to hold the balance of trade in favor of the United States and gold exports must set in. The projected manufacturers will do nothing and can do nothing to hold a trade balance in favor of this country so long as they are wartaxed on their raw materials and cannot'enter foreign markets on equal terms with British manufacturers. If the United States is to avoid ruinous drains of specie the

farmer’s rost of living must be reduced so as he| can endure free trade competition ui d the manufa turers roust be put in condition to export their products. If the farmers are to be overtaxed on everything they buy and compelled to sell their surplus produce at free trade rates and American manufacturers continue, carrying away to Europe and expending there in pleasure-seeking tens of millions of monopoly bounty acquired in the United States, the balance of trade will run permanently against this country, which must soon be depleted of the precious metals. ’ -* < «»*■■■■•- The Newton County Democratic Convention will be held at "t. Ayr, Thursda ' of next week. •> • Adelbert Boyer, the slayer of of John Genhart at Peru, will be tried at September term of White Circuit Court.

In James G. Blaine’s ‘Twenty Years in Congress’ that Republican leader speaks of Mr. Thurman as follows: His rank in the Senate was established from the day he took his seat, and was never lowered during the period of his service. He was an admirably disciplined debater, was fair in his method of statement, logical in his argument, honest in his conclusions. He had no tricks in discussion, nu catch 'phrases to secure attention, but was always direct and manly. }.l is mind was not preoccupied and en grossed with political contests or affairs of state. ' He had natural and cultivated tastes outside of those fields. He was a discrinii natmg reader, and enjoyed not only serious books, but inclined also to the lighter indulg nice of romance and poetry. He was especially fond of the best French writers. He loved Moliere anil Racine, and o uld quote with rare enjoyment the humorous scene, depicted by Balzac. He took pleasure in the dram ', and was de.oted to music. In Washington he v ould usually be found in the best seat in the theatre when a [good play was to be presented or the opera was to be given. These tastes illustrate the genial side of his nature, and a fitting compliment to tin stronger and sterner elements of the man. His retirement from th« Senate was a serious loss to jnis party a loss indeed to the body. He left behind him the, respect of all with whom he had been associated during his twelve, years of honorable service. In his speech at Soringfield, accepting the Democratic mmination for governor, ex-Governor Palmer repeated and emphasized his promise to give Illinois “a government as firm r the law, no firmer; as- weak ns the law, no weaker.” He dec! rr that there is abundance ol pow in the Sta e 10 enforce laws and preserve order. If he is .dected he “will make the acquaintance of the Pinkerton army,” and if he finds it what he expects “it will either go out of business or go to the penitentiary, if he can get a law to send it there.” Illinois may well thank God for men who have the intelligence to hold such ideas and the courage to express them. What greater cuise could there be to any State than government by pnyate detectives? We have had too much of it in Pennsylvania. The men to whom Governor Palmer has referred as “the Pinkerton army” >re at best hired spies and sometimes become hired murderers. —Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post.