The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-10-23


-
Speech OF Hon. Thaddeus Sfevens.--
Pro cotton o Liberty and Labor
Positions of Parties Compared.
new YORK, Sept. 81, 1860.
Under the auspices of the Republican
Central Campaign Club, a meeting was held
at the Cooper Institute, last evening for the
purpose of listening to an address from
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania.
The Chairman then introduced Hon.
Thaddeus Stevens, who was received with
prolonged cheers. He said
FELLOW CITrzESs:-We are in the midst
of another campaign in the cause of hu-
mainly; in the long and persistent war be-
tween liberty and slavery between OPP
preston and freedom a war which has
existed, active or latent, ever since the first
tyrant usurped the rights of others, and
which will continue to exist until the last
despot shall be buried from his throne
But besides the paramount question of hu-
man rights, there are other important issues
involved in this contest. The first regards
the existence of free nations; the second
the means whereby such nations are rem
dered prosperous and happy. For although
liberty is worth all other earthly treasures.
ye. that is not all that is desirable in civ
ilized communities: Food, raiment, educa-
ton, the arts and sciences, are all necessary
to the comfort of man. But these things
do not present themselves spontaneously to
an unwise, negligent, and sothful people.
Industry employment, constant research,
are necessary TO their attainment One
great object Of government is so to regulate
the structure of society as to afford employ
ment to all, SO as to enable them to procure
their necessary comforts.
This hrinUs 1Is ~ tho ouactiOp botz Far =
is the duty of government to protect the in
dustry of its own country against the inju-
rious competition of foreign nations, for the
question of protective tariff must and will
be settled at this election. Elect either of the
candidates of free trade, and American labor
and capital will fad no governmental pros
lection until long and severe suffering shall
have wrought a revolution in public opn-
ion. Elect the candidate of protection, and
American labor will be cherished and guard
ed, so soon as the Democratic majority in
the Senate shall be overcome; and that will
soon follow Republican presidential VIC
tory.
Protection of domestic interests against
foreign competition has been the policy and
uniform practice of every nation since men
became civilized and separated into rival
communities. History nowhere points to
any nation that ever adopted free trade
Within the last century, certain dreamers
of dreams in England and France have pro-
mulgated that doctrine. But neither Eng
land nor France has, by a single enactment,
adopted their principles. The nearest ap-
proach 10 it which has yet been made is to
be found in our tariff of 1876, which aban-
doned the protective doctrine by adopting a
uniform, universal adj valorem duty an
absurd system, which, when foreign goods
L., Al. !.
rs protection is required and when the for
eign article rises and no protection is needed
raises the rate of duty precisely in proportion
"a the necessity for protection is diminished.
1t is matter of history that this absurd
law was framed under British counsels, and
carried through Congress by British gold
Let us for moment inquire what would
be the effect of free trade on the relative in
terests OF nations
If that should happen, which has never
yet been, and which in my Judgment never
will be-if all nations should become per-
iecty equal in wealth, in mechanical and
manufacturing skill, in the facilities of
transportation, and in commercial and navi-
eating advantages, it might be just aud
equal for every nation to abolish it's duties,
shut up its custom houses, and raise the ex-
penses OF government by directinternal tax
alton. That alone is free trade. But as the
world now is, it is very clear that such
q system would leave every nation for ages
to come, in manufacturing and commercial
advantages, just where it found them.
Reason teaches what the history of the
world corroborates that producing countries
are always poor, while manufacturing and
commercial nations grow rich. The pro-
Queer always pays the freight of his article
TO market. If that market is near at hand
he saves freight lift Is at great distance
the cost of transportation takes off all his
profits. Without manufacturing establish
nents at home, our market is thousands of
miles away in Europe. The cost of
carriage keeps our farmers poor, IN
less in very favorable localities The
history OF our own country illustrates all
ihis. Whenever we have had a protective
tariff, as ia 1928 and 1912, the whole coun-
try has hourished. When protection has
been withdrawn, the specie has left Us, and
distress followed Our Western States have
had the advantage Of market to emigrants
going to California and other western re-
gions, This market cannot long continue.
How unwise not to prepare manufacturing
towns in their own vicinity to consume their
produce, instead of sending it abroad
There are large manufacturing establish
rneuts still surviving in all our Eastern and
Middle States that consume large portion
Of our surplus wheat. The small State of
Massachusetts purchases more of the grain of
the Middle and Western States than is sent
TO all Europe. We send but about one-6fth
of our wheat abroad. If our manufacturing,
iron and coal establishments are suffered to
be broken down, what would become of tie
balance OF the grain which tney now con-
sumner Wheat and corn would hardly be
worth raising, even in The Atlantic States
In the Western States il would not pay the