The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-04-16
SPEECH BY HON. J. m.
THE UBIQUITOUS TARIFF.
A Tribute to Democratic Patriotism.

Tariff bill under consideration Mr.. Crchs
said:
Mr.. Chairman, / move TO amend in the
two hundred and fifteenth line by striking
out the words "or other animals l do
not wish to occupy time of the committee,
which Il valuable, In useless discussion,
and therefore have thus far in the con-
sideration Of this bill refraincd from the
expression of the views hold, contenting
myself by occupying my place constantly
on the floor Of the House and giving my
countenance and vote ut all times and on
all questions that have arisen here in the
interest of reduction of duties rs imposed
by the present outrageous system of tax
alton upon the laboring masses under or
by tariff or tax upon imports. For the
last four months we have heard almost
daily upon this floor imprisoned appeals
from the coal and iron interests of Penn
sylvania and the general manufacturing
| interests of New England in behalf of la
| Dor as against capital, and particularly in
behalf of the laboring man of the West
| and South, and as against the Representa-
| tives of these sections of our country upon
| this floor. We are learning daily from
these sages of Pennsylvania and New
| England that their sympathies are not en-
| listed so much in behalf of their own sec
| tions, abused and downtrodden as their
people are for want of proper protection to
| their interests, but they go out large and
free, daily and hourly, honestly and filth
| fully, in behalf Of the poor laboring men
| of the West and South who do not under
| stand their own interests by reason of
| their ignorance, and where Representa-
| tives upon this floor are also blind TO their
| best interests, and il therefore becomes
their duty to step in TO teach them duty
and direct them in the march of progress
| Mr.. Chairman, / have for years wonder
| cd that the people Of the West should DO
so long controlled by the siren cry Of New
England for protection of American indus
tries; that it should be revorberated so
distinctly over the hills, the plains, the
mountains, and valleys of the West and
South, and that such heed should have
been given TO IL as heretofore has been
true. But while here under the Dome Of
our Capitol and in tho Halls Of legislation
/ find that every avenue Of approach is
crowded with lobbyists in the intetest Of
protection, and that every mail comes crow
ded with their written appeals; that in
every available method, by use Of time and
labor and capital, their cause is advanced,
and at the same time outsi dc Of these Halls
we hear no voice in the interests of the
laboring millions of the West, no lobbyists
here TO urge their claims, no organization
to further thcif interests, cannot be
longer astonished. Less than three mil
lions of our population are to-day engaged
in manufactures of all kinds while thirty
seven millions or moro are engaged in the
| various other industries, and yet we
find upon the floor of Congress and in the
Hobbies aud corridors Of the Capitol hun
dreJ men laboring In the interests of man
| ufacturies where one voice is heard In the
interest of toiling millions engaged in all
| other industries.
During the war, Mr.. Chairman, and
| ever since until now. the cry that has kept
together the discordant elements banded
| in opposition 10 the Democratic party has
been loyalty on the one hand, and treason,
traitor and coppcrhcad ON the other. The
| argument usually advanced against any
measure proposed by Democrat was the
cry treason, traitor, or copperhead. The
merits Of the question were lost IN these
empty phrases. II matters not what was
the true position Of the Democratic party
during the war or since-and | am not
here 10 defend its record l am willing 10
leave that to the impartial historian who
will record the facts when the prcjudiccs
and passions of the present hour have
passed away, and justice again rules in the
hearts of men. But cannot refrain from
saving at this time simple word in behalf
| of that glorious old party, whose record
fills So large space in our conntrys his
| tory, In 1860 our country went through
the bitterest political struggle ever known
TO our people. IL was asserted every
| where throughout the country by the De
| mocratic leaders, of whom the Leaders of
the Republican party of to-day, IN the
| West al least, were chief that the election
| of Abraham Lincoln would result in war
| and the destruction of our system of gov
eminent. This proposition was denied by
Mr.. Lincolns friends, and by them the fear
| of war was treated with derision. And
| will any man now say that the Democrats
in that canvass did not tell the people
| what in good faith they believed II
| they do, they simply convict the leaders of
the Republican party Of to-day Of insin-
certy at that time.
Aud yet, Mr.. Chairman, after Mr.. Lin
coin was elected and qualified, and the
| very state of affair came about Us prophc-
| sled by Democratic leaders, and when
| mower wasin the hands of those who Dem
ocrats prophesied if placed in power would
bring about this result, We find when the
| contest came when the question was for or
against tho country, that ninety-ninc out
of every hundred Democrats were true TO
the country and her cause. While the
Republican masses had but to follow their
party and party leaders still in the war
as they had in the political contest just
passed through, and while hundreds and
thousands, yea, and hundreds OF thousands,
in supporting the war and the administra-
ton regarded it simply as supporting
their party and party success and while
with them honors, emoluments and riches
were the rewards Of loyalty the Demo-
cratic masses of the country placed
upon their country's altar not
only their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor, but all their prejudices and
education as well, to them were presented
no fat contracts, no high-sounding titles
their glory and their honor had to be won
in the ranks as the private soldier their
reward only as u conscientious discharge
of duty. And l can say here without fear
of successful contradiction that go where
you will in the non-seceding states, and