Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-10
Projection 10 A merIcan Industry


Projection 10 A American Industry,
An audience OF about 1900 persons gathered
in Mechanics hall last evening to listen to adj
dresses by the Fenian exiles, in favor OF protec-
tive tariff The meeting was held under the
auspices OF the American association of home
industries, and is one of a series which is being
held in the principal manufacturing cities
throughout the country. The audience was
composed almost entirely of workngmen, who
listened attentiyey to the speakers and frequent
ly interrupted them with applause. BOYS were
not admitted to the hall, and there were but few
ladies present.
The meeting was opened by Mr.. O'Donovan
Rossa who briefly addressed the audience, ex-
planning the object of the meeting, which he
said was not called in the interests of the Gree
ley party, or the Grant party, but 10 consider
the subject of home industry and by what
means its interests are best promoted lie read
statistics to show the evil effects which had re-
suited in Ireland from free trade imposed upon
that country by England, and pictured the dis
astrous consequences to this country which
would follow if English capitalists should sue
coed in their attempts to establish free trade
with America. He closed by introducing Capt.
A, F. Costello.
Capt. Costello read a carefully written and
exhaustive essay in regard to the blessings OF
protection and the evil effects of free trade He
said the question at issue was vital one, in
volvlng the prosperity, if not the life or death,
OF this nation. America, being now in the in
fancy of its national existence cannot afford to
manufacture as cheapy as the older nations,
and the American workingmen should not be
forced to compete with the pauper labor of
England. Ii is not strange that the name of
free trade, which was so earnestly advocated by
Grattan and the volunteers, should be dear TO
the hearts of Irish people, but free trade for
ireland at that time, and protection for Amer
lea at. the present day, meant one and the same
thing-the prosperity of the country. England
is acting selfishly in employing her paid ennis.
SarieS throughout this country to advocate free
trade, as she is losing heavily under the Amer
lean system OF protection, and if it is kept up she
may be reduced, even as she has reduced and
impoverished Ireland. The speaker closed by
showing thatit is not the mechanics alone who
would suffer from free trade, but the farmers,
NN'+iN VI "hOiii o'S Ouu III tnCh NOilpldiulS
against the tariff as increasing the expenses of
implements, clothing and other necessaries,
would also suffer indirectly from the general de-
preston of manufactures and stagnatiOn of
business, which would inevitably follow the re-
peal of the protective duties.
Mr., ODonovan Rosa then introduced Gen.
Thomas f. Bourke, who delivered the closing
address. Gen. Bourke was received with hearty
applause, which continued for several minutes.
He spoke for about half an hour in an elo.
quent and imprisoned manner, calling forth
frequent applause from the audience. He was
very severe in his denunciation of England for
the policy which she had pursued toward Ire
land, and for the means which she was employ
ing in endeavorng to establish free trade with
America. The speaker closed with an
earnest appeal to his hearers to consider this
subject carefully, and decide for themselves in
what manner their own individual interests
and the interests of the country at large may
be advanced and having decided, to sever any
tie which might bind them to any party, and
act and vote to the best of their judgment.
At the close of the meeting the speakers held
an impromptu reception in one corner of the
hall, at which many gentlemen took the oppor-
tunity to show the respect and appreciation
which they entertained for the Feniau patriots.