The Portland daily press., 1880-10-28

change the position which the Democratic par
ty assumed in its platform, and to which four
6fihs of its members in each House OF Con-
gress are thoroughly committed by their votes.
This feeble eastern shuttle is already receiving
the emphatic rebuke of the Southern Demo-
cratic press who know well the couhtehahce
of their ancient friend the tariff for revenue
only" Mr.. Watterson knew what kentucky
wanted and meant when he penned the Dem
ocratc platform. The President OF the New
York Free Trade League knew what he was
talking about when he said it pledged the par
ty Enthusiastically in favor of free trade"
No, Mr.. President, the workingmen of
America cannot wake up moment too soon to
the nature and the danger of this combined at
tack on their wages by the landed aristocracy
and manufacturing wealth of England, and the
white Democratic aristocracy of the South.
Let me not be understood or represented as
falling into the error of attempting to answer
arguments merely by exciting a prejudice
against those who use them. We mean to meet
our friends of the Golden Club and our friends
of the Confederacy, and debate with them the
question, what is best for the whole American
people, and not merely for a class.
We expect and desire a careful revision OF
our tariff, but we want it from friendly and not
from hostile hands.
We affirm and can demonstrate:
First, that America must build up and keep
here all those industries which it is necessary
for her safety and strength should be carried
on here, whether she pay little more for their
product or not.
Second that she shall protect the infancy of
Such industries as can be proftahly conducted
here, when established, from being crushed by
such methods as Lord Brougham and Mr..
Hume describe.
the transfer to this country of foreign capital
and skill, SO that the workman in the mill and
the workman on the farm NAV be next door to
each other, and exchange their products und-
unfinished without paving large tribute to the
carrier and the negotiator of the exchange. as
they must do when the two producers are four
thousand miles apart. If the Englshman has
ANYTHING to make for the American farmer, he
;c welcome to come over here and make it, to
the mutual advantage of both.
Fourth and chiefly, the standard of Amer-
can wages must be maintained.
r do not claim, of course, that the present
nrosneritv of America is wholly due to the pro-
tective system. But do believe that the pros
neritv of the manufacturing States, and large
w of the agricultural States, that the rate of
wages of all the trades not merely the protect
ed industries, but of farm wages also is due TO
II do not think that to renea the tariff
would DESTROY America; hut believe it would
ston the growth of her growing towns, that it
would compel our laborerS to work at starva-
ton nrices or drive them to agriculture. that it
would iniure the farmer by destroying his mar
ket and turning his customer into his compet-
itor and by compelling him to expend large
mart of his product in the cost of exchanging
the rest.
do not believe the American farmer will
find much Independence in snch a system
What the Englishman does not demand for his
products. Mr.. Garrett will take for his railroad.
This question is to be settled ultimately bv
the votes of men whose wages are to denend
nnon the policy which may he established.
You are to ,ompete for the confidence of the
agricultural and manufacturing workingmen
ri America with the Earl Spencer and the Mr.
Potters of England and the Southern white
Democrats of America-with the men whose
notions of wisdom and instice and what is hest
for labor, have governed Ireland. and the men
whose notions of wisdom and Justice and what
is h,s- err labor govern Mississippi.
We must give great weight in determining
a h siness question TO the Judgment Of able
and successful business mon. We all know
what confusion and distress have come from
legislating on mere abstract reasoning without
rersrd IN nractical experience. We exhibit in
our worlds fairs the products of our manufac-
turing policies that mankind NAV Judge hem,
and award the prize To the genius which hss
given them birth. Will the jury of American
workingmen award the prize of their conf
denca to the men who exhibit Massachusetts
and New York and iowa as the resnto their
slill, or the men who exhib Ireland and Mis-
sissippi as the result of theirs?