The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-10-27
new YORK sum. october el.l

Hon. Townsend Cox, in presenting Mr.. Hew-
itt said that the meeting had been hastily
called, with but one days notice. 1t had
been deemed proper to discuss the question
of the tariff, and he knew no one better
qualified to discuss il than the speaker of
the evening. lApplause.l He said this was
but one of a series of meetings TO be held by
the Club. He gave notice of a meeting of
business men in favor of Hancock and
English, 10 be held on the steps of the Sub
Treasury, this afternoon, at $50 o clock, and
he invited business men to be present. The
object of the meeting, he said, was TO
rebuke the corruption, extravaganza and in
tolerance of the Republicans and to estab-
lish an honest, honorable and patriotic adj
ministration of public affairs. He spoke of
Republican administration as a pest, even
more than the locuSts or the potato bug.
But the locuSts were preferable, because they
come only once in seventeen years while
the Republicans have afflicted us for twenty
years. Laughter and applause
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, as he advanced
10 speak, was cordially received. He
said: The cordiality of this reception, and
the unexpectedly large attendance at this
meeting, impel me TO say something at the
outset that l did not intend to say. II is
well known that my business Is that of
manufacturer. Applause 1t has been the
business of my life, and my partner Mayor
Cooper and myself are aS extensively en-
gagged as, if not more extensively engaged
in various branches of manufacture than
any other firm in the United States. APP
plause.l The various operations which we
conduct, or in which VIC are interested, en-
ploy at least 1900 persons. During the
long period of depression from which
hope we have finally emerged-from 1878 TO
1S79-no portion of the work carried on in
those establishments was allowed to cease.
lApplause:l No family suffered. Zap
plause.l / mention this only for one pur-
pose. If speak about the tariff or the eff
feet of the tariff on the interests of bust
ness, and upon the wants and rights of
workingmen. 1 at least speak words of ex-
perience and knowledge" Applause
With reference TO the Republican campaign
lies as to the results of Democratic VIC
tory, he said; These appeals are adj
dressed to ignorance, passion and pref
udice They are characteristic of
party which has no faith in
the Intelligence and justice of the people.
They would not be worthy of attention il
they were not supposed 20 have produced
an effect in the Western States, and were
not pressed in this State with an energy and
industry worthy of a better cause As to
the tariff question, all intelligent men know
that for some years, certainly since 1860
the tariff has not been in issue between the
two parties. 1t has been overshadOwed by
other and greater questions, notably the
reconstruction of the States lately in
rebellion, the financial policy of the Gov
eminent, the reform ia the administration,
and the interference of Federal officers in
the elections and the use OF the troops at
the polls lApPlause- 1t is perfectly
well understood that there free
traders as well as high prOtec-
tionists in both parties. 1t is equally GER
tain that, while the great majority of both
parties desire no radical changes in the tariff.
which would tend to derange business, there
is a very general conviction, not confined to
either party that the existing tariff is full of
incongruities and iniquities, and positive
Instructions to business, which need reform
[Applause.l 1t is also equally true that all
the attempts to reform the tariff in accord
ance with this popular demand nave come
from the Democratic party, and have been
resisted by the Republican party in the
House of Representatives This fact
that the Democratic policy is that of
free trade, while the Republicans are
the friends of protection. Now. how far
does the Democratic platform diverge from
the Republican plank? 1t declares for rev
enue only" as does, in effect, the Repub
lican platform. Beyond this il is silent. IL
does not demand higher duties or lower
duties. If the present tariff is a revenue
tariff, and the best possible revenue tariff, as
General Garfield insisted with great force in
his tariff speech of 1878, then the present
tariff meets the demands of the Democratic
platform But it would be absurd to deny
that this plank was intended to give express
sion to the general judgment of the Demo-
cratic party that the existing tariff
is not model continuance, that il
creates impediments to the growth and
prosperity of business; that it mar
rows up the employment and reduces the
compensation of labor that, designed TO
meet the exigencies of a state of war; il is
not adapted to an era of peace; that it needs
reform, and that the interests and welfare of
American labor are even more concerned in
this reformation than the capital which is
invested in manufacturing enterprises.
These enterprises languished during the
long period of depression between 1873 and
1879 because the provisions of the tariff de-
MED Us access TO foreign markets for our
surplus products and compelled us 10 run
our factories on half time, when they
might, by iudicious alterations, which
would have injured no productive inter
ests have been fully EN- ployed, and the
army of involuntary tramps who con-
sumed our substance might have been
proftably employed and been put in
possession of comfortable homes. Zap
plause.l The Democrats have striven to
secure these alterations. In every speech
which / made in the House / pointed out
rison reported his bill In the Forty-fourth
Congress- and Wood tried his hand in the
Forty-fifth Congress. Whether these bills
were wise or not is not now the question
The Republicans would never give them a
fair discussion. The subject was shelved as
disagreeable skeleton to be got into a closet
as soon as possible. Meanwhile business
suffered, and labor was left to starve because
special interests were too powerful for the
intelligence and patriotism of Congress.
lApplause-
The remedy for our troubles, which
reformation of the tariff could have secured,
has come in u different form, not from the
medium of man, but from the DEGREES of
Providence. Large crops in the United
States and poor crops in Europe have en-
abled cS tO resume both specie payment and
the carrying on of works of internal inn
progement But the remedy, fortunate as
ii is, and powerful as it has been for the
restoration of prosperity, is but temporary
ALIENATION With the returnof good harvests
abroad, the markets for our food products
will be again restricted, and we shall be
brought face 10 face with the old trouble in
an aggravated form, the capacity to produce
more of the staple products of industry than
we can consume, anu the necessity for getting
foreign markets for our surplus If we can
get these markets we can consume our food
at home exporting in manufactured goods