The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01
BURROWS.

L
the Fourth District Convention The
Work of the Forty Congress.
The following is the Kalamazoo Telegraphs
report of the speech made by Congressman
| Burrows before the convention which re-
| nominated him:
| Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conven-
ton.
For this renewed expression of your con-
| fidence and partiality permit me to return
| you my heartfelt thanks. For the fifth
time the Republican party of this district
| has conferred upon me the distinction OF
leading the forces in the contest
| for congressional representation, but
| at no time has that honor been be-
| slowed under circumstances more gratifying
| than to-day. Detained as l have been at
Washington until a week ago, in the dis
charge of public duties, it is peculiarly graf
fifying to receive this unanimous approval of
my public acts and unsolicited denomination
| from the largest congressional convention
ever assembled In the fourth district 1t is
| an honor of which any man may justly be
| proud Iagain thank you.
1 shall not detain the convention to enter
| into an extended discussion Of the issues in
volved in the approaching campaign, but
may be pardoned for alludlng in the briefest
possible terms to the leading features of the
work of the first session of the 47th congress
just closed, and reply as briefly to some crit
| icisms passed upon IL.
IT will be remembered that the presiden-
| tial campaign of 1880 resulted In the restora-
| ton of the Republican party to power in
| the legislative branch of the government,
| after six years of Democratic control. Dur
| ing those six years but little was done in
the way Of general legislation beyond max
| ing provision for the ordinary expenses of
| the government. The session just closed is
| the first under Republican control since its
| return to power, and the result of its labors
must be eminently satisfactory to the party
and the country. Besides providing for the
measures of a public character have been
considered and passed, contributing to the
| well being of the nation. The subject
of polygamy in the territories re-
ceived prompt and efficient considers
ton. A delegate from tho ter
polygamist and the avowed representative
and champion of that "twin relic of barbar-
| isn," demanded seat in the lower house of
| congress. Heretofore it had been granted
him. 1t was for this congress to take cogni-
| zance of his offense and decline to accord him
| place in the national council More than
| this, such measures have been taken, which,
| it is to be hoped, will at no distant day put
an end to this national disgrace.
| The Chinese problem has for the time
| being at least been solved. The people of
| the Pacific coast demanded protection against
| the importation of cheap labor which was
| driving her people from the avenues of
| trade and threatening the good order of her
states. While it will be admitted to be con-
trary to our traditions and the spirit of
our institutions to exclude any people
| of any race or tongue from our shores, vet it
| may well be doubted whether we would be
| justified in throwing wide open our doors to
| a race having no interest in our institutions
| contri buting nothing to the support of the
| government in peace or to its defense In war;
4 m W. an
| their enhanced fortunes might enable them
| to return to the land of their nativity. Hap
PLY this question has been settled in the in
| terest of American labor, and in accordance
with treaty stipulations between the nations
| involved.
Another question has been settled. The
| charters of national banks we're about to ex-
pire by limitation of law and It became nee
| essary to continue this system or devise an
other adopted to our business needs. The OPP
| ponents OF the present system, the advocates
of greenback currency, made haste to ad-
| vance their theories and urge the retirement
| of the national bank circulation and the is.
suing of government notes In their stead In
| quantities sufficient to meet the demands Of
| trade. The country is to be congratulated
that all such vagaries are discarded, the pub
| lie credit maintained and the present bank
| ing system continued, giving to the people
safe and stable currency.
The tariff question demanded attention.
| us rCV1SlOn is n necessity. Inc COnSluoTa-
| ton of the subject provoked general and ex-
tended debate between the advocates of pro-
lection and free trade, and resulted In the
| creation of a commission, whose labors il is
| believed Will contribute to a thorough and
intelligent revision of our tariff laws IL Is
/ hoped and expected that at the next session,
a code can be adopted which, while repudi-
ating the doctrine Of free trade and its twin
| folly "a tariff for revenue only" will so inn
pose duties as TO yield sufficient revenue aud
| afford Just and ample protection-to Ameri-
| can industries and domestic labor.
| It may be of interest TO note in passing
| that ut the close of our late civil war large
number Of soldiers who had served faithfully
to the end, without waiting for the forrnali-
| ties of discharge, fastened to their homes
and from that hour they have been borne
upon the rolls as "desertersn These faith
| full men have been relieved OF this un-
/ Just imputation, and upon proper proof are
| to receive that honorable discharge to which
their honorable service entities them