Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23
HENRY WATTERSON,
Before. n Very Large Audience of Free
Traders, i'm New York, Discusses
The Question of Taria, ana Proves the
Democrats Committed TO Reform.

New York, November 22.-The Hon.
Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville
Courier-Journol delivered an address to-
night il; advocacy OF the principles of free
trade. The address was somewhat in the
nature of reply to the arguments in
favor of protection presented last night by
EX-UnIted States Consul Dudley. Mr..
Watterson had an audience which in
cluded the best thinkers in this section,
who give attention to free trade, fair trade
and protection. While the closest atten-
ton was given the utterances of the
speaker, the applause was generous and
genuine.
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher presided
and presented Mr. Watterson, who had
most cordial reception Mr.. Beeciier said
Gas 20 the charge that am Republican
| do not deny, but they do not own me.
Every citizen must do what he can to
further the ends of government, and he
can only do this by working with one of
the great political parties. 1 am
| also a clergyman, but only by cour-
tesy. l am citizen and / am
| here to perform duties as SUCH" Beecher
| went on to say that he believed the pro-
| tective system was a grinding oppression
| upon the poor men of the country. If it
| was right to tax clothes, books, pictures
and iron, it could not be wrong to tax min
listers. And yet, he did not intend a tax
should be put upon such men as Mr.. Tay-
lor and DIR. Hall. 1t was perfectly consist
ent with the theory of the protectionists.
Mr.. Watterson was preceded in a short
address by David A. Wells.
| Mr.. Watterson told the story of the South and
dealt with the infatuated pr9teetionists and the
% stand Upon ~ he threshold of Ds' new Congress. IN
! few days n body of men instrusted with the law
| making power and fresh from the people will as
NH 10 fhn nat nal nj Thn
| full of speeulations what theyswill do and what
they win noe do The wiseacres are full of coun-
not to do. The protectionists exclaim, with one
voice, "Do not touch the tariff for that will dis
Democrats echo this wv with "a variation. "Don {
touch the tariff, they say, 'lest it lose us the
seryative. 1 do not want to hurt the business
of the country, and, being Democrat, l do do
want to carry the next presidentlai election; but;
how tho revision of error and the righting OF
wrong are going to hurt the business of the coun-
try, and why the faithful discharge of its duty
viii cost the Demoeratie party the, Presidency. ]
have never heard that Peter made anything by
see how the Democratic party is to make any
thing by denying its record. 1t cannot escape it
st 50 Il Il eon It Is the Party
or it is nothing; and, if it be not the party OF
revenue reform, It is nothing to me. In order t.
determine just where we are let us take the bear
and and consider for q moment the LRspubIi
a couple of old hacks, grant, bu
they are the only vehicles upon the political cab
other, put ourselves to the delay, the inconve
niencc and the expense of getting coach of ou
| destination, let us, by all means, take that Tn
truth is the weather is foggy, and, at least for tn
''hard road to travel.'' How, then, stands tn
account? What are the real facts that face u
headlands Of s Sectional politics We have left be
I hind US the break kers of sentimental politics W
are moving slowly out Of the cess peoiof persona
politics. Not one of the issues which disturbe
those several periods retains any vita
force, or is worthy of serious discussion
. bankism, and, as If to make assurance for tn
future doubly sure, il put itself the other day t
what seemed a single stone, and beneath thi
I stone there lie the remains of desccated Viz
. tax, bill and the massive form of a Massaehnsett
widow, and not so much as II rag-baby left to te
. the light and searched a point where, havin
buried the conflicts that begat the war and settle
4 the disputes which The war besat, we can tnr m
exciting, butt in the long run, not less important
1 topics of public concern.
or does it not offer US promise of reform? "
a shall presently receive definite answer to TIL
q | question. The Democrats have an overwhelmin
9 majority in the popular branch of Congress, an
d Congress is about to assemble. If, in the organ
speaRe the Tsafn%s sdSfs Othe
SSze it w be- might sdtor rest It the S. e
: publican party in this connection, can do n
less than speak with equal candor of the Dem'
: cratic party, l shall do this with the great,
n opinion, the Democratic party is beGSl
the fSqn5y for final jadg%ent t. II
S and, if it be governed by wise counsels, its be
o chance of restoration to usefulness and honorab
public employment. 1t holds very much the san
relation to revenue reform, which, in the earl
days Of the free soil agitation. the old Whg part
It held to emancipation; If the Whig leaders ha
had the sagacity and the nerve to take the SLAYER
question in its incipiency, they could hay
: handled it. They did not, and. after nounderir
about in the morass of cxpediency for twenty
thirty years, their party went to PIECES. Tai
the ease of revenue reform. 1t is in its incip
ency. As at first nobody proposed abolition,
At present nobody proposes free trade. l kno
, one goes & " tne pfS.ecdl9n y % 9rgamS lor
= the revenue reformers to march straight to Il
. waters edge and burn the custom houses. Blu
Z fyou want truth, you had better not read Il
protection organs. That which is proposed is Il
revision of the customs list and its reduction to
\ revenue basis. We demand that all taxation sha
q be exclusively for the support of the governmen
II and that more taxes shall be collected than a
: administered. To this policy the Democrat
party IS absolutely committed II is committ'
mitted by. il, two last national platforms,
% eomn1tted n by hs record n the fIsd last @ Uo
IS the country the present infamous tart
% one Democrat in the Senate and thirteen Dem
!. crat, in the House, mostly from Pennsylyan
Republicans. The rest of the party voted sol
a mo- This vote of mo- was pledge to I
people that the Democratic party would not ST
Is until it repealed the act which it opposed wi
n such nnanimity; and there the party stands
N day. There it will stand when Congress meet
= Indeed it would be fatal to stand anywhere els
Is to do SO II would have to reverse all its engineer
tand if il should succeed in this, il would be Il
~ to meet the old attack of the projections
"a without the courage OF the resources. the logic
Or the facts to defend itself, and still less, to fig
r back
n Mr.. Watterson went at length into Il
se merits of the tariff question, and closed |
n. assuring his audience that if the Dem
IN Democratic party wins in 1884, 1--WE sh:
come into power with policy enlightene
is beneficent and just to all; in the perfectic
at OF which we shall find, along with ever
e, thing the country needs, much to lift
r. out of the mire OF mere spoil and into Il
ID higher regions OF a pure and useful a
ministration of the public service"