The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-02
The Great Hall Packed with Representa-
tive Citizens of the Country's Conn
mercial Capital.
Speeches by Peter Cooper, w. e.
Dodge and VIM. NJ. Evarts.
Extracts from the Address of the Board OF
Managers Urging Revision of the
Tariff Immediately.


auspices of the New York Association for
Projection of American Industry. The great
hall was so crowded that it was almost i'm
possible to find standing room. Peter Cooper,
presided, assisted by William Z. Dodge
Among the vice presidents were Hamilton
Fish, John Jacob Astor, Hon. Edwin d. Nor.
gan, A. A. Law, Whitelaw Reid, Judge Noah
Davis Jesse Seligman Hon John Jay Knox,
Hon. William H. Robertson, Jacob u.
Vermilye, Russell Sage, Clinton b. Fish,
Hugh J. Hastings, Hon. Seth Low, David
DAVIS, John H Strain.
Mr.. Cooper said he was glad to see the at
tention of the American people fixed on the
question of free trade and protection. The
free-traders of other countries have tried to
persuade US to adopt their teachings. Should
they be adopted our mechanics would be
forced to work for starvation wages or
abandon their trades and become compet-
itors of the agricultural laborers of the coun'
try Our country would if those theories
prevailed, be reduced to the condition Of
Ireland, Spain and Mexico. We would pro.
duce the raw materials, and others would do
the manufacturing. Such a policy would
bring ruin upon hundreds OF thousands OF
American workmen who have nothing to
sell but their labor. Should the tariff be re
duced % per cent. it would cost us at least
thousand million dollars. Free trade in
England produced a condition of wretched.
ness among the working people, and gave
them barely sufficient to maintain life. The
effect in America would be similar.
col ~
time to let the country know what they
meant and what they meant to do Labor
had been made to believe that capital was its
oppressor when it was its protector Capital
does not need protection as much as labor.
In South Wales may be seen, in the great
iron foundries men stripped naked to the
waist at their tasks, and waited on by Welsh
girls from sixteen years OF age upward who
work side by side with men, and those men
receive as wages but a pittance OF what
we pay in American foundries, where we
do not employ women and girls. Those
men may be seen on Sunday wearing the
same clothes in which they worked on week
days In this country, on the other hand,
at Scranton, for instance, you see the work.
ingmen with their wives and children on
Sunday clad like gentlemen and ladies. Do
not take from our workingmen the protec-
ton which permits them to live like men
and not live like those who toll in the facto,
res of Europe.
William NJ. Evarts said he was very glad
an organization that knows its own mind
and possesses reasons for the work il
meant to accomplish, is engaged in present
ing the great question whether the labor OF
this country is to be protected. The late
elections have proven, if they have proven
anything, that the people are te be the
masters that extravaganza and Ni1ful mis-.
use OF public money by public servants must
be stopped. There were only two points
emphasized by the voice of the people at the
late election. The question now comes
whether, in reducing the revenue of the
government, the tariff system shall be so ar
ranged as to benefit cur own industries or the
industries of foreign countries. American
laborers know on which side their bread is
buttered and there can be no doubt what
their answer TO the question will be- In tho
days of the colonies they wanted lis to
devote ourselves to catching fish and killing
bears, while they would furnish us with all
our manufactures. After we had gained onr
independence the English, chagriued at the
loss OF our trade, tried their power over this
country by what they called the laws of trade
Mr.. Evarts then gave sketch OF the
causes of the panic of 1878, ard traced the
ups and downs of tariff legislation from the
time of Henry Clay. He said the war of the
rebellion gave us debt which it was neces-
sary to pay. We were thus obliged to raise
a large revenue, and this gave us protection.
Our kind English friends thought we stood
in our own light when we attempted to pay
our debt but the truth is we appear to be
always standing in their light. Having
established our political independence and
having established our industries, the CUES.
ton arises, shall we keep labor at
he high standard it enjoys in this
country or shall we level it to
laboring man is not the main factor and
actor in government. If revenue is to be
raised, or be taken off, the matter must be
regulated by one of two systems-eithei
tariff for revenue only, Or one so regulated
as to protect home industries. Free trade
stood before the revolution. and our hundred
years of experience wsuld result in nothing.
The system of protection is said to be mon.
opoly but if it is, it is monopoly OF
American labor over foreign capitalists. II
our country were threatened with invasion
by foreign foes. would we not rise up as one
man to resist it? And are we so foolish as
not 10 put up peaceful barriers of duties to
resist the disastrous invasion which the
free traders wo,,d invite? The methods OF
the American constitution should
be used in favoring every
locality in the country ac1 every in.
dividual in the country The cod2try has
but one interest and one destiny, when the
issue comes before the people and their rep
resentative, there can be no question as to
the manner in which it will be determined.
Dexter A. Hawkins followed with an adj
dress, mainly devoted to statistics.
THE ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
The address OF the board of managers to
the public is signed by all the managers,
with General Grant at the head. 1t con,
cudes as follows:
Notwithstanding, however, the benefits
arising from the tariff OF 1861 and its amend