The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-30
Blaine's Foreign Policy.

AT Flint, Michigan, on the 18th, Mr..
nlaine was received by over 5000 entliusi-
.tssie people. He addressed them in u
speech longer iiian usual and with great
effect
After calm. attention to protective
tariff rs The ., eat ssnr of The campaign.
and expressing his belief that Michigan.
state SO much interested in protection.
wonid follow the lead OF Ohio, be said =!
have received Since | have been in this
state two or three letters from persons.
asking me to state whether had ever been
ii member OF the Know Nothing party. IN
. connection with these inquiries from per-
SOFAS in Michigan. have received some
kilograms from the Pacific coast asking
whether | was not a supporter of Mr.. Fill
more when he ran, in 1856. as the native
American candidate for the presidency.
let me say iDfull and explicit terms, in
reply to these inquiries by letter and tele
graph. that / never was a member of The
Know Nothing order; that | never voted
for a man who was nominated by it, and
hat instead of supporting Mr.. Fillmore in
1856. l had the houor TO be Il member of
The National Republican Convention which
dominated General Fremont [Cheersl. and
;rs the General is now on this platform, he
e
ever inefficient my support may have been
it was very earnest and very ardent.
was then junior editor of the KeRnebec
Journal, and that paper was entirely de-
voted to Gen. Fremont advocacy. and
aided in giving him the largest majority
ever cast in Maine for a presidential can
didate of any party. The Know Nothing
order holds views in regard to immigration
and naturalization with which | never had
any sympathy. and from which | never
Aesitated to express dissent. But in con-
naction with that subject. let me say that
there are at present three wrongs which,
in my judgment. require correction First.
! think that the habit which has grown up
OF the part Of some European countries of
sending their paupers to the United States
ought not TO be longer tolerated. | be-
lieve in the good old American system
which requires that each town or each
county shall take care of its own poor. Ii
in European countries their laws tend to
ihIpoYerish their working people, these
countries ought TO take care of them when
reduced to want. instead of shipping them
To us. tCheers. Second, and still more
Objectionable, is the practice of shipping
their criminals to us. as has been done il
many cases, criminals being released from
Punishment on condition that they shall
come to the United States. | think that
this is a very grave offence against this
country. which should not be permitted
Clrers Third, if a tariff for protection
lssdesigned to elevate the laboring man in
this country and secure him good wages
;,4ld If it is not for that it is not for any
Thing, then, | think. the custom which
sumo men are trying to introduce of I'M
porting cheap contract labor from foreign
countries to compete with home labor
10 no., I. ri>.t,J 4 Il,
species OF servitude against the spirit OF
our laws, and Injuries all who are in any way
connected with it. These are three evils
that | think ought to be remedied, but a.
to every honest immigrant seeking to bet
ter his condition, whether he came from
the British Isles or from the great German
Empire. from the sunny clmes of The
Latin nations, or from Scandinavia i'll the
North. we bid him God speed and give hin
hearty welcome and hospitality, and wheI
lie is admitted to citizenship we assure
him protection at home and abroad. Once
allong us. aud of US his rights are equa
before the law with those of the native
horn citizen. No distinction can be toler
ated among those who are clothed with the
honor of American citizenship. ICheers
At the conclusion of his remarks. Mr.
Blaine introduced General Fremont as The
gallant soldier who had led the Republican
party in its first great political conflict
which. though ending in nominal defeat
Was really preparation for its splendid
triumph four years later. The appearance
of the General was the signal for great
cheering. He returned thanks in brie1
speech. in the course of which he said
Mr.. Blaine has referred to the fact that ht
was a member of the convention that nom
mated me in 1865. The loyal and cordia
support which | am now giving Mr. Blaine
is the best testimony / can bear to what
he has said about his earnest support OF
Inc when had the honor to be at the hea6
Of the Republican party in its first National
campaign. [Cheers.] At Port Huron
there was Il fine reception. Rev. A. Hast
ings Ross read an address of welcome, tc
which Mr.. Blaine responded briefly. II
was $50 p. m. when the train arrived al
Detroit. Mr.. Blaine. in company witt
Senator fiale, was driven to Mrs Chan
dlerfs. where he will spend the night Tb
morrow he will go on through Michigan
reaching Sonth Bend. Indiana. in the
evening