The Indianapolis journal., 1884-07-21

dress of the evening, and was warmly receiyed
Concerning Mr.. Blaine's letter of acceptance
MIR. Thurman said;
In Mr. Blaines letter of acceptance the only
civil-service reform measure he urges Is to in
crease the length of time of Republican Office
holders. tIaughter. They have held the
Offices of the national government twenty three
years. and yet are not satisfied and their cdndi-
date for the presidency advocates ene civil
service reform measure, and that TO lengthen
the terms of Office. Is 1t not time to ask the
people whether they desire form OF government
in which the many are made hewers of wood
and drawers of water, while few ride upon
their backs.
If l had time 1 would say something more
about Blaine's letter of acceptance. Mr..
doubtless considered the most important
part-to a discussion of the tariff Let me
tell you the tariff is nothing. but a
tax, and the term tariff is only used
to hide the fact that it is nothing but a
tax. Blaine in order to prove what an i'm
mense benefit protective tariff has been,
contrasts what he calls the value of property
in the Uls.s u States as shown by the census
of 1860 and 1885, and says look here what an
Immense increase has taken place in twenty
years; and more than intimates almost dis
tinctly declares that the increase, as shown by
these census returns is due to the benefcient
result of protective tariff which prevailed dur
ing the period. de seems to have supposed no
man knew the country had increased in wealth
but himself. Every intelligent man knows the
increase between the years 1860 and 1880 is due
to the enormous increase of currency. Tals was
greatest during the war Flour, for instance,
was twice as high then as now. The apparent
wealth of the country may be doubled and trebled,
vet it has not increased the wealth of the coun-
try one dollar; vet Blaine says not a word on
this The explanation of an apparent increase
in our wealth is plain. Is it tariff that makes
land worth $40 per acre in 1860 out here in our
Western States, which now sells at $40 and
1907 Why, no. Yet Blaine, who asked you to
vote for him for President, says SOL won't
say wilifully and win be charitable enough to
not say through ignorance-to make the people
of this country believe they are indebted to the
tariff for an immense increase In wealth. What
viii become of that WEALTH. Into whose pockets
did it gol How much has gone into the pockets
of the laboring men of this country2 That is the
question l would like Mr. Blaine to answer.
Why is it that every paper we pick up, II the
Iab0r1ng man got his share contains an account
of strike3 Applause. Do laboring men
throw down their tools for pleasure, having to
strike and hear the cries of their children for
breadl Applause. IL this is an immense in.
crease in the wealth of the country, judging
from the condition of the laboring man, must
say he has surely not got his share Applause
There are good many things more would like
TO say, but have already spoken longer than
intended Cries, Go on ''t9o on Icannot
do so this time. Some of these times, when
there are no other speakers, yon can come and
hear me- and I will just spread myself Zap
plause-
Judge Thurman had taken his seat, when some
one reminded him that he had said nothing for
the candidates. He then came to the front of
the platform, and said:
81 am not personally acquainted with Mr.
Cleveland, yet know great many reliable men
who are acquainted with him, and they are men
in whose word can place entire confidence; and
by them / am told that Grover CleVelandis Dem
ocratic, dyed in the WOOL and that we can and
viii elect him President of the United States
I have been acquainted with Mr. Hendricks for
more than thirty years He is man of distin-
guished ability; one whose public services and
public acts are as pure as those of any other man
IN this country
A feature of the meeting was aradicaI free
trade speech by l. A. Russell, who spoke after
A. J. Warner and just before G, L. Converse
who opposed the Morrison bill. Mr.. Russell de-
nounced all such congressman. The audience
applauded his stand.