The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-02

good. and cheers. In the next place, 1 am
sure that | am the last man in the United States
who would make dsrespectful aliuson to
another mans religion The United States
guarantees freedom of religious opinion and be-
fore the law and under the Constitution
the Protestant and the Catholic. and the Hebrew
stand entitled to absolutely the same recogni-
ton and the same protection loud cheerlngI,
and if disrespectful allusion is here to be made
toward the religion of any man. as l said am
the last man to make it, for, though n Protestant
by conviction and connection with Protestant
church, should esteem myself of all men the
most degraded if, under any pressure, or under
any temptation, could in any presence make
disrespectful allusion to that ancient faith in
which my revered mother lived and died Ap-
pause
The question now before the people of the
United States is not a religious one. The
question to be settled in this election is
one that comes homo to the doorsil and
the fireside of every American citizen. We
have enjoyed in this country for the past
twenty three years the advantage of protective
tariff There is not man within the sound of
my voice, there is not man in Connecticut,
there is not man in New England, there is not
man in the United States, who is not directly
or indirectly interested in the protective tariff.
lCheers | see before me large assem- bage,
including, doubtless, many who earn their bread
in the sweat of their brOwS. | beg to remind
them that the only agency which secures them
higher wages for their labor than a man in the
protective tariff. [Cheers. When l look abroad
in this State, and when / examine the statistics,
| find that Connecticut has doubled its wealth in
the last twenty years, and submit that that
rapid increase of ratio in thrift, independence
and progress, is a direct result of the
protective tariff. Loud cheering. So that
every man, whether he be a capitalist orlaborer,
hnds that the question of protecting American
industry enters into the warp and woof of his
daily life. The Republican party is nothing if
it is not protective; and it has been the nvari-
able practice of the Democratic party in Con
gress, for more than fifty years past to oppose
the policy of protection. Times have been dull
for some months past Why2 Clearly because
of the uncertainty created in the business world
by the agitation in Congress, last winter, of the
tariff question, and the fact that the Democratic
party came within two votes of destroying the
protective tariff Is there any man who doubts
that with the free trade theories of the Democrats
if they were elevated to power, the protective
tariff would be destroyed? If any man doubts
that, he doubts his senses; he denies the record;
he will not listen to plain facts. The omens in
the present contest are to be spoken of by you,
not by me; but there one or two things con
nected with it which | beg to refer to. | beg
especially, to refer to the fact that, in larger
degree than in any other campaign of which |
have personal knowledge, the Republican party
has the inestimable advantage of the sympathy
and support of the great mass of the young men
OF the country IcheerS end the young men
carry with them strength, confidence, the
power to bear burdens, and the
power to give encouragement to others. The
Republican party began its existence thirty
years ago with the support of the young men.
Twenty eight years ago, before many who
hear me knew anything of political contests,
that party entered the field for the first time in
the national struggle 1t selected young
for its leader; it chose a man in his forty-thrd
year, the same age at which Washington
trusted with the command of the Continental
army-a young man of great zeal, of great intel
hgence, and of career so heroic that it par
took largely of romance. Under his leadership
the Republican party, in its very first national
contest alarmed, if it did not defeat, our op-
ponents. Since then, twenty-eight years
have been added to his age, bringing it up to
the Psalmists limit of three score years and ten,
but he is still fresh and vigorous in body and
mind, still warm in his support of the Repub
lican party, and it is my especial pleasure to-
day that 1 can, as 1 now do, introduce to you
General John G. Fremont" Prolonged cheer
ing.
General Fremont was loudly cheered He
spoke briefly in Acknowledgement of the recep-
tion given him.
At Bridgeport there was a remarkable crowd,
numbering many thousands, and enthusiastically
demOnstrative. Mr.. Blaine made a very short
speech and, as the train moved off, stood on
the rear platform bowling his acknowledgements,
while the people cheered him again and again.
AT South Norwalk there was a great gather
ing. Mr.. Blaine said:
This is one of the Connecticut towns that
might well be cited as an example of what Amer
lean industry can do ander the stimulus of
protective tariff, l understand your populat on
to be about Is, 900 and the value of the products
about $15, O00, 900 per year l am sure that very
few communities on this side of the Atlantic. or
on the other can show ratio between popula-
ton and production more favorable than that
Your town, too has an admirable record
in war as well in peace, for, accord
ing to the eminent historian, George
Bancroft, your ancestors sent more soldiers 10
take part in the revolutionary struggle than
any other town in New England, so that you
were good at fighting when that was in order
and you were good at working when that be-
came necessity When a community is good
both in war and peace it has established its rep
utation, and may well claim recognition as
among the best people of the earth"
At Stamford the demonstration was great and
was said to be the largest ever seen in that part
of Connecticut. There was great enthusiasm.
After Mr.. Blaines remarks he and large party
were handsomely entertained at tho house of
Samuel Fessenden, secretary of the Republican
national committee
The run to New York was made without any
other stop, and at 8:15 Mr.. Blaine arrived at the
Fifth avenue Hotel and went direct to his
apartments.