Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1884-08-20
TARIFF OR FREE TRADE.


A very large audience assembled at the
corner of Main and Seventh streets
last evening to hear the speech of Hon
John +. Seaman. of Chicago, on the
tariff question A large proportion of
those present were workingmen, among
whom We were pleased to see many of
our Irish fellow citizens. After several
fine selections by the Richmond band
Conner Lewis d. Stubs, Esq, call
ed the meeting to order, and in a few
remarks, very appropriate to the occa-
sion, introduced the speaker. who was
greeted with an applause that must. have
been very. gratifying, and that caused
him to feel that those who were 10 hear
him had not come out of idle curiosity,
but we're honest seekers after truth. He
said our government was established TO
make smooth the pathway of the people
to greater liberty, more permanent
prosperity, and a nearer perfect happi-
ness, and it should be TO the people
what the sappers and miners are to an
army. With its strong arm 1t should
cut down and shape the rough highways
of nature TO permit the individual to
follow and reap the just reward of his
toll. Political parties are the medium
through which the people-impress their
desires upon and give direction to the
government. What seems simple act,
that of casting our vote, has within Its
scope the most far-reaching results TO
the nation. to the community and to the
individual
One of the questions to be decided
by the coming election is whether We
are to continue the protective tariff
policy that has been a part OF our gov
eminent for the past twenty four years.
and under which we have been enabled
to perform such marvellous deeds In
war or In peace or whether We
shall change that policy for what Is
known as free trade or revenue tariff
Exclusively. The advocates of free
trade or revenue tariff are continually
charging that all the ills that have
afflicted this country and all the evils
that befall individual workingmen,
whether from local or personal causes,
can be laid at the door of protection.
The advocates of protective tariff assert
that it increases the compensation Of
labor, elevates the workingman into
higher manhood, and strengthens him
for the battle that is before him for the
battle that is before all toilers ere they
reach the top step of labor reform,
while free trade or any approach to 1t
reduces the compensation OF labor, and
necessarily decreases the comforts of
the masses, gradually reducing the peo-
pie to the condition of serfs. Protec-
ton diversifes the industries of the
country, increases the amount of labor
and increases wages, which In turn
increases the consuming powers OF the
people doubling the home market by
bringing producer and consumer nearer
together.
The speaker then dwelt at length
upon the free trade policy of England
and showed it's blighting effect upon the
the industries of Ireland had been ru-
ined, and her people had been reduced
from a prosperous condition to abject
want. He paid a glowing tribute to
Ireland. There was no more productive
country on the globe, nor one that had
more naturally industrious inhabitants,
but the arrogance of English landlords,
the destruction of their business inter
ests by free trade, and the excessive
rents they had to pay had crushed the
energies of the people. IrishAmeri-
cans knew what had impoverished their
beloved country, and he felt sure that
they would not assist In placing in
power a party whose policy in regard to
the tariff that would have the same
effect in this country. Free trade sim
ply meant low wages for the working
man. Should it be adopted in this
country, as a matter of course our man
ufacturers will be placed in competition
with those of England, and to be
successful, they must have cheap labor
In this country labor is now respected
and commands a price that enables
every industrious toiler to live comfort
ably and procure home for himself,
but adopt the free trade heresy of Eng
land, and in short time it would be
as it now is in Ireland, no remunerative
demand for labor, and want, even of the
necessaries of life, would take the place
of the comforts and prosperity afforded
US by protection.
We would like to give Mr. Scanlan's
speech entire, but want of space forbids
it. Suffice it to say that it was one of
the ablest presentations OF the tariff
questions ever heard in this city, and
the marked attention paid to the speak
er showed Enthusiastically that the truth
enunciated would be productive OF good
roSulto