Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-05-09
FRANK HURD'S GREAT SPEECH.

Tuesday of last week, Hon. Frank
Hurd delivered a powerful speech
in support of the Morrison tariff bill.
Advices from Washington state
that this speech has proved the
sensation, not of an hour or day, but
of the session. MIR. Hurd is the
most talked of man in the
city. Not only was his speech
able, brilliant and eloquent, as far
rhetoric and oratory 60, but the
moral courage of his position; his
brave fidelity to conviction; his
earnestness and his faith that the
cause of tariff reform will soon
triumph, made him stand forth a
hero" The speaker won applause
not only from democrats, but from
republicans who could not but pay
a tribute to his oratory. At the
close of the speech democratic and
republican members gathered around
Mr.. Hurd and congratulated him
upon his brilliant effort. We give
the following brief report of the
speech:
Mr.. Hurd denied the right of the government
to surrender the taxing power and allow an in
dividual to exercise it. When he earned wages
they were his own, and he had the right to eX-
pend them where he pleased If he could make
better contract with Frenchman, Mexican,
Canadian, or an Englishman than with an
American, he had the right to do it, and the
government had no right to interpose except in
so far the needs Of its revenue were concerned.
He rested his whole case on this proposition:
that, subject to the needs of the government
every man had the right to sell where he could
get the best price for what he had produced, and
buy where he could buy most cheaply. This
was the approved doctrine of political economy
and the plainest teaching of justice. 1t individ-
ualized men; it begot in them spirit of indie
pendence; it turned their eyes from the govern
ment to themselves; 1t fixed the boundary line
between governmental power and personal
rights; 1t limited the authority of public admins
tration; it taught men that there was no arm SO
strong for their support as their own, and nc
business so successful as that which their ability
and skill had built up; it limited the government
within its proper sphere, and left individuals
free to choose their own careers, develop theil
own resources and build up their own fortunes
The present American tariff was an embarrass
ment to commerce and injurious to the carrying
trade, and it was a question only Of time when
under this policy the American flag would en-
tirely disappear from the high seas. The oceans
were free to all. Any person might sail whereso
ever he pleased; but, in this freefor- all races
where was the American? The skill of the sailors
of every nation was there asserting ITSELF except
ours. Fortunes were being built up for the PEG
pie of all nations except ours and yet this was
an ocean bound republic Every ripple of the
waters on the sea shore was an invitation to en-.
| JOY the wealth of foreign nations, and every
stormy wave that beat upon the crags spoke in
| laundering denunciation of policy that would
| lock America out of the markets of the world
Loud applause What the effect of the
| ruinous system ON the farmer It increased the
price of all articles which entered into his daily
consumption, and this increase amounted an
nually to the sum Of S450, 900, 600.
The protective system operated to increase the
price of transportation of grain from the west to
the seaboard, and from the seaboard to Europe.
When the grain of the American farmer reached
Liverpool it came in competition with the grain
of every other farmer of the world. The protec-
tive tariff of America was unable to help him
there, and every dollar increase in the price
which the transportation occasioned to him
diminished the profits of his sales. But protec-
tive tariff did more injury to the farmer than in
the injury it oceasioned his foreign market II
has already robbed America of one-half of the
markets of the old world. India now furnished
England with wheat. The effect of this ON the
markets of the United States within the last nine
months had been a decline in the expectation
of Americ an cereals of more than 1900, COZ
bushels, and wheat had gone down in Chicago
to less than so cents. And this development Of
the wheat production of India was entirely the
result of the protective policy in America.
II say" continued he, 'to the farmers of
America, the prospect before you is not encourag-
ing now With the elevators and granaries and
warehouses all full of the old crop unsold; with
the vast fields greening to the coming harvest;
promise among all the wheat-growing nations,
and with the price of wheat at less than so cents,
the result will be inevitable that the price OF
wheat before January next will not pay the cost
of production, and corn raised on the wester n
prairies again will be burned for fuel. In hat
day farmers will be beggars in the midst of their
own plenty-paupers by the side of their own
golden-gathered sheaves. There is absolutely no
relief except in making foreign markets for
agriculture" He went on to argue that the
effect OF the present system was not beneficial to
manufacturing interests, but, on the contrary, was
detrimental to them, in that it prevented them
from securing free raw material. ''0h, if could
burn into the brain of the manufacturers of
America one sentence" he burst forth, cit would
be this: Turn from this constant introspection
to the nations of the world Down with wallsl
Out to the seal There are 2,0Oo, 100000 people
who want to buy what you make. Rise up to
the truth of the great thought that these i'm
mense peoples can be supplied by you with all
the instruments of husbandry and the tools of
artisanship. But they will not take your goods
unless you take theirs. Let your tariff disap-
pear and then. manufacturers Your atten-
ton will be diverted from home markets to gen.
erous rivalries in foreign trade, in which a
wealth will come to you of which you do not
dream to-day" [Applause.l He then discussed
the tariff question as affecting the rates of wages
for labor, declaring that so far labor was con-
cerued, the fruits of protection were want
penury. and starvation. Those were jewels in its
crown. He wished workingmen would cease to
believe In the delusion that protection was 4
help to them. 1t came in the guise of friend,
but wa s really moral foe. It's hand was lifted
in the attitude of benediction but it was really
raised to curse. 1t never would perm it labor to
have the full share to which it was entitled of
the profits of capital. If employers had not the
wisdom to learn the truth, he hoped this agita-
ton would enlighten the workers, and they, by
their votes would relegate business to the nat
ural laws of trade"
A telegram, dated New Orleans,
May 8, says:
sarha ;,,t csr ofr