The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-31

whom the speaker was proud to introduce,
Mr. Springer was greeted with ap-
plause as he stepped forward on the
stage. He said il afforded him great
pleasure to be able to address such Il
large and intelligent audience as he saw
before him lie understood there was
quite a number Of republicans present.
He was glad of it. He would not say
anything to hurt their feelings. He also IN
dcrstOOd there were men present who had
formerly been republicans, but who had
left the party, and were now doing good
work for the democratic party
Mr.. Springer then entered upon discus
sion of the political situation. He said
that four years ago when we were in the
midst of political campaign like the
present, the republicans said if they were
given four years more to administer the
affairs of the government they would
bring prosperity and plenty to the people.
Such devices rs Vote for Garfield and
good times" and Vote for Hancock and
hard times were to be seen in republican
torch light professions They said there
would he no pauper labor, no factories
closed and no hard times. Has the pledge
been kcptI Arc we having good times:
Are our factories all running? Does
prosperity exist all over the land2 What
has became of this republican promise
The republicans determined that the tariff
bill needed revision. The democrats were
in the minority in congress, and therefore
the matter of revising the tariff bill
was easy work for the republi-
cans A congressional commission OF
Nine experts were appointed and this
commission went about taking testimony.
| The members Travelled six or seven thous.
and miles and got the testimony of six
thousand people. The report filled sever.
al volumes of 1000 pages each, They re
port that the tariff bill should be reduced
90 per cent John G. Carlisle was the
only democrat on that commissioner that
it was a purely republican measure 1t
became the law eighteen months ago.
After years experience it was found
that the tariff had actually only been re-
duCed two per cent The revenues re-
ccived from all sources last year was
$500, 10000 The reduction of taxes
amounted to $43, 100000. The taxes had
been reduced on luXuries but nothing had
been taken off from the necessaries of life.
Taxes had been reduced on perfumes,
balms and fancy articles, but not on the
wooden dress goods, boots and shoes, etc.
A tax of SAB is paid on every 500 worth
of these goods imported. Republicans say
that the foreigners pay this tariff, That is
not true. John V Farwel & Co., of
Chicago, the largest importers in the state,
if not in the United States, pay every
year over 100000 as tariff on the
goods they import. Marshall, Field &
Co., of Chicago, also pay heavy tariff
duties. Does that look like foreigners paw
the tariff? The idea is preposterous.
The republicans fixed the bill up. The
democrats had nothing to do with it
Blaine said it was necessary measure
Today there are 900, 900 idle men in this
country. Wheat worth $150 per bushel
4 years ago, now sells for - cents per
bushel. Has the bill protected the labor
ing classes? Blaine said it would restore
prosperity. Has it done so?
The farmers in France last year realized
81, 100000 on hogs; how about America!
Farmers are selling their wheat here for
80 cents per bushel How do they like
1t? That is one result of republican rule
How about the laboring man? The
speaker produced the report for 1882 OF
Chas. II. Deere, of Moline, president OF
the Bureau of Labor Statistics in this
state. The speaker said he wanted tho
audience to imagine that Mr.. Deere was
on the witnesses stand submitting his tes>
timony. He said that as he read from
the report he wanted it understood that
it was Mr.. Deere who was talking for the
time being. Then he proceeded to read
from Mr.. Deere'S report. 1t said that
the statistics submitted had been gathered
from the expert vorkmen, from men OF
intelligence, and were therefore reliable
Then came the startling statement that
the average earnings of the heads OF
families were less than the genera
average cost of their support. The re-
port alluded to the many idle men who
were to be found In the larger towns and
cities. 80, continued the speaker, "tht
protective tariff does not give the labor
ing man and his family even living
People can feel the times getting harder
all the time. Occasionally COW is sold
then horse is disposed of, next a piece
of household furniture, and why
Because ahe people are getting poorer
They sell these things to secure a bare
living in this protected land of ours. The
poor are getting poorer and the ricf
richer.