Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-13

The majority report as finally adopted
shows the sense of the convention.
THE WOOL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
The announcement that Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher would speak at this even
ing's session OF the conference attracted
an audience that packed Central Music
HAN to its fullest capacity. Previous to
lteN. Beechers appearance, however,
David A. Wells, president OF the Free
Trade League, delivered alengthy address,
In which the audience was enlightened
us TO the benefits acorung from free trade,
and the general disadvantages of protec-
ton. MIR. Wells strongest argument in
favor OF free trade was an illustration
taken from facts relating TO the woolen
manufacturing industry.
WOOL FIBRE.
The wool fibre, he said, was OF an in
finite degree OF ineness, and the require
ments of it's growth were special cOndi-
lions OF climate and soil for almost every
grade, 80 that manufacturer, IN order to
accede TO the demands of Oft-changing
fashion, was obliged TO draw upon nearly
all countries for the raw material neces-
sary in the manufacture of a wide range
OF fabrics, OF which those possible to be
made from homegrown wool were a very
small percentage.
Inc pAOteCblNG NdIlu Oh inc ulaNbIldl
imported not only increased the price OF
all woollen goods, but had the effect of
cbeapening the home product to an ex-
tent that was driving wOOl-grOwers pos
sessed OF every advantage Of location
and facilities for transportation to aban-
don the pursuit as Improbable.
REV. BEECHER INTRODUCED.
When Mr.. Wells had finished, Rev.
Beecher was greeted with loud and con-
tinued applause. lie began by referring
to the Ott-quoted cOnceit of the manufac-
turers that they alone were in position
to understand the intricacies of the tariff
question. Mr.. Beecher declared that he
was in favor of no tariff at all, though the
| best policy to follow was TO place direct
tariff upon the people to defray the eX-
penses of the government. The innate
selishness of the people, born
of their ignorance, would make
the operation Of such policy impossible
until the arrival Of the millennium. The
speaker then referred to the history OF
liberty, from liberty of thought to liberty
| of speech and Of action. Liberty Of
thought in relation to commerce had led
to liberty of speech in favor Of removal
! of the obstacles in the way OF its progress
and action that would eventually sue
! ceed.
y
Mr.. Beecher said that protection was
the iugglery of the devil, and that if poll
| ticans were statesmen protection would
die natural death in spite of the devil,
but politicians were not statesmen. They
were s'VOte-mOngers." The speaker said
that when Mr.. Seward was Secretary of
| State, and rang his little bell and ordered
! the people about, it was said that
such was the necessity of war. The
speaker thought so at the time but he had
come to believe that no country was less
fitted to assume arbitrary power than
this. This country, he said, was not a
praternal government and, he added: ga
praternal government is an Internal gov
ernment."
CUSTOM HOUSES AND COURTS.
Mr.. Beecher spoke in most uncOmpli-
mentary language of custom houses, and
said he believed from personal Observa-
tiOn that if there was such a thing as a
profane oath it could invariably be found
in courts and custom houses. Quoting
the Secretary of the national labor Organi-
zati0n, Mr.. Beecher said there were now
in this country a million OF labOrers un-
employed. After referring to the RI
valry among capitalists in develop
ing and reaping profits In newly
discovered Industries which resulted in
inevitable Overproduction, and the ulti-
mate effect OF throwing labOrers again out
OF work. Mr.. Beecher remarked that
there was no tariff on men, and wondered
if the prOtectiOnists were thinking OF bet
tering the situation by placing tariff on
imported pauper labor.
MADE THE AUDIENCE LAUGH.
This was intensely amusing to the au-
dience. and its suppressed laughter In
creased to q roar when the speaker re-
marked that this country was large eX-
pOrter-"Of religion" This country sent
millions of dollars to heather countries to
instill the principles Of Christianity into
the minds of the unbeliever while the arti-
Gle went a begging athome. This country
was liberal in exporting religion for the
benefit of the heather, but when those bene-
fited individuals came to this country to be
nearer to the fountain-head OF such teach
ing they were met with stones and curses,
and only allowed to remain at the peril OF
their lives. The speakers closing words
were tribute to the liberty that had
founded the government, that had freed
the slave, and which would remove every
bar to its commercial grandeur.