Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-24
I'd EDITION.
Latest TeleglamS to The Star.
MR. BLAINE-s FIRST SPEECH.


g. Blaine arrived here from Bar Harbor this
morning The regular campaign was opened
yesterday and this Is Mr.. Biaine's opening
speech. He is expected to thoroughly stump
the state and Wilt speak twice more this week.
There was large audience TO greet the dis
tinguished statesman.
IN RELATION TO THE TARIFF QUESTION
Mr.. Blaine said: at is in the drst place es-
pecially worthy OF observation that in the his
tory Of industrial questions no party in time of
policy than is the republican in support Of a
protective tariff to-day. At the late session of
Congress q measure known as the Morrison tar
destroy the protective policy, was resisted by so
compact an organization Of the republican
members that single vote from New York
all that broke tie absolute unantmity or the
party. And this was rendered still more strik-
opinion in New York and Minnesota de-
clare that these exceptional votes were
ADVERSE to the wishes Of q large majority OF
On the other hand, the vas. majority OF The
democratic members supported the free
sde IF the StS
themselves able to defeat the measure. There
upon the democratic papers quite generally
throughout the country denounced the recu-
SAINTS as unfaithtul to the creed of their party,
and the journal in New York which is said to
reflect the views of the national administra-
tlon gave formal notice to all democrats, north
ana south, who lean towards the policy OF pro-
tection that they must revise their opinions or
leave the party, because with their views they
can find no sympathy in democratic ranks aud
no standing room on democratic platforms.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
On the subject of labor Mr.. Blaine said: 81
have no new nostrums to offer for the cure of
labor troubles. 1 have no quack remedies to
propose. am q firm believer in the efficacy of
the protective tariff, and l can look back with
serene satisfaction to my record in Con-
gress as never blotted by single vote
that was not friendly to the interests OF
American labor. l never promised anything
when l was candidate for a public office, and
~ as priVale CITIZEN nave no temptauon
10 natter any man or state anything else than
the simple truth as l see the truth. 1t is in
this spirit that l offer some suggestions which
seem to me worthy OF attention under the eX-
listing situation OF the labor question:.
He referred to the fact that in the creed of the
knights OF LABOR there was no mention of a
protective tariff, and asked how under the rule
OF free trade wages can De kept ABOVE the gen.
eral standard OF European wages. He referred
to the million and a half OF colored labOrers in
the south,who he said, are able 10 take no part
In making laws tor their own protection, and
they are consequently and inevitably unable
to maintain lair standard Of wages or to re.
ceive fair proportion OF their proper earnings.
The situation, he said, is therefore plainly
discernibe and demonstrable. viz: First-If
the democratic party shall succeed, they
have been annually attempting Tor twelve
years past, in destroying the protective tariff
into direct competition with the highly skilled
and miserably paid labor OF Europe. Second
If the democratic party shall be able to hold
control OF the national government, the
coiored labOrer in the southern states will
remain where the southern democrats have
placed him politically, subject to the will OF the
white man, and unable to nix the price or COM
mand the value OF ms labor. The colOred man
will, therefore, under those conditions and in
labor market, receiving inadequate compensa-
ton for his own toll and steadily crowding
down the compensation OF white labor, ii not to
his own level yet far below its just and ade-
Quate standard.
At every turn, therefore, whether 1t be in ex-
posing the white American laborer to the
danger OF European competition by destroying
the protective tariff, or whether II be in reduc-
ing the wages OF the white man by unfairly
making the cOlOred laborer his fatal competi.
tor, in all the fields of toll, the democratic party
north and south appears as the enemy of every
Interest OF the American workman. With that
party placed in full power and with all its meas
ures achieved, the wages OF the American lab
Orer will fall certainly effect follows cause.
THE FISHERY QUESTION.
After a long review of the fisheries dispute
Mr.. Blaine said: "The humiliation of our situa-
ton has been gratuitOusly increased by the
vote of a majority OF the democratic party in
the House OF Representatives TO throw open
the markets the United States to Brit
ish and Canadian fishermen without duty
charge and without securing to Amer
lean fishermen the right to fish in Brit
ish and Canadian waters. This is an
hostility to the fishing interest of New England
that it is difficult even to comprehend its mo-
tive. John Randolph SO hated the wool tariff
that he felt lke-walking mile TO kick a sheep
DO the northern democrats feel such deter
mined hostility to the fishermen OF New Eng
land that they would sacrifice great national
interest i'll order to infiict a blow upon them?
1T would certainly be refreshing If We could
hear Mr.. Webster's words repeated from official
sources to-day. 1t would be refreshing il it
could once more be asserted with the strength
and dignity OF Webster that the United States
will not submit their rights to be adjudcated
in the petty tribunals Of the pr0vnees
tected in all their rights of property
and in all their rights OF occupation Mr.
that his position would lead to war. He
simply expected that firm, decided tone
would bring English officials to their senses
and make them feel the responsibility and
danger of transgressng the rig hts and touch
ing the Sensbilities of q proud and powerful
people, Mr.. Webster knew, as those who
learned from him have since known, that
England could even less than the United
States afford to go to war about the fisheries.
in his school have since known, that England
and the United States can never go to war
except on some point that touches the imperial
integrity Of the one or the other-and even an
ofiense of that magnitude We agreed in
1871 to settle by arbitration and not by gage
Of battle But the country is weary Of
adian constables are arresting American
crews and that Canadian gunboats are
capturing vessels on the high seas floating the
American flag. And all this on the assumption
of a treaty power which the United States de-
MES and upon technical construction put tor
ward a quarter OF a century after the treaty
went into operation and had received peaceful
and fair construction. We shall await the pub
LEGATION OF Mr.. Bayard's correspondence with
Great Britain on the subject of the seizure of
American fishing vessels with deep interest
shall wait with the hope If not the expectation
that he will leave his country In better posi-
ton at the close OF negotiation than he has
thus far maintained for her,"
OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
He referred to another international trouble
which "has increased our sense OF chagrin and
humiliation" "In contrast with our patient
endurance of Canadian outrage toward
American fishermen" he said, I'VE have
made an unnecessary and undigni-
fed display OF ins %Ia and bravado
Quate cause for the demonstration.
do not stop at this point to narrate the pre-
else facts attending the imprisonment OF Mr..
Cutting. l know that we cannot without loss
OF character for honor and chivalry begin our
negotiations with threats of war. maintain
arbitration as the means of adjusting our
grave difficulties with England we came
under bonds to the public opinion Ut the world
to offer arbitration TO any weaker power as
the means OF settling difficulties in
all cases where we cannot adjust them by direct
that conclusion We place ourselves in the DIS
reputable attitude OF accepting arbitration with
q strong power and reSOrting to force with q
weak power. am sure no American citizen OF
selErespect desires to see his country subjected
to that degradation. For the United States to
nifty to be heard before an impartial tribunal of
arbitration would be for great nation of I'M
limited power 70 put herself to open shame be-
fore the world"