Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-01-28
wIAMINeroN MoRoooo.
Speech of NHr. John G. Baker ut the
Morocco Men's Esanquet.

At the morocco manufacturer banquet
in New York last week, John G. Fax 81
responded to the toast: "rhe Morocco
Manufacturers Of Wilmington--Re Represen.
tatiyes Of the Diamond State. NAV The
fame Of their enterprise and skill ever
| glisten with diamonds luster." Mr..
Baker said:
am proud of the compliment paid to
the morocco manufacturers of Whining
ton. In looking around tonight. listen
ing to the remarks of the gentlemen of
the trade, and to the very impressive re-
marks of our worthy president, am re-
minded of the old story of the traveller
who went to the Eternal City. Satiated
with the sights, he returned to his hotel
Mt night with a book of the orations of
some of the old worthless, and in the read
ing he became entranced. There was an
apparition appeared before him in his
room. "Who's there ?" no answer, and
he shot at him with pistol. 1t was the
apparition of an noble old Roman. who
said, "What is that thing you nave in
your hand2' ''It is q boot. sir" Let
me see it; how is it got up ~ by types.
set by men, gathered into form, and
placed upon a press. The press whirls
around and many thousands Of copies are
printed from the same type" ''Whose
invention is that ?" tA Gerinnn's.n az
noticed little thing you pointed at me
that made noise; what was that ?" "A
pistol" "What made the noiso ?'' ''The
explosion of the gunpowder It carried
n ball and just missed you. The piece of
lead was to kill you" "Who invented
these things?" "a Germau.n "In my
day we had nothing of that sort. We
used battle axes, spears and lances. no.
ticed you had another little thing there
What is that ~ "a watch" "a watch
what is that for ~ sit measures the
flying hours of the day, and takes the
place of your old hour glass" "Whose
invention is that?" "a Germans, sir.i'
The old Roman turns and says to him,
"What are my countrymen doing all this
time ?" "0ut on the mountain tops,
brigands, or in some lowly occupation"
The old Roman folded his arms and said,
formerly masters of the world, they have
fallen into deep degradation"
The morocco men in the good old
times were masters of our country, and
the trade of our country in the manu-
facture of morocco, but alas-departed
greatness. We have travelled over this
SouhttJ3 Hh oA 10 l1o1C VI ASbp, W6
have entered the factories of the shoe
See, what is this French
kid; and what is this ? India tanned
stock. [Applause. We hear the siren
sing, "Let well enough alone, we will be
al right" Some will say, ''put the tariff |
on What effect would the tariff have
on French kid? It comes in spite of all |
we have been able to do. We have been |
Kicking the wrong dog. There has been |
no trouble ia selling our low-priced goods |
,or 10 years. The French goods have
been substituted, and we stand in the |
position of carrying the good goods. I |
the fact that the morocco trade
s in chaotic or transition state. Next |
Iear will see such changes, and such de-
in the morocco trade by indi-
,idual exertion, individual effort and indi-
,idual determination as will succeed in |
French kid from our markets,
md we of the State of Delaware are
,oing to put our shoulders to the wheel
md help it on.