The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-08-26
Mr.. Blaine's Speech.

clear and mastery style OF it, author. Begin
ming with few earnest words ON the import
ance of the present contest Mr.. Blaine takes
up in their order the following questions: The
Tariff Policy, The Labor Question. The Fish
cry Question Relation, with Mexico, and Third
Party Prohibiton>tS, Under the first head he
shows that protection versus free trade has be-
come a national issue; that In the history of
industrial questions 10 party III time of peace
was ever more united j. ~rpport Of a policy
than Is the Republican in sup ort Of Il protect-
i've tariff to-day" while the vast majority Of
the Democratic members of Congress favor
free trade. The loss entailed upo, the country
by the Democratic free trade policy. and the
gain, especially to the ware workers. under
the Republican protective policy. are effective
ly contrasted and are >ub>tantated by irrcfuta-
BILE fact> and figures.
The labor question, Of which MIR Blaine next
treats. is intimately connected with the tariff
issue, as under free trade our workmen must
come in competition with foreign cheap labor.
and the rate of wages in this country cannot be
kept above the European standard. Mr. Blaine
also calls attention to fact not heretofore con-
sdered in this connection, and that is the grow
ing competition from the undergrad colored
laborers of the South. " no ARE generally ell
terng all the avenue, and channels of skilled
Labor" but are cable to take 10 part in making
laws for their own protection, and they are con-
sequently and inevitably unable to maintain
fair standard of wages or to receive Il fair pro-
portion of their proper earnings. In closing
his review of the labor problem Mr. Blaine
says:
The situation Is therefore plainly di>rcrnible
and demOn>trable. viz; Fir>t-if the Demo-
cratic party shall succeed, a> they have been
annually attempting for twelve wears past. in
destroying the Protective Tariff. the artisans of
the United States will be thrown into direct
competition with the highly skilled and mi>er-
ably paid labor of Europe. Second-If the
Democratic party shall be able TO hold control
of the National Government. the cOlorcd labor
CT in the Southern States will remain where
the southern Democrats have placed him poit-
ically, subject to the will of the white man. and
unable to fix the price or command the value
of his labor. The colored man will, therefore.
under those conditions and influences, remain
constant quantity in the labor market, rtcci}-
ing inadequate compensation for his own toll,
and steadily crowding down the compensation
of White labor, if not to hi own level yet far
below it, just and adequate standard
At every turn. therefore. whether il he in
exposing the White American aborcr 10 the
danger of European competition by dc>troyiM"
the Protective Tariff. or whether it be in re-
ducing the wages of the white man by unfairly
making the coored aborcr his fatal competitor.
in all the fields Of toll, the Democratic party
North and South appears a. the enemy Of
every interest of the American work man.
With that party placed in full power and with
all it, measures achieved. the wages of the
American laborcr will fall - certainly as effect
follows cause.
In treating of the fishery question Mr.. Blaine
recalls the process by which it has been placed
in its present attitude, with review of the
early negotiations Oh this subject. lie is
necessarily severe upon secretary Bayard and
upon the Administration for pla, i'm tli~ coun-
try in it, present humating position. .'gra-
tuitously increased by the vote of majority
ofthe Democratic party in the House Of Repre-
sentatiNeS to throw open the markets of the
United States TO British and Canadian fisher
men. without duty or charge and without
securing TO American fishermen the right to
fish in British and lana;Iian waters. This
/, All act of such umaccontahle. rancorous
hostility to III" fishing interest of New Eng
land that it is difficult even to comprehend it,
motive John Randolph so hated the wool
tariff that he felt like walking a mile to kick
sheep. DO the northern Democrats feel such
determined hostility TO the fishermen Of New
England that they would sacrifice a great
national interest in order to mfct blow upon
themF Mr.. Blaine concludes with 1.-THE hope
if not the expectation that Secretary Bavartl
''will leave his country in better position at
the close of the negotiation than he has thus
far maintained for her.
And of the relations with Mexico Mr.. Blaine
says: "Another international trouble has in
creased our sense of chagrin and humiliation
In contrast with cur patient endurance of
Canadian outrage towards American fisher
men, we have made an unnecessary and mn
dignitied display of insolcncc and bravado
towards Mexico There is no adequate cause
for the Unconstitutional | recall any part
of my own participation in public affairs with
special satisfaction it i, that | endeavored aud
almost succeeded in having the American Re
publics assemble in Peace Congress in order
that war between nations on this continent
should be made impossible War in any direc-
ton would prove great calamity TO the United
crime, marked in an especial degree by cruelty.
MIR. Blaine concluded with some remarks
upon the Third Party Prolbtionists, in which
after emphasizing the fact that 1.-THE Republi-
can party in Maine from the day of its organ
ization has been pledged to prohibition" and ii
reference to the Republican platform and can
didate this year, he said:
The position and platform of the third party
might in fact be thus abbreviated: Whereas
the Republican party of Maine enacted Pro
hlbItory Law thirty years ago and has since
amended it as Il majority of the friends of
Temperance demanded, and has in consequence
advanced Maine in all matters of Temperance a
quarter of a century ahead of the License
States; therefore, be it resolved that we,
members of third party of ProhibitonstS,
will so vote as 10 defeat the Republican party
and turn the Government of Maine over to
the Democrats, who have through all these
years opposed Prohibition by every instrument
atty in their power.
Democrats of course, with scarcely an attempt
at cOncealment, regard the third party as their
especial ally, and the coalition is so evident that
am sure no man can be deceived in regard to
the result except him who desires to be de-
ceived. Every voter knows that he must choose
between the Republican and Democratic parties
and every voter knows that in joining the
Third Party he indirectly but effectually throws
his political and moral influence in favor of the
Democracy.
The supporters of the Third party adopt as
their shibboleth that 1.-The Republican partymust
be killed. and they have secured the co-opera-
ton of the Democrat, of the Free Trader. of
the saloon proprietor, of all men who wish to
keep six millions of coored people IN the South
DISTINGUISHED and oppressed. 1t Is an insincere
coalition, an unhaowed partnership, an unholy
alliance. Against it the Republican Party of
Maine presents its uniform support of Prohi-
bition, its splendid record Of devotion to the
Protection of American labor, its long and
patient effort in behalf Of those who are down
trodden and deprived of natural rights. The
Republican party has always fought its battles
single handed, against great odds, and now with
principle untarnished and courage undaunted
it will again triumph over the combined force
of all its foes.
The / 800 correspondents of the New Eng
land Homestead forecast the fruit crop Of this
section as follows: Winter apples, about 20 per
cent. of the usual ''even" years yield in the six
States Maine renorfs n decrease of ahout 81