Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-21
A MOnStrOuS Tariff Procession
RaradeS the Streets.
A tremendous Audience Gathers
to Hear the Maine >tateSman.
His Speech Interspersed With
Rounds Of Applause.


fhiler t"o uays oI almost continuous speech
making, Mr.. Blaine has traversed the entire
length of the State of Pennsvlvanis. arriving
in Pittsburg shortly before III o'clock last
night. the American Club, the Grand
Army band and thousands of enthusj-
astlc people, irrespective of party, receiv-
ed him at the depot. With the assist
ance OF score of stalwart policemen. Mr.
Blame managed TO make his way through the
depot, and IN company with General Beaver
entered an open carriage, which had been
drawn up at the front entrance. The carriage
was then drawn TO the rear of the Americas
club, which, headed by the Grand Army
band, took up the line OF march for the Hotel
Anderson, where Mr. Blame spent the night.
The reception all along the route must have
been intensely gratifying to the Maine states
man. who every few minutes was compelled to
dof his hat in Difference Co the applause of the
crowd, which completely filled the streets,
and made passsgeway for the carriages ex-
tremely difficult. At numerous points along
the short route to the hotel the sky was made
luminous with the glare of red fire, skv
rockets and other pyrotechnic displays.
Wednesdays brief demonstration was un-
paraleled in the history of Western Pennsvl-
vanla. There was an almost universal sus-
pension OF business, the hundred or more
great IRON and steel mills and kindred indus
tries were closed ami the entire population
OF all grades and political beliefs took part
In the demonstration,
The city was filled with strangers who had
been attracted by the announcement that both
Blaine and Beaver would speak. An open
air meeting was held at the Exposition Park
W Wednesday afternoon, and it is estimated
that from 5000 to 5000 were present Up
wards OF 5000 participated in the parade and
the column occupied thirty-fve minutes in
passing given point.
When Blaine was introduced the crowd had
increased to over 10000. 1t was nearly five
minutes before he could make himself heard.
After order had been restored Blaine said ::
The crisis in the tariff system of the United
States is rapidly approaching. For long
series of wears ever since the close of the
war we have had vast debt to he paid
However large the National revenue its sur
plus could always be prottably applied to the
liquidation of our national obligations. We
have discharged that debt so rapidly that
there remains now but little more than $780,
900, 900 OF it that can be paid within this CEN
tury and ali that falls due within four wears
from this date. Its maturity, thus rapidly
approaching, may be said to be even now
impending so that the matter is one that
must be taken into consideration at once, be
cause the remaining 500, 900 900 or $780,
000, 900 go over to the goth century. When
Secretary Sherman, the most accomplished
and able secretary of the treasury since
Alexander Hamilton, GCheersl performed
the marvellous feat of finding large proper
tion of public debts in United States four
per cents, his success was acknowledged on
both sides of the Atlantic as unparalleled in
financial administration, but under the wise
administration of federal government by the
republican party the credit of the nation has
increased so rapidly that U. S. bonds which
were at par but seven years ago, now COM
mand nearly Sl30 and the holders will not
relInquish them to the treasury at less than
that rate. 1t may therefore be assumed as
certainty that their payments is postponed
till the next century and they fall outside the
present eXigences as thev fell outside of the
present power of legislature of this nation.
Applause. When therefore you have di-
minished the total volumne of obligations of
the country to the amount of S200,0 900, 900
now almost due, what are
you gong to do with the surplus
which flows annually into your treasury !?
What disposition are you going to make of
the large amount which each year you have
been accustomed to apply to the payment of
the national debt? Free trade replies "get
|
tectve tariff; lower duty on many articles; !;
put large number of other articles on the
| Tree list and reduce your revenue in that
way" Protectionist answers "let Us so re
duce eur revenue, that with wise disCrimina
| ton, the American laborer, in his daily earn
ings, may be protected by national law, and
keep that in view as the principal object
LCheers. This is a question that impends
for your decision and efter patient consid-
Grafton of the probable consequences to the
result grom that decision, venture the as
sertion that there has not been since the ma
tional election of 1860. a financial crisis so
urgent and pressing as the one which will
be upon the American people within the next
two years.
The main question is whether you will ex-
clude from the tariff protective idea or
whether you will reduce the rates on articles
ffom the duties, on which you gain no protec-
ton and thus so wisely discriminate that with
a new tariff, adapted to Sl00, 900 less rev.
enue, you will still gain all the protection
needed. say to you gentlemen that at only
two periods in our history, namely. the be-
ginning of the federal government and the
outbreak of the civil war, has the financial
ability of American statesmen been confront
ed by problem of the magnitude of the one
to which | have invited your attention.
| Never, therefore, was there a time when men
who believe in protection to American indus
try were more imperatively called upon to
grid about their loins for a great battle on
that question. 1t is impending within two
years and will be settled favoraoly or sdvers-
ly in that time. / cannot now go into the
details on tariff, as to the manner in which it
should be regulated, but l can say this that
unless it is so adjusted as to continue the
doctrine of protection, you gentlemen will
see hard times in this country, and that is
what came here to say. For, advancing
these same views since leaving home and in
the city of Philadelphia, have been compli
mented by notice of the London Times, which
tells me from across the water the views
which l hold have been negagived
by the people of the United States and that
we are travelling towards free trade and away
from protection from the dark days of our
policy towards the enlightened policy of Eng
land. Tderisive merriment In the same
paper in which read the cablegram | have
just quoted, in the shape of column, and
Immediately following among this mornings
dispatches comes another frem London which
says the poor have risen in riot against the