The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-14

"Nobody" he says, sis free trader. AL we
want is raw material" Question him closely,
| and you find the manufactured articles are
things the other man wants, and raw
material the things he wants. But that
business of raw materials has been dropped by
its inventor Abram F. Hewitt, although the
newspapers of New England keep it up. They
say all they want is to get the manufactures Of
this country in a position, which will only
hurt them, but not kill them.
They say they are the great friends of the
| laboring man, and have nominated some of
their representatives, but that is because they
want to use them, not to benefit them. The
labor question is not difficult one to speak
| about The difficulty is not in the statement
of it. The difficulty is the same as in all life,
how to act to your own advantage. If l could
| tell you how to get rieh should not tell you,
but l would use the information my
self. The problem before the laboriug
man is continuous one. The law
can do some things, and the legislature of Mas
| sachusetts has nobly done some things for
him, and every sensible and right-minded man
will be ready to assist the laboring man. Cap
ital, from its very nature and condition, must
employ labor, or rest idle and be ruined. But
the combination of both results in profit, and
the sole question is what share shall each have
of that profit. If you can give me rule of
law which shall be good for to-day and
for the days to come, you will give me
something have never seen. 1t is prob
lem which varies day by day according to the
times. and is question to be settled by EN-
ployers and employees knowing enough of each
others business to understand what is fair
between man and man. If organization is the
true solution of the problem, you may
be sure that organization will
live and flourish. You may be sure
that what is right and just, and what will
stand the test of examination, will be promi-
nent in this movement and whet we all want
to do, because we don't make laws for one
class of the people, is to legislate in eonson-
ance with the wants of all. say such
legislation will be sure to be enacted when it is
discovered, in such shape as to meet the good
sense of the people of Massachusetts, and the
United States. What we want on this quss-
ton is full, free frank and open discussion,
and, above all things, it is not to be carried on
by the words of men who promise everything
because they intend to fulfil nothing.
will occupy your time but just one
moment more. L want to appeal to you be-
cause you have solemn and serious duties to
perform. Where do you suppose this country
is governedi Do you suppose it is governed
in Washington, or here in Boston? If
thought so before | went to Washington,
l became satisfied when l got there
Congress sits in Washington and
legislature in Boston to record the DEGREES
of the people as the people dictate. This
country is governed right here and by you
to the extent of your numbess, your brains
and your abilities, and in your high position
you ought to bring these to the consideration
of these matters in order to obtain
and honest administration to do in all these
matters what seems to be just and wise. Dis
card all passion and prejudice; bring your
minds to bear on the ct,and, above all things
you ought to fix your mind on the question,
which body of men of the two parties must
govern this country. Platforms don't de-
eide the question. Platforms are
glttering generalities, and never refer
to the future. 1t is the duty of the citi-
zen to select, according to his light, the best
of the two parties and stand by it. and not
vibrate from one party to tho other. And
when the time comes, do your duty and your
whole duty aud help to govern the country,
and not have any doubt which party you will
choose.
The Boston papers speak in high terms Of
the speech. The Advertiser says sit fairly
bristled with sharp illusions to the weak
points in the harness of the new coalition,
and was most emphatically approved by the
audience" The Journal says it 'was both
earnest and eloquent, humorous and sarcas-
tic at times, but mainly an appeal to think
ing men, Even the Post, political adver-
saIy, speaks approvingly of It's wit.