The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-14
CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Speech of Senator John A. Logan, of
Illinois, Delivered at Pitts
burgh, Pa.
The Democracy's Broken Promises
Our Prosperity Under Pro-
lection.

Guilty. Where no change 10 attempted, we have
Just 20 follow the line of the past To discover the
direction that will be pursued in the future So
with the history OF parties where their plat
forms remain the same we can only Judge or
their future usefulness by what they have ac-
cemplished in the past. The party now in
power in this land has written its history.
After nearly twenty five years OF supremacy,
that party was relieved in 1861, and to-day but
one measure enacted in accord with its finnn-
cial policy romans ON the statute books, Co
w.t. the independent treasury system. It's
financial dogmas maintained then and advo-
Gated now, have all been abandoned by the
country. The pet doctrine Of this Democratic
party, which 10 still fanatcally clings to- State
sovereignty-went down in war waged by tho
Southern half Of the party, backed by the SYM
pathy and assistance of their Northern allies.
At the close Of this disastrous rule, when the
Republican party came TO the rescue OF our
government, they found that the financial and
tariff policy of their defeated opponents had
brought the country to its lowest level, without
credit at home or abroad. Certainly there IL
naught in this record Of Democratic control to
inspire the hope that its present course in the
management of the government will improve.
The Republican party was defeated in the last
election for the reason that the Democratic
party had for twenty years persistently made
unfounded charges of delinquency in the adj
ministration of the affairs of the Government,
until the cry was raised by great many poo
pie for a change, for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the truth or fasity OF the charge. The
Democratic party entered upon their search
with an earnest zeal, inspired by Jealous malice
lican party the same character OF corruption in
the administration Of the Government as had
marked their regime. After most minute and
painstaking examination Of every transaction
of the Government for the last twenty-five
years, the old Democratic party disappointed
and disheartened snaringly admit that the
record Of the Republican party for purity and
official integrity is the marvel of the world.
Controlling this Government during time
when the most stupendous collections and dis
bursements OF money were made OF any time
during it's history, no man can point to n single
case whore the Government was defrauded that
the defaulter was not pursued. and the cases
OF actual loss To the Government are so rare
that they can be enumerated on the fingers of
any hand The percentage of loss during the
Republican administration will defy comparison
with the history Of any Government on earth
When the Republican party assumed control
Of the Government we established system of
currency that avoided all the evils experienced
under the Democratic theory. The national
banking system, the child of the Republican
party, is constantly threatened by Democratic
opposition and should be restored to the care Of
the party of its invention. The immense capt
tai invested in tho banks and the vast amount
of their loans and assets would render radical
change in the system inimical TO the conserve
tive business interests of the whole country.
We find the Democratic party ready at all times
TO seize upon any quack system OF finance for
the payment of the public debt. that promises
destruction to our credit and our honor in the
future. At the same time, IL bitterly opposes
every advanced step taken by our party, and
when we made our currency equal to coin We
had to overcome their bitter opposition. So
their opposition extended to oil the great meas
ures proposed by the Republican party. They
have ever opposed our tariff system, and l de-
sire TO discuss this tariff in plain, common
sense, and business-like manner. / promise to
advance no theories, but simply to recall to your
minds historical facts, and leave them TO justify
my tariff convictions. l am II tariff man from
principle, and what led to my convictions pro-
pose briefly Co discuss.
Immediately after tho formation Of our pres
ent Government, and as the second act OF the
Federal Congress, tariff bill was passed, and
signed by George Washington, which declared
in its preamble that such measure was nee
essary" for the discharge of the debts Of the
United States, and the encouragement and pro-
lection Of manufactures" BY n study OF the
commercial history of our country find this
political measure followed by an unusual bust
ness activity, and rapid increase in the num-
Der OF our manufactures.
Prior 30 the Revolution, you will remember, it
had been the policy OF England TO crush the ris-
ing industries of the Colonies, and that this was
one Of the leading causes of the war for indie
pendence. Those far-seeing statesmen-the
trainers Of our Constitution and organizers Of
our Government-readilyp perceived the necessi-
ty for fostering our manufactures and protecting
our labor in order to make the country self-sus-
tanning. This system worked so we'll that at the
next Congress the law was extended. The pros
perity of the people continued, and in 1872 they
were enabled to sustain themselves in the war
waged with England and win the victory. Imme-
diately following this war English merchants at
tempted, by II concerted plan, to glut the Amer
lean market with manufactured goods and force
the suspension OF our manufactures. even at a
temporary loss to themselves, that their harvest
might be the richer when their competition in
this country had been broken down. The scheme
Jailed, owing 10 the prompt action of Congress
ia enactng the tariff law Of 1916, which is really
the basis OF our American system of protection.
Again. referring TO our commercial history, |
find this period marked by the increased pros
perity OF the people This was followed in 1924
and 1923 by laws extending the scope of the
tariff acts already on the statute books.
n
most unanimous sentiment Of the country in
reference to protection.
The South, fostering slavery, had devoted all
her energies TO making that traffic profitable,
and had not kept pace with the North in adj
vancing her manufactures. She saw with Jeal-
Gus eye the independent position attained by
the North through her varied industries and i'm
! stead Of discerning the real reason for their
sluggGrd pace, the leaders OF the South
seized upon the tariff rs tho cause OF
| their condition. Such n clamor came from
! the South for free trade that the tariff
men consented TO n compromise and passed the
act Of 1892, which modified tho existing law.
| This action was secured by the craft of the
| Southern leaders in consolidating their people
! upon the two doctrines OF State rights and
! free trade. But as all compromises have ever
proven, this one was failure, and while it gave
! u setback to our rapidly increasing interests OF
the North, was not satisfactory TO the Southern
| ers, who openly rebelled in South Carolina
| But President Jackson soon quelled this dis
/ turbance. and the free trade advocates claimed
to be satisfied with the Clay compromise OF
/ 1888, which was a square backdown from the
| advanced position occupied by the tariff men
/ and proved costly blunder. Our industries
were frog that time on tho wane. and the com
mercial distress Of 1887 is traceable TO this com
! promise. The advocates of free trade, having
/ secured full power through the aid Of the kin.
dred doctrines of State rights and slavery, in
| 1876 passed the free trade act of that year, and
then followed such financial panic and business
depression this country had never experienced
Tho furnaces Of Pennsylvania ceased to burn,
| the rich mountains were no longer minod, and
the growing manufactures OF the State were par
alyzed. Infant industry that required the watch
full care OF protecting Government, was ruth
lessly destroyed by the adoption of this free
| trade neresy. But in 1861 the Republican party
came into power, bearing upon its victorious
banners the magic inscription OF the glorious
/ trinity, Unity, freedom and protection Will
this cry had the victory OF 1850 been won and
right nobly did the party proceed to impress
these doctrines upon the policy OF the Govern
ment. BY the genius OF the Republican party
| the tariff act OF 1864 was passed, and our sleep
! ing energies were at once aroused. and the di
versified industries of the country were once
more cherished and fosterod.
What contrast did our condition present x
| that Of tho Confedoracy during the four and
half years Of struggle In opposition TO our pol
| icy OF protection the Confederate Constitution
declared, in Section s. Congress shall have
and excuses for revenue necessary to pay the
! debts, provide for the common defense, and car
| ny ON the Government of the Confederate states
but no bounty shall be granted from the troasu
ry nor shall any duty or tax on importation
from foreign nations DO laid TO promote
| or foster any branch OF industry" Since thei
tho Democratic platforms have followed il