St. Landry democrat., 1886-09-04
BLAINE HEARD FROM.
The Maine Statesman Speaks at
Sebago Lake,
And Fires the First Gun of a Campaign oil
the Future-A [BriefI Review OF the
Political Issues of the Day From
Republican Standpoint.

Republican mass-meetlng here to-day,
Hon. James G. Blaine delivered the
principal address. Il was substantially
as follows:
"FELLOw CITIZENs-A new admins
tration of the National Government is
usually unveXed in its first year, except
by the opportunities and disappoint.
ments of its own supporters. The peo-
pie at large give small heed for the time
to public affairs and the discussion OF
perfunctory task TO the opposing
partisans in Congress. This season
of apparent Indifference is caused,
in part, by the natural
ebb of the tide which flowed so high in
the preceding National election, and n
part also by the American instinct of fair
play, which demands that the party fresh
~ installed may have free opportunity
and full time TO lay out its ground and
mature its measures.
This period of popular inacton is thus
not only adyantageouSfo for rest, but it pre-
on all matters Of public concern to give a
patient hearing to fair argument when
the time arrives for popular discussion"
Mr.. Blaine then spoke OF the APP
preaching State election. He also took
up the leading political issues of the
Nation, treating at considerable length the
different tariff ideas of the two leading
parties and discussed the labor question,
no ttsh raI al
Mexico as regards the Cutting affair, and
closed with brief reference TO the Pro-
hIbitionists. Speaking OF the tariff poll
icy Mr.. Blaine said that at the late SEES
sion OF Congress the measure
known as the Morrison Tariff
bill, designed to first weaken and al
timately destroy the protective policy,
was resisted by SO compact an organiza-
ton of the Republican members that
single vote from New York and two Or
three votes from Minnesota were all that
broke the absolute unanmity of the
party, and this was rendered still more
striking by the tact that the organs of
Republican opinion in New York and
Minnesota declare that these exceptional
votes were adverse to the wishes of a
large majority of those who elected
the dissenting members. On
the other hand, the majority of
Democratic members supported the free
trade side of the question, but a small
minority uniting with the Republicans,
found themselves able to defeat the
measure, the Democratic party instantly
using comparative dizziness in business,
which their own course in Congress for
twelve years largely developed, as an ar
gument against the policy of protection
But it is worth while to compare the con-
dition of the country in this year OF
grace with its condition the year before
the Republicans succeeded in enacting
their first protective tariff. In the nile
States which still do the larger
amount of manufacturing for the
country and which did nearly all
Il quarter of a century ago,
it is interesting and instructive to
their financial conditions at the |
beginning OF 1861 and the beginning of |
1866. The States referred to are six of |
the New England with New York, New |
Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1861 the |
South presented Il condition brought |
about by nearly an entire generation of |
free trade, and the aggregate amount |
which the people accumulated i'll savings |
banks during that long period was less !
than one hundred and sixty million dol |
srs. In the same States on the first day |
Of january, 1886, the aggregate amount |
ID the savings banks was over one thou |
sand and twenty millions of dollars. |
Yet another compar. |
lson may be still more embarrassing to |
tree trade doctrinaireS and more difficult |
tor them to answer. While American |
workmen in nine States working I'M
der protective tariff have over
4 thousand millions dollars in
The savings banks, vastly greater |
mass of Workin"men in England, Ireland, |
Scotland and WaIes-the whole United |
working under free trade, |
rave less than four hundred million dol |
ars in the savings banks and postal |
banks. These figures and these dollars |
Ire more persuasive than arguments, and |
he conclusion they teach is SO plain that
! running man may read.
OF the labor question, Mr.. Blaine after
Getting the present condition of the
Sorkingmen saws: 81 have no new |
ostrums to offer for the cure of labor
| have no quack remedies to
ropose. | am a free believer in the
tIicacy OF the protective tariff and can
Dok back with serene satisfaction to my
ecord in Congress as never blotted by a
ingle vote that was not friendly to the
interests of Americans to labor. II
ever promised anything when. l
'as candi ate for public office,
nd now as a private citizen
have no temptation to fatter any man.
L state any thing else than the simple
ruth, so l say the truth"
Mr.. Blaine then made comparison of
lie wages paid the laborers of the South
18th those OF the Northern workinemen
Do you suppose" he continued, "thar
on can permanently maintain in North
IN States one scale of prices when Just
eyond an imaginary line on the south OF
lie United States far different scale OF
ices is paid for lahor2 The col.