The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-25
MR.. BLAIEE,s SPEECH.

Nix BLAlNE'S SPEECH.
The speech of Mr.. James G.. Blaine, at Se-
bago Lake. Me. yesterday being the formal
opening of the campaign in that State, is re-
markable for its temperate character, there
being no hint Of jingoism in it, though the
speaker, as might have been expected, makes
manly stand in defense of American rights
and American dignity. He proceeds first to
show how the hostile attitude of the Demo
cratic party to the tariff has had the effect of
Gripping enterprise and stagnating business
of all kinds, which that party by specious
ratiocination ascribes to the working of the
tariff which is not allowed to do its perfect
work by reason of the interference of those
opposed to the American idea of protection to
American interests. From this he naturally
proceeds to the discussion of the labor ques-
ton in all its forms, demonstrating that the
hope of free labor in this country must lie in
keeping the workingmen of the United States
from being underbid by the poorly paid mill
ions of the old world, where the conditions
are such that there is no choice between I'M
derbidding other countries and suffering star
walton. Against this ruinous kind of compe-
tition the speaker would maintain the friend
ly barriers of protection, which have done so
much for the advancement and enrichment of
the working classes Of the United States
Tha a. IL Il
rection, and one evidently closest to
the speakers heart, is where he points to
the fact that the Southern negro freed from
the dictation of his former MASTER has es-
capped from the cotton field and the sugar
plantation and sought out new and better
ways to maintain himself. From being
farm hand he has become enlightenedin other
ways of earning a livelihood and is already
employed in many of the skilled branches of
industry, and is now serving as fireman on
steamboats, and locomotives as the mason who
lays up the walls of the new mills that are
springing UP in the South, and as the opera
tive in these mills when they are completed.
As was to be expected, he is making his way
rapidly into the branches of industry that
were once reserved to the white mechanic,
and, as result, he is become the competitor
of the same. Now, if the negro, from any
cause, works more cheaply than the white
man, it cannot be long till the latter must
suffer reduction of wages Mr.. Blaine,
therefore, proceeds to show that unless the
negro be clothed with the power to defend
himself in the matter Of shaping legislation,
he cannot make any stand against the imposi-
tons that will be practiced upon him, and he,
forced down, will unwillingly drag down the
white laborer of the North. From this the
deduction is clear that unless there be uni
yersal suffrage in the South, freely exercised
in all the elections, it is useless for the labor
ing men of other parts of the country to at
tempt to pass laws intended to counterfeit the
evil influence there exerted.
On the point of the fisheries MI. Blaine speaks
at length, it being one of the leading issues in
eLttb OIdtet % Autiudtcly lutcIcSLcu III tldt
branch of industry. 1t was an easy thing for
him to show how Secretary Bayard had been
trapped into making very unfavorable and
very undiplomatic arrangement with the Brit
ish minister Turning from this to the con-
sideration Of the Mexican muddle, he calls at
tention to the humiliating display made by
the admins tration, in being anxious to daily
with England and apparently as DESTROYS of
war with Mexico, weaker rower. In con-
clusion on this question he says: "War in any
direction would prove great calamity to the
United States-but war forced on Mexico
would be crime, marked in an especial de-
gree by cruelty"
On the question of prohibition he deplores
the ingratitude and inconsistency of the third
party men, whose service can inure to no.
body's benefit save the enemies of temperance
legislation. Taken altogether the speech is
vastly to his credit, and will do much good in
directing the issues of the campaign now
opened in his State.
THE Galveston News, Democratic organ,
had hoped that no Republican convention