Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-05
CAPT. J. B. JOHNSON
BEFORE THE YOUNG MEMS RE-
PUBLICAN CLUB.
A Telling Speech on the Political
Issues Of the Day---A Large
Attendance.


arrival On entering the hall the dis
tinguished gentleman was given a hearty
cheer. All the chairs were occupied and
there was but little standing room in the
most undesirable quarters. The speaker
was introduced by Mr.. Adams in very
fitting manner, who for two hours held
the close attention of his hearers despite
the fact that many were unable to secure
seats.
''The first thing l want to do tonight"
the speaker said, mot as matter of form
but from the bottom of my heart, is to
express my thanks to you for the compli-
ment of this invitation. Have been many
times royalty treated by the good citizens
of your city, but never before enjoyed the
privilege of meeting the young men. |
can assure you to be young man in
Wichita means more than in ordinary
places To be young man in so live and
prosperous city is a position to be de-
sired. Some one has said this is city of
10000 people, but each man counted for
two making it city of $4,000 people,
(Cheers.) A few years ago l was invited
to address a soldiers reunion and old citi-
zens meeting here. l distinctly remember
that the oldest settler had not been here
over five years He strutted about with
an air of an old citizen indeed Eighteen
years ago this city was stablished-event-
full years. Not only you, but all others of
the state point with pride to your marvel
Gus growth. With you we have won
dered sometimes; we wonder how it all
has been brought about. | shall proceed
to account to some extent for this marvel
Gus growth"
We are upon the eve of a campaign-just
upon the skirmish line. One that will
prove of as much consequence as any that
has transpired since the founding of our
government. The battle of 'SS will be
fought on two leading ideas. Reduced
they will be patriotism and protection.
| will first call your attention, young gen
tlemen, to the latter. | will try and
do SO without causing you to grow weary.
| have my own ideas on this question and
will try and present them in way robbing
the subject of some of its dryness. | want
to deliver a Thursday evening speech on
Friday evening. In speaking for the pro-
lection of American industries and insti-
buttons | want to call your attention to
the state of affairs prior to 1860. | refer to
the financial condition and the matter of
industries, and compare those days
with the period since. | insist
that prior to that time we were
practically free trade country. During
part of the time there was a protective
tariff, but it never had an opportunity to
show its merits until after that date. The
protective tariff bill was introduced and
arlrNrnua1 hv tho fot bar IF
was in force but a short time and was
broken down. The continental army had
fought at Bunker Hill for American indie
pendence, but never until the days of '6l
was there any assurance of commercial in
dependence. The situation on this cues
up to this date was such as no business
man could depend upon. 1t required a
series of years, not less than twenty-five to
prove the benefits derived from the law.
When Lincoln reached the nations cap
itol, travelling under cover in danger of his
life the states of the union were falling
out of line. Seven states hod seeded and
James Buchanan adjusted his glasses, read
the constitution, threw it aside and
leaning back in his chair declared that
there was nothing in that document to
deny their right to secede. The treasury
was not afflicted as it is at present. Not
even postage stamp in the postofiice de-
partment My yonng Republican friends
you do not remember those days We
were borrowing meney for running eX-
penses and paying twelve per cent. inter
est. Bankrupt and financially ruined.
Lincoln took the helm of state and
looking over the constitution discovered
there was in every line and letter power
for the union to protect itself from foes
within and foes without. AS if with magic
wand he brought money on sea and land,
large armies in defense of the union"
The tariff act of 81 was two-fold. one
to raise money and the other to protect
and shield American industries against
England for the purpose Of securing
American commercial independence From
81 to the present we have enjoyed a pro-
tective tariff, which means tariff to en-
courage home institutions, and not those
across the sea- We want to contrast these
two periods and see which has brought to
our common country tle most good. An
ounce of demonstration is worth more
than ton of theory. Let's go back to the
good old Democratic days, when coon
skins were legal tender. Let's see what
our manufactured goods cost then. re-
saw my father boughts in Hi
nois for two and half dollars, paying for
it with dressed pork at the rate of one dol
lar and ten cents per one hundred pounds.
The financial system was such that you
never could get money, but would have to
take farm products out in store trade
and you may know what that
means relating TO the seller. The money
of those days was such that you could be
worth thousands in your own state aud
crossing the line to another you were a
busted community. A $40 bill would not
buy lodging in hay stack. st. John,
before he fell from grace, used TO tell about
an old Democrat going TO saloon for
appetizer, and showing
his $40 bill, part of which he meant to
give for the drink, the barkeeper would
turn over a few leaves in book of refer
ance to see if the money Was good. As a
rule. the bank issuing it had busted the
iay before, and the Democrat, if he got his
lrink, increased his liabilities. | mention
It not to arouse any unpleasant memories,
but that we have a much better system
now" ICheers.l
why was it that manufactured arti-
cles cost so much then. Was it because we
did not have the policy to delve deep into
the mine for the treasured riches England
made the saw and sold it to US at its own
price. There..were not men OF genious
enough to make decent farming imple-
ments. We have gotten bravely over this
now and what is the cause of it?''
The greatest of all American states
men TODAY, the Gladstone Of America
lcheersl told us not long since that the
entire accumulated wealth of the country
up to '6l. taking in state individu nal nar-