The Washington bee., 1888-08-18

| scene SDdll never lOfSoI IL 10
| all occasion which l assure you I
appreciate from the depths of my
heart. 1t is shadowed only by
the sad event which greeted Us as
the first piece of American news
we heard the death of Gen.
Sheridan, man who was above
party and stood for the union of
the States Shouts OF "Good.
With that exeeptionl my arrival
upon my native shore was unat-
tended by anything but JOY and
happiness. The campaign on
which you are about to enter
should be prefaced, if that were
possible, by every voter in the
United States. Seeing what l
have seen ["Good. good'l and
hearing what [ have heard during
the last year [applause] the pro-
gress of the campaign in the
United States is viewed from the
European standpoint with an in,
terest as profound as it is in the
United States. 1t is the opp 1rtu-
nifty of England. It is the long
wisned for the long Looked for
occasion upon which the cheaper
labor and the cheaper fabrics of
the old world expect to invade the
new aud lower the wages of Amer
lean workingmen to the Eurcpean
standard. [Great applause 1t
is not contest of capital against
capital; it is not a coute-t of parti-
san against parts m. 1t Is much
higher than either of these. 1t
transcends all party motives. Ap-
plause.1 Whether the great mass
OF Anne rican citizens who earn
their bread by the sweat of their
brow shall be seriously reduced in
their emolument from day to day
applause, THAT is the whole pith
and moment of this question.
Anything that Giverts the ques-
ton from that single point is a
weakening of the campaign. APP
plause and cries of ''good"] Isay
here, as [ hope to say with much
more elaboration loud cheering
and cries of "tbat's what we
WANT II say here that the wag-
es of the American laborer cannot
be reduced except with the con-
sent and the votes of.he American
laborer himself. The appeal lies
to him. 1t comes to his door and
asks him whether, With the great
power ofetbe fffraasGGaaii~e fl ffaassGGaaii~e apd the
great majority he possesses in bis
own hands he is willing Tor HIM
self and his associates, his children
and his children's children to take
that fatal step, at the biddin5 of
an American Congress and an
American President who ale gov
erned by that element which
sought to destroy this nation. But
gentlemen, it is not a time for "a
political speech.
My neart is too iull to en'er at
this time on heightened argument.
In this moment of welcome and
joy, getting home to old scenes
and old friends [ must be allowed
to enjoy pleasant emotions of the
OCCASION. | Can only add my
tervent thanks to each and every
member of the club and to all my
friends for the generous and joy
Gus welcome they have rendered
to me in the Harbor of New
\ ork.
While Mr., Blaine was speaking
the cabin Wi pa;ked to its utmost
limits and heads were thrust in
through the windows from the
deck without, eager to hear every
word spoken. The greatest en-
thuslasm prevailed and every
point made was quickly seiz d
and cheered. An outburst of
cheering followed the conclusion
of the brief speech. Mr.. Blaine
was escorted to the ladies' saloon,
where he received n number OF
his friends. In a little while be
aseended to the saloon ON the up
per deck, where he received the
congratulations of all, having q
pleasant word for all who greeted
him. While there he Was banded
an address by Edward Fltzwillian
OF Is 'ston, representing the
Workingmen's Protective Union
of Massachusetts.
He was presented with an al
dress by Murat Halstead, repre-
senting the Young Mems Blaine
Club of Cincinnati
THE KNIGHTS INTENTION