The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20

operating through the centuries, together
with the growth OF wealth In Great Brit
ain, has not been able TO give 10 any hui
man being such fortune as the protective
tariff OF America has enabled few gentle.
men TO secure within score OF years. Co
lossal fortunes, made as II in day, bear
testimony TO the viciousness OF a system
which enables so few men to absorb the
surplus accumulations OF a nation, and
that, too, without adding anything TO the
growth OF the country, or TO its happiness.
IL has laid the foundation Of caste in ere
ating classes and distinctions between the
classes created by it. II We will
persist in class legislation, we must
submit 10 accept its necessary concomitant,
discomfort, exhibited first in protest by
murmurings, then in resistance only by
organizations, and then by whatever force
the circumstances produce. We have as
our hope of safety the ballot-box, bv
which peaceful revolution may prevent
forceful revolt. But II enormous capital,
through organized effort, can control the
ballot-box and return its servants TO Con.
gress, discomfort, founded on Justice, will
find a remedy. Free trade In England
cannot prevent-it will hasten--the ulti-
mate abolition Of the law Of primogeni-
ture, the establishment OF an estab.
lished church, the exclusive ownership Of
the soil, and OF hereditary legislative
chamber. Protective tariffs and monopo-
listic legislation cannot introduce into
America permanent and hereditary class
distinctions. lie is a shallow thinker who
does not know that man is essentially the
same everywhere, and that his ultimate
goal is civilization based on equality.
Several times since this debate commenced
the true argument against this bill, the
only really effective appeal has been ut
tered; II may be condensed into UNITED
We stand, divided we fall" II IL the
argument OF combination OF threat each
protected" syndicate says to all other in
this greatest OF all American trusts, the
tariff combine, eve must stand together,
four-squared like infantry in battle resist
ing a charge, for revision anywhere is de-
feat everywhere" SO the sole duty any
one will give up is that on sugar, because
they believe the surrender Of tho sugar
duty will take from the treasury no many
millions OF dollars that thereby all the
other duties may be saved. The promise
10 give bounties is M purely illustrious M
offers made on the mount Of temptation.
The present tariff is the result of combi-
nation. The interests which secured its
passage are TO retain its benefits; the means
received by il, 80 far as necessary, are 10
be used 10 perpctuate H.
The boast has been made on this floor
that the chairman Of the committee on
ways and means In the Forty-eighth and
FOriy-ninth Congresses, that gallant and
pure gentleman, brave Of heart, clean OF
life, loyal 10 friend. frank 10 Zoe, with a
conscience void Of Olcnse and love for
truth that nothing could daunt, has been
stricken down because he opposed this
combine" Greatly rs dcplorc his de.
feat and ~ much as | miss his presence, Il
may be that his defeat, comprised as il
was, will be OF greater benefit than his
presence. His very absence arrests the
attention Of the republic and all the nco.
ple ask, Are such elections necessary to
the maintenance Of this SYSTEM" Gen.
tlcmcn. prOicctionisis, | warn YOU that
the vacant seat OF Morrison cries louder
than tie virtues OF Duncan against the
deep dam inion OF his taking OIL. 4"
In conclusion he said: III one, stand.
Ing here in this hall today and looking
into the future, could bc able 10 sec what
the years would bring M under u system
where the untrmmcled activities Of free
Christian people iind iruilion, under q eli.
mate ~ salubrious aud with soil 30 fer
tile, all burdens to progress thrown aside,
all the passions Of the past removed, aud
every one engaged In generous aud un.
selfish rivalry to make ior aud out OF the
opportunities 10 which lie X called all
that u possible no hand could piint aud
no orator picture what would lc the ~.
suit. Then We, the children Ut eNiles and
cmigranis, could welcome our kinsmcn of
nll lands 10 east their lots with us. for
willing hands would always find waiting
work 10 yield u livelihood. The silence OF
rivers now broken only by the occasional
boat would he turned into thcswcct hum of
profitable commerce. The sccrct lodges of
anxious and discOntcnicd operatives would
become the open assemblies Of happy and
conicntcd families, from whose hearth.
stone the shadow Of want hnd given place
70 the mild radiance Of permanent com
fort. The hushandman, no longer sowing
IN tarcs, would reap In j0y-that joy
which springs from content, andis founded
ON tho certainty Of an assured market at
rmnncmiiyc prices"
Tho legislation Of the country, having
Tor iis object the public good and freed
from the domination Of private greed,
would successfully gmpple with the prob
lcms which progress will present and
free people be- represented by free rcpro.
scniailvcs neither owned, scduccd, nor ter
nded by organized interests.
Slowly will this future come. We have
had our backs TO Il; today let us turn our
faces 10 H. rising sun. II We can do no
more, we can liti our eyes toward this east
Of new hopes aud resolve that from this
hour our steps shall be- in that direction.