The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-02-04
WIT and ELoQUENCE
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
From a Mugwump Standpoint
DEMOCRATIC TO THE CORE.

Speech of Hon. George M. Stearns,
BEFORE THE
Tariff Reform League of Boston.
TRUTH POINTEDLY TOLD
When introduced to the audience that
gathered to hear the celebrated speakers in
Boston, recently, on the occasion of the
love-feast of the Tariff Reform League,
Hon. George NJ. Stearns said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Tariff Reform League Il read in news
paper-a protectionist newspaper-that
this was to be gathering of crazy theorists
and of superlatively impractical mugwumpsl
[Laughter.l I have visited most of the
institutions of this state in which are as
sembled the unfortunate, the disordered
and the deTented laughter, and have
come 100 miles through the snow to look
upon this gathering of men so fearfully and
awfully stricken with the providences Of
God [Renewed laughter. have come
here, notwithstanding this terrible warning,
unarmed and unattended more laughter
with no weapon and no shirt of mail; and |
expect to return in safety to the bosom of
an anxious family. Laughter. "The
impractical mugwump What is there
impractical about search for the right ?
What is there to be sneered at in the efforts
of men to obtain for the countrys service
those who can best serve? In Independent
voting lies, in my Judgment, not only the
promise but the fruit of good government.
Applause The theory of principle in
politics has never received from any public
man the friendly aid and support that it
has from the President of the United States.
G"Goodr p and applause.] And whenever
enough men to control results will own
themselves and assert their freedom and
their power, all countenancing of wrong and
all dalliance with the beautiful Delilah will
be at an end. To me one of the most re-
markable spectacles, bordering on the
miraculous, in this generation, is this Pres
ident-this man coming from the Manager
and the straw of Buffalo Applause and
laughter, with no training in statecraft,
with no experience in politics, without the
advantages of college or of polishing in
the arts and graces of elocution, but equip
ped with an honest and fearless intellect,
and with an intrepidity of integrity, step
ping boldly into the wilderness at Wash
iGgton [laughter1, the wilderness of politi-
cal shams and humbugs, and timeworn
rings, and hoary deceits more laughter
crying aloud: "Repent ye, for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand !" Loud and pro-
longed laughter, followed by great cheer
ipg.1 And this unframed statesman writes
the only Presidential messages that anybody
has read since the war. Laughter and
applause.1 In fact every word he writes,
even to the tender expressions of condo
lence and sympathy, is read by the world
loud applause], and this orator of nature
makes the only speeches that gain univer-
sal audiences. Civil service reform received
no aid from any public man to amount to
anything until his advent. Before it was
heard as the hum of the pestilent mosquito
[laughter1, whose bite was to be converted
by some death gesture of repulse. Re-
newed laughter But with him it comes
like the roar of the northwest wind, bringing
with it its ozone, and laden with national
health. The politicians of both parties
undertake with inflated cheek to blow it
back in his face [laughter], but it sweeps
steadily on, until now we see them fleeing
before 1t, their ancient coat-tails well ex-
tended to the front [laughter], chasing
their displaced hats up and down highways
and byyays of the lapd.rersdeavOring to
49,. zoo gre IN. :, M hoffce which
have I hin most Distances 9'li from the con-
genial mud in which they were scattered.
[Great laughter and applause Bewildered
politicians do not know what to do with
this man, who comes, bringing not peace,
but sword, and they are daily running
over the old list of polished, played out,
somnolent politicians to see if they cannot
fiud somebody that will displace him and
chLorotorm the people again [Great
laughter.
And now this disturber Of the pace has
thrown another thunderbolt among those
who wonder why things cannot be left
alone. Laughter He has announced,
with the directness and distinctness that
present the issue beyond all lodging, the
question of THE TARIFF REFORM.
He tells us that we are taking 100000
900 from the people by needless taratioa;
that this money is accumulating in the
treasury; that it is difficult to get it out;
that by and by commerce and trade will
suffer from want of the means to transact
business; and he says: "Take this off, and
take it off so that it will help most those
that need help. Take away these burdens
from those upon whom they weigh most
heavily" But the upholders of the tariff
meet this just as they always do, by lying!
Laughter and applause.] They cry out:
"The President has declared for free trotle, u
They know it is only the question of the
disposition of the surplus; nevertheless, they
use the same old cry that they have used
for years and years. They have terrified
the people into the continuance and per
petuation of the atrocities of this tariff
There is S100,000,000 in useless taxation
We must get rid of it; and how shall we do
it? Now we say: ''Take off that $780,.
100000 in such way that it will benefit
the people Let them have the good Of
it." But they say; "0h, no; keep on tax
ing it, just as you always have, and let us
fritter it away-let us fool It a,oay-let us
do anything in Gods world with it, only
do not disturb the holy, sacred tariff. :
[Laughter.] We say that we want the
people to receive and experience immediate
benefit; but they say: "Let us devise and
see how we can keep on" And SO they
have become impressed all at once with one
thing, and that is that this country needs
.fortitying everywhere, inland, outland
everywhere laughter, and heard a sen
ator of the United States year ago, hert
in Boston, send thrill down every Bos
tonian back by telling in what great dan
ger we stood-the danger that Peru o.
Chill was coming up here to invade thi
country, and lombard the United States o.
America Loud laughter They er,