Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-06-01
TARIFF DEBATE CLOSED.
Mr.. Reed and Speaker Carlisle
Wind Up the Discussion.
Summary of Their Speeches On
the Great Question.

After several weeks Of debate, during
which many speakers were heard on both
sides Of the question, the discussion on the
Mills Tariff bill in the House of Representa-
tives has been closed. The last speakers
were Mr.. Reed, Of Maine the Republican
leader in the House, and Speaker Carlisle.
A digest of their speeches is given below:
Mr. Reeds Address.
Mr.. Reed spoke without notes, having
committed his speech to memory. If it be
true he said That by having their goods
United States, as whole, Will become
richer and more prosperous and enjoy more
of the comforts and luxuries Of life, then by
all means sink national prejudice, burst the
barriers of provincial narrowness and with
one accord adopt not merely the present bill,
but such legislation as will triple the spindles
of Europe and destroy our own.
1.-The revenue reform argument is either
false pretenCe or covers the whole ground
Protection is either in its essence benefit or
curse. You cannot dilute curse and make
it a blessing. Incidental protection is a
sham. Tariff for revenue only must go
down before the same arguments which are
used against protection. If protection be a
tax for manufacturers benefit, it is the same
tax if 1t be the result Of even revenue tariff
Incidental protection is of all the most in
excusable."
Turning his attention to the Presidents
Message Mr. Reed said: eff this message
abode of rObber baron, more fell and sure
than ever swooped down a European hill
side to harry a cavalcade of honest mer-
chants In every mine turks more dread
full giant than ever before smelled the blood
of an Engishman. But what do the friends
of virtue propose to do with these
wicked peoples Sweep them out of ex-
istence with the strong hand of justice?
The castles of the marauders are still to
smoke upon the hill-tops, and the tall chin
neys are still to break the skyline of this
unhappy country. They are to be allowed
to rob within z per cent. of what they rob
now, and as compensation they are to be let
loose upon the markets of the world, where,
according to the learned chairman they will
reap larger wealth and pile up statelier mill
ions.n
The speaker did not purpose to defend
protection. Its vast growth within the
last quarter of century defended it better
even than eloquent orations. 1t was born
with the Republic. 1t the faith and
practice of every civilized nation under
the sun save one. 1t had stood up against
all the half knowledge of learned men who
never had sense enough to transmute their
earth to-day there are but two sets of people
who believed in free trade, whether
pure and simple or disguised as revenue re-
form, and those two are the masked ma
jority of the Committee on Ways and Means
and their followers, and the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, with Ire
land suppressed.
Mr.. Reed asserted that if the principles of
free trade were true there must be direct
taxation. He closed with bit of ridicule at
the supposed dangers of trusts and monopolies
and some comment on the growth of the
country, and especially of the South, since
1860