Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-24
REEDSM ASTERLY SPEECH
He Closed the Tariff Discussion on the
Side Ofthe PrOtectiOnists.
The Speech Was Loudly Applauded by
the Republicans, And at the Con-
clEsiOn Mr.. Reed was Cos
graduated by His Par
ty Friends.

WASHINGTON. May 19-Long before the
house met this morning every seat in the
galleries was occupied, the only deserts
in the oasis OF futtering fans and
bright costumes being few seats in the
diplomatic gallery and the front row of
the executive gallery, reserved for the
president and his family. At every door
was large knot OF spectators peering
over shoulders and under arms 10 get q
glance at the floor upon which the long
debate on the tariff bill was to be closed
by Mr.. Reed (Me.) and Speaker Carlisle.
The buzz Of expectancy and the hum of
conversation were stilled for a moment,
while the chaplain offered prayer, only to
break out afresh when the clerk proceed
ed to read the journal. When the read
ing of that dreary document had been
DOM leted the house went into commit
tee of the whole. Mr.. Springer Gu.) in
the chair, on the tariff bill.
MR. REEDS ADDRESS.
Mr.. Reed said that he purposed to dis
cuss some of the general principles which
underly the two modes of national action
which were confessedly IN dispute in con-
gress and in the country. He would treat
the bill as in their hearts the leaders on
the other side treated it, as step only in
a particular direction. How important
the propositions at issue were the intense
interest already excited by the pending
measures on two continents bore the
strongest witness that could be borne by
men. Those who, living on this side of
the ocean grew articles which were Deces-
sary for the comfort and happiness of
She people of the United States were on
one side Of the question, while the for
eign manufacturers, foreign political
economists and foreign statesmen were
all on the other.
This, however, should not prejudice
the question. If 1t be true that by hav-
ing their goods manufactured abroad the
people of the United States as a whole
would become richer and more prosper
Gus, would have their houses better fur
nished, their tables spread with finer
linen and covered with more healthful
food; if their bodies would be protected
by warmer Woolens from the cold of
Maine End by finer clothing from the
burning sun of Texas; if they would on
the whole, and from generation to gene
ration enjoy more of the comforts and
Injuries of life and would themselves be
more intelligent, more independent and
be better fitted to be the citizens of a
republic already great and destined to
90 mighty beyond all former dreams
OF empire, then by all means
sink national prejudice, burst the barriers
of provincial narrowness, and with one
record adopt not merely the present bill,
but such legislation as would treble the
spindles OF Europe and destroy our own
such measures as would put out our
furnaces and illumine those beyond the
sea. If of every 81 in our pockets, one
alone was sufficient, If spent in England,
TO give US all we had now and we were
sure of still having in our pockets the
same 50 which we now had, surely the
problem was too easy for dispute, too
simple for discussion. We had only to
pass bill which gave free course to
what the free trade professors, with glib
seoularization of the Deity, called the
international law of the Almighty
aud if the learned economists of the
other SIDE were true to their logic and
did not patter with both their
language and convictions, they could
propose no other course. Tariff for
revenue only went down before the same
arguments Wnlch were used against pro
lection. If protection be tax for manu-
facturers' benefit then it was the same tax
if it be the result of even a revenue
tariff. Incidental protection was of all
tie most inexcusable. It was an accident
which ought to be avoided like a railway
disaster.
The president was
THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRACY.
He YVES also the Dispenser of patronage