Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-28
Mr. Blaine's Speech.

M Chairman and tei}0c citizens:
Nv voice seems in chronic state of
hoarseness and 50 much worse than usual
this afternoon that fear | shall be able TO
speak very briety-and that without comfort
to myself or satisfaction TO the audience. III
hal not especially desired to be present
whenever and wherever am announced to
speak in the old kennebec district | think
should have cut this meeting and gone direct
" home, but have for these many years
had so much in common with the people OF
kennebec and received from them in every
form such oceans of kindness and confidence
that no task they can lay upon me can ever
be too heavy; no request they can make will
ever be denied and therefore l am her
Applause. am here to say few words
on two subjects only. The town of Water
vile is one of the most prosperous and pro-
gressive in the State of Maine. 1t has
grown within the last ten years with the
rapidity of one of those enterprising western
towns and il is destined to be one of the lar
gest centres of industry in the ate of
Maine. 1t is admirably suited and htted to
that end Ii has magnificent water power.
It has large transportation facilities. IL is
surrounded by a Gordon of wealthy farming
towns Your destiny for increased pros
perity hereafter and for great enlargement
of population is fixed and settled unless you
shall be interfered with by some mal-admin-
stration of the national government, ana
wi h one of those unto ard interferences You
are now threatened. Inc proposition now
made BY the President of the United Sites
and the Democratic House of Representa-
tiyes is to change the revenue laws and the
protective system un Ter which Waterville
has so auspiciously begun her manufacturing
career. l shall not spend any time in e1-
pressing sympathy for the stockholders and
owners in manufactures themselves. They
represent capital and will be certain to pro-
tect themselves. All desire to say is to
the laborng men of Waterville and through
| them to wage workers everywhere, that If
there be n serious reduction of duties, as is
noN proposed, OH the articles which you are
n,HrL Liacturiug YOU will not be able to main
I tain the scale of wages that is
mow paid BY way of illustration
( let me suppose that instead of a serious re-
iuction OF our tariff, President Cleveland's
proposition WAS 10 go TO direct free trade and
+ put us on exactly the same basis as England.
/ is there any man 50 unwise as not to see that
being reduced at ogce TO direct compel ton
with English cotton manufacturers we should
| he compelled to have labor at the same price
with England. And if YOU seriously reduce
the tariff Your labor will go down pro rata in
the direction of English wages. lt You
hold the tariff as protective in character you
can hold the wages where they are. But II
is the ID st i br tat ever was spoken
10 idiots. won't say by Idiots Laughter
to tell the American people that YOU can
have free trade in cottons and ~xooiens Oh
auv orher manufacture and that the owners
of the factory can pay any higher wages
t.,an the men with whom they cameAa direct
cumpetition in the market. | take 1t tha'
that is prop, sition so simple that no man can
successfully dispute it. Let us pursue this
ruth a little farther. Suppose free trade
should come. DO you suppose that all tns
factories in the country would be Shut al