The Portland daily press., 1888-09-04
PREPARING FOR MONDAYS VICTORY.
Republicans Putting New Energy
Into Their Campaign.
Hon. w. w. Thomas. Jr., Delivers an
Eloquent Address at Caribou.
Speeches by other Good Takers to
Enthusiastic Gatherings.
rspecial to the Press.l

Especial TO the Press.
CARIBOU. Sept. 3.-Hon. w. w. Thomas.
Jr., opened his Aroostook tour at this place
| tonight in speech which foreibly presented
the issues of the campaign and the interest
of this State and county. Mr.. Thomas spoke
in his usual eloquent manner, and was given
hearty welcome by great audience Of his
| Aroostook friends, who punctuatek his re-
marks with bursts of applause. At the close
Mr.. Thomas shook hands with many of his
hearerers, and the occasion was a very
pleasant one. Mr.. Thomas said:
The issue of this presidential campaign
was not raised by the Republicans. The on
slaught upon American Industries has been
made by the Democratic party, and we have
been compelled to join issue TO save Ameri-
can labor The great majority and the con-
trolling element of the Democratic party lies
in the South. The South have, for genera
tiens, worshipped two idols-slavery and
free, trade. At these two shrines every
southern knee has bowed
The Democratic party Of the South forced
the issue of slavery upon the country in 1856,
and the Republican party sprang into exist
ence to defend freedom. Beaten at the bal
lot box in 1850, the Dems .Tacy Of the South
appealed to arms. The Republican party
and the North were forced to Join issue. You
know the result. After "a years of waiting
the Democracy came again into power.
Elated with success, confident in power.
Democratic President has recommended, and
a Democratic House passed a bill. making
just as great stride towards free trade as
they deemed it prudent to do.
The Republican party accepts the chal-
lenge thus given. and girds on its armor to
fight as st0utly now for American labor, as
of old it fought for American freedom, as /
believe, with like glorious result.
Mr. Thomas then discussed at length the
difference between a tariff for revenue only
and tariff which also granted protection to
American products
Eighteen years ago, continued the speaker,
passed through Caribou for the first time
with little colony of Swedes that settled In
the deep forest beyond you, and now form
one Of the most prosperous agricultural com
munities in New England. Soon afterwards
met a gentleman from Massachusetts in
your village. He had read an account of the
arrival of the Swedes in ArOostOOk, and from
the description of the climate and soil
thought this locality might be favorable for
the industry of starch making from potatoes.
Here in Caribou. Mr.. Holmes built the first
starch factory in Maine in 1871.
Favored by Republican protective tariff,
the enterprise proved success. Other fac
tories sprang up until there are now, / am
told, over forty potato starch factories in
your young thriving county and the indus
try has become leading one in ArOostook.
1t is of great advantage to your farmers, for
they can haul their potatoes directly from
the field to the factory, and receive cash
payments for their crop.
Now what does the Mills bill propose to
do to this prosperous industry? Why, it
strikes off so per cent of the duty on starch.
The present duty is Two cents a pound. The
Mills bill reduces it to one cent. A bushel
of potatoes makes, as you know, about eight
pounds of starch. The Democracy, with
perverse inconsistency, retains the present
duty OF fifteen cents a bushel on potatoes,
m ctrEac off off tho rot nf aiuht fc
bushel on the product of potatoes, viz,
starch. This in effect offers a bounty of
eight cents bushel to every starch manufac
turer in AroostOok to move over the line into
New Brunswick and start his factory anew
there. The only other alternative is for the
farmers, If the Millslbill becomes a law, to
sell their potatoes for eight cents bushel
cheaper than now. Twenty-Five cents a
bushel Is paid for potatoes. Do you care
cents bushel? If you do not, it seems to
me that would not vote that way.
Then there is lumber. Do you want the
timber, boards, planks, laths, shingles and
all the products of tie saw mills over the line
to come in and compete in our markets with
the products of your forests and mills on
equal terms? But the Mills bill has an
equal affection for Blue Nose mills and
Yankee mills. 1t takes away all protection
from the saw mills that have built up your
centres of trade in AroOstook Democratic
solcitude for you, my friends, also admits
hemlock bark and hemlock extract free 1t
removes protection from our quarries of
granite and building stone and our brick
yards; from your meats andsyegetables and
poultry and game, and from the wool and
fieeceS of your sheep. You have scarcely an
industry or product in Aroostook the
Mills bill does not touch and it touches but
to destroy.
And what prevents the Mills bill being the
law Of the land today? A Democratic Presi-
dent recommended it, Democratic House
has passed it. The only shield you have for
your industries is the Republican Senate. If
you want the Mills bill as the law which
will govern you and control you and your
labor and the products thereof, why, vote
for the party that supports the bill. If you
don't want it, vote for the party tnat today
in the Senate is the shield and bulwark and
protection of your farms and homes.
Mr.. Thomas went on to show the progress
of Aroost0ok and the United States under
protection. He c0ntraSted the elevated con-
ditiOn of the laboring man in America, with
what he himself had seen in Europe.
No land and no age of the world had seen
the laboring man enjoying so many of the
comforts and luxuries of life as our own. he
showed the sectional character Of the Mills
bill, and closed by an earnest and eloquent
appeal to the men OF Aroostook, many OF
whom he had known for score of years, to
stand by their industries, their farms and
their homes. The question is above party, 1t
comes home to our tiresides.
Mr.. Thomas will spend the whole week on
the stump in this county, where he is so well
known.
On wednesday he will address the Swedes
OF the colony of which he is the founder in
the Swedish language. The colonists are
preparing to give Consul Thomas" as they
call him, grand reception.
On September 18th, the day after election,
Mr.. Thomas will start on stunping tour
through the West speaking first at Min
neapolis on Sept. 18th.