Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-16

to take this magnificent demonstration az
personal. altogether to myself II rather sig
mites the great popular interest in the Ques-
ton upon which / am supposed TO have a con-
sistent record and an earnest zeal Applause
And you have before you a contest in which
that great issue is 10 be settled by the Amer
lean people for perhaps an INDEFINITE period
the one way or the other. The year 1887 was
prosperous and the President at its close pro-
posed a radical change in the industrial system
which has produced that great prosperity, and
since that day there has been con-
fusion in the commerce and manu-
features of the United States.l APP
plause.l The question before the Amer
lean people is whether he and his administra-
ton shall be sustained in that movement
Against him the Republicans, having the best
cause, have nominated the best man. lap
plause.l They have given to you for President
a man of sound experience, man OF heroic
record in the war, a man OF great purity OF
character, a man of great firmness and worthy
Of the best days OF the administration in this
country. And you have associated with him
a man whom to New Workers l need not
further describe than to say that his name is
Levi 2. Morton Iapp ausel; man Of the mos:
generous character, OF intelligent compre-
hension OF affairs, of the widest aud most
statesmanlike views on all the public ques-
tons pending before the American people
Against this you have two gentlemen Of
whom would not speak in terms other than
those OF personal respect. OF their Vice-Pres-
idential candidate have been friend of many
years standing and am personal admirer OF
Judge Thurman. But beg you TO observe that
at a critical period in this country the Vice
President, george NJ. Dallas, in a casting vote il
a tied Senate destroyed tie protective tariff OF
1872. II you do not prevent them Mr. Thurman
will be in a politIon to re-enact the vote OF
George NJ. Dallas in 1872. Therefore the more
amiabIe and the more able a man may be, the
worse will be his influence before the American
people. [Applause.l
Now, gentlemen, ] know that in discussing
the question of protective tariff we are al
ways pointing out what England is doing. I
have lately been in England for some months
and found in English public opinion very
great difference Of opinion upon almost all
questions. They are about evenly divided upon
what you call the Irish question; they are
about divided upon the forcible policy Of Glad
stone and Salisbury; they are divided even
upon the continuance of the House of Lords,
and they are not absolutely unanimous in sup
port of the Monarchy. Laughter and ap-
plause.1 But there is one opinion they are
united on and that is that Hon. Grover Cleve-
land, President of the United States, en-
bodies in his person the regular form OF
revenue and free trade for the United States
which they like. [Applause.l Now, have no
objection 10 their right of opinion, and if had
it would amount to nothing; nor do intend TO
speak disrespectfully OF the English, for have
received at their hands very graceful and very
cordial hospitality, which 1 would be a churl
rot to acknowledge before an American audi
ence; bat that does not affect the pending con-
ditions that the American people find their in
terests in one policy and that the English want
to change that policy so as better TO conform 70
their interests. And that gentlemen, is the
prime question before you in the next NOvem-
Der election.
i am glad that this meeting is called in the
name of the laboring people because this ques.
ton is from first to last, from skin to core, and
back to skin again, question OF labor. Loud
applause II you will agree to live in as poor
house and eat as poor food and receive as low
wages as the people in England receive, we can
produce as cheap goods as Democratic admin
istration wants to see laughter and applausel
but it will be otherwise if you wish to better
your condition and il you want the indus trial
system of protected interests that prevail in
this country now to be maintained. The savings
of the wage workers of England, Scotland and
Ireland, as 1 said to-day to a Massachusetts
gentleman, are not near as great as lie to night
in the savings bank of Massachusetts to the
credit of the wage workers OF that small State
and if you turn the administration OF this Re
public to-day into free trade channels, you may
not expect those great savings for you will put
our lHboring men throughout the country into
competition with the laboring men oil
Great Britain, and in the course OF
five or ten years you will make them
as poor upon this side of the water
as they are upon the other. 1 will not, in this
campaign, stop to argue the question upon any
other basis. 1 have no personalities to indulge
in. have no sores to heal. Loud cheers
would rather have your cordial and heartfelt
and sympathetic welcome than any office you
care to bestew upon me. [Applause.l But in
this canvass. in which 1 shall take greater OF
less part, shall hold this question from the be-
ginning to the end question that interests
every man, woman and child in this country
that depends upon daily labor for daily bread
Applause. There is no need TO make
any laws to protect capital-capital al
ways takes care of itself and gets Z
full share-but there are laws that can elevate
the condition of the laboring man, and there
are laws that can degrade him, and the Repub
lican party has stood for twenty-five years an6
1t will stand, believe, with the blessing OF God
and the will Of the American people. twenty
! five years more, upholding and maintaining the
| laboring man. for the Government which takes
| care of the bone and slnew and working muscle
OF the land is taking care OF the men who ere
ated the wealth of the country and who are
therefore entitled to the patronage and protec
ton of the Government. [Applause.l
Now, gentlemen, you represent critical
State, you represent the State of New York
your votes are to tell in that issue. Do not be
diverted from that one question by side issues
Do not be misled by petty squabbles upon this
or that small issue or upon personal questions
OF abuse on the one hand or the other, but give
your votes as independent laboring men and
give them for the interests OF your own homes
of your own firesides and thereby for the great
interests of the great Republic. Immense
cheering l never, Mr.. Chairman. thought Of
that Republic as do tonight. [Cheers.l
have seen the other side: have devoted
many of the last fourteen months to seeing
the condition of labor and laboring men in the
other hemisphere, and say without fear OF
contradiction that in no country of Europe, in
no part Of Europe or q part of any country, is
the condition Of labor comparable TO that which
it holds in the United States. [Applsuse.l Are
you willing TO give up that position or are you
willing to maintain it? GCries of Yes You
can maintain it by a strong pull and a long pull
and pull altogether for Harrison and Morton "
Loud and enthusiastic cheering and waving of
hats
The crowd broke into a wild and tumul-
tuous cheer as Mr.. Blaine concluded.