The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-06-14
A Great Speech by Hon. T. B. Reed.

THE MILLS TARIFF BILL CRITICISED. PRO
LECTION THE BEST POLICY FOR AMERICANS.
Hon. 7. B. Reed of Maine addressed the
House on the tariff question Saturday. The
Boston Herald correspondent says: "Mr.
Reed, whose desk bore two lunches of roses,
was In perfect condition, and made the best
speech he ever made, and the best (Mckinley's
not eXcepted) made on his side during this de-
bate. He was listened to with the closest at
pause.' Mr.. Reed began speaking at noon
and finished amid applause at a few minutes
before O'Clock. The following is Il synopsis
Of his remarks:
He said that he purposed to discuss some of
the general principles which underiie the two
modes of national action. which were confess
He would treat the bill as in their hearts the
leaders of the other side treated it, as a step
only In particular direction. How important
the propositions at issue We're, the intense i'll
tercst already excited by the pending measures
on two continents bore the strongest witness
that could be borne by men. Those who. liv
Ing on this side of the ocean, grew articles
which were necessary for the comfort and
happiness of the people of the United States
were on one side of the question. while the
foreign manufacturers, foreign political econ
omists and foreign statesmen were all OH the
other. This, however. should not prejudice
the question: If it be true that by having
their goods manufactured abroad the people of
the United States as a whole would become
richer and more prosperous, would have their
houses better furnished. their tables spread
with finer linen. and covered with more health
ful food. If their bodies would he protected by
warmer woOllens from the cold of Maine, and
by finer clothing from the burning sun of
Texas, If they would, on the whole. and from
generation to generation. enjoy more of the
comforts and luXuries of life. and would them
selves be more intelligent. more Independent
and better fitted to be the citizens of republic
already great and destined to be mighty beyond
all former dreams of empire, 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 would treble the spindles of
Europe and destroy our own, such measures
would
PUT OUT OUR FURNACES
and ilumine those beyond the sea. Napoleon
was right when he said that Europe must he
Cossack or republican. Lincoln was right when
he said the United States must be either free or
slave. The house divided against itself had to
unite or fall. The revenue reform argument
was either false pretense or covers the whole
ground. Protection was either, in its essence,
a benefit or a curse. You cannot dilute a curse
the leader of the democracy. He was also the
dispenser Of patronage. and as he was rapidly
shaking the dust of civil service reform OFT his
feet he was assuming control over his party.
There was but one free trade and the President
was its prophet Whoever fell in battle in the
service of this new Allah and its prophet, for
him shall open the shining gates of the heaven
OF foreign missions and federal offices. There
are remarkable figures to be deduced from the
Presidents message. figures which must light
up the pathway of Democratic duty with the
electric light of conscience. In 1887. forty
millions Of wooden goods We're imported. pay
ing S2' 100000 OF duties, 40 per cent. on cost
and dutes-this went to the government.
Three hundred and fifty-siX millions of domes-
tic wOollen manufactures were bought that
same year by the impoverished American pco-
pie. Under the radiant light of the message,
1t would be seen that S142, 900 of that
money went into the gaping pockets of manu-
facturers, and was lost forever to the down.
trodden people. We imported S3l 200. 900
worth of silks, we manufactured SAG 1000. 900. of
which Sl6,5oO,OOO lined the purses of the plumb
erers. The same story could be told of every
protected industry. until the total of more than
81 200 100000 of the peoples money goes into
the pockets Of these
LICENSED ROBBERS OF THE POOR.
Ii this message from our ruler be true, every
factory is the abode of Il robber baron. more
fell and sure than ever swooped down Euro
pean hillside to harry cavalcade of honest
merchants. In every mine lurked Il mere
dreadful giant than ever before smeled the
blood OF an Englishman.
Ii the President was right. and gentlemen
did not dare to doubt him, an annual tribute
was paid protected manufacturers out of the
pockets of the people more impoverishing than
ever was eNacted by an oriental despot. In the
face Of duty to free the people from this iron
yoke you gentlemen stand laughing about the
amount of the tribute. Instead of ST. for every
hundred, they propose to give $40 of the peo-
pies money, and throw into the trade the
markets of the world. If it We're tribute, be
bold and sweep it away. Why did they hesi-
tate: Was it because they dared not be caught
lowering the wages of the laboring men who
have votes: Have the courage of your leaders
convictions, for has not the gentleman from
Texas, godfather of this bill. who has promised
to bring it up in the nurture and admoniton of
the Lord, loudly proclaimed to the open day
that tariffs have nothing to do with wages? Is
1t out Of mercy to the capitalist that you fater:
DO you say there is capital invested under our
laws. and we must keep faith with those who
have invested it? Whether faith should be kept
with such vampires is for you to say. But
surely no better faith need be kept than to pay
back every cent they have invested. 1t had
survived the assaults of all the professors of
the ''dismal science called political economy.
On the face Of the earth today there were but