The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-03

spirit and genius ot American institutions.
This country had no ships. The preteud-
ed policy OF protection had driven them
from the high seas. They could not be
built TO compete with the Clyde ships and
the Republican obstructive policy would
not allow them TO be sailed under the
American flag.
AS TO the river and harbor bill, the Pres
idcnt had already approved one appropri
ating more than $40, 900, 900 the preceding
year aud the President had been called
on an hour before Congress adjourned to
sign that of last session (appropriating
$4,000, ,000) without the opportunity TO
read II or know line Of It's provisions, llo
had been engaged In the very act OF read
ing il in the capitol when the hammers
fell and Congress adjourned,
Faithinlncss TO public trust and judi
cious regard for the public interest had
stood like barrier TO an act whose omis-
sion the senator from Ohio condemned.
As TO the failure OF the House OF Repre-
scntatives 10 pass the Blair bill last ses-
sion, he said that while he (kenna) had
been friend TO that bill, still when il was
invoked in opposition TO the relief OF the
present burdens of the people, the Blair
bill aud he had 10 part company. II the
purpose OF the senator from Ohio had
been 20 defeat the Blair bill in this Con-
grcss he had adopted an entirely practical
and feasible way TO DO IL.
Turning TO the subject OF the tariff, Mr..
Kenna said that the tariff laws in force
now, with some modification adopted un-
der peculiar methods in 1882, are substan-
TALLY those known as the Morrill, tariff OF
1867. The senator from Ohio aided largely
in passing that tariff lie denied that the
large increase Of that period was intended
for the protection Of labor. lie denied
that reducing the duties increased the rcve-
nue., for he supported large additions to
the duties for that very purpose. And 80
the senator has recognized the fact, which
We arc all bound 10 admit, that whether
the lowering or increasing the duty will
add 10 the revenue N a question depending
upon other considerations than the arbi-
tary amount Of the schedule. A duty may
be No high M TO prevent ilnporiations and
yield no revenue. The other cxtrome Is
free trade, which would likewise destroy
the income, and nobody asks for free trade.
The true solution Is the fair and Just me-
dium which shall produce the revenues
the country needs, no more and no less,
according 10 the plain dictates OF common
honesty, rs declared by the last Demo
cratic platform In "a spirit OF fairness TO
all interests"
Mr.. Kcnna compared the present aiti-
tude Of Senator sherman with his former
utiewnccs on the subject OF the tariff, aud
asked who would believe that the same
honorable senator who gave uiterncc to
these oxpr ssions upon the adoption of
| the laws which have remained substan-
| TALLY In force ever since, could acknowl-
edge authorship OF the speech which was
recently addressed 90 the Senate and 10
the country. The senator had appealed
10 the labor Of the country and had de-
clarcd that 10 liz the burdens Of the labor
ing man and 10 give him equal opporiuni'
/ ties In the great struggle OF life would he
/ 90 degrade him. To show the senator's
Inconsistency on that point lac referred 10
| the law Of July 4, 1864, passed under the
special patronage OF MIR. sherman, asow-
ing immigration under contract. This he
said, was the ilrst iOffnai and official intro
duction OF foreign Freedom into free
America. In very recent years the hon
orablc senator voled against u bill 10 rc
strict the immigration of the Cinnamon.
lie aitcrwarl pleaded for limitation OF
the term Of the exclusion lo five years aud
/ Hilllll NbUIE fuf lit iNtl Uliif lf lNNlNifNi
that overy skilled laborcr IN Chinn should
be excluded from Ia operation. These ARE
matters Of public history, Of public record.
and Il Is right that they should 20 10 the
country with the speech OF the senator
from Ohio.
II Is undoubtedly true that while our
excess Of import duties hashad tendency
20 build mp aud foster mOnopolics and en-.
rich n few at the expense Of the many, II
has had n like tendency 10 invoke fce
competition 10 labor and 10 reduce the
workingmen to the minimum Of compcn-
sation. II has drawn yast army from
Europe, M the senator says, who enter
into competition with the labor they find
employed when they reach America, and
who enter into like competition among
themselves. II has not simply invited a
tide Of honorable and manly Immigration,
90 which extent We would all concur In its
bcneilcicncy, but by the increased cost oi
his living and the multiplied oXacion,
from his earnings. u has made life pn'ca.
rious burden 10 him here lly artificial
and false stimulus 10 his industries for a
time Il has invited millions into the walks
Of his open competition from every hilltop
aud valley In our country, and from every
quarter and section of the civilized world.
| The Hungarian, the Italian aud the China
man have crowded him alike. They have
come from every nation, come from every
way"
Como o. the wave comes
/ sasHlaIs An - "A