National Republican., 1888-02-10

these induttrict =. -0ccted against the compe.
labor Of Eutope and africa would be inde.
itnsible, ard expose thew hole system to over.
throw. All that the farmer or the miner asks
that snd proper pToteStion which
uiaeturing coming INTO competitlon with
foreign industry; that their labor
and employments receive the same consi1-
other industries. They only ask enough duty
to compensate for the difference In the price
of labor here and the. countries with which
they compete. Nor do they ask duties on
grades of wool that they cannot produce. /
confess that in reasoning about this matter
cannot help expressing my profound contempt
for the seflshness OF the policy declared by Mr.
Mayor Hewitt in a letter to the league III
which, while demanding increased duties for
the articles that he is producing, he insists on
the repeal OF duties on materials he uses.
Now, gentlemen, you may ask me what 1
have to say about tariff reform. answer that
am decidedly In favor of tariff reform-al-
ways have been and always Will be: have
idea OF tariff reform Is not especially TO make
our duties acceptable to foreign nations, but
rather to promote the interests Of our own
people; not TO take lessons from the Golden
Club or the English arstocracy, but from
Washington, Jefferson, jackson, and Lincoln,
and TO follow the teachings OF Webster aud
Clay. am not in favor OF that kind OF tariff
reform which brings Senator Morgan and Mr..
Lowell together / do not know what they
mean by tariff reform. suppose IL is so per
cent. on sugar and 20 per cent. on woolens,
the highest rate possible on what they produce
and the lowest rate, or none at all, on what
other people produce l am afraid that IL
these two eminent representatives of tariff re-
they would % not be so harmonious. harm % II f'fi' Mr.
Lowell should discuss civil service reform,
Mr.: Morgan would pronounce IL humbug;
and yet they asree on the tariff reform recon:
mended by Mr.. Cleveland, which is a general
reduction OF the duties on foreign importa-
tions, and especially on raw materials.
Now, TO this am opposed-tlrst, because II
IL an injustice to American citizens In every
part of our country who have been invited TO
engage in the process of manufacture, aud a
still greater injustice TO the millions of labor.
ing people who depend upon industries thus
protected. Again, the policy proposed will
net reduce the revenue. but will absolutely
increase 1t and thus swell the surplus, as well
as disturb tho business of the country twill
necessarily check the enorm ous productions
of our country, increase and harden the com.
petition now existing between European and
American labor, ard reduce the wages of all
laboring men employed In protected indus.
tries. II will, IN my Judgment, disturb or
break down large departments of industry noy
in the course Of successful experiment. II Is
departure from the policy recommended by
our fathers. and especially the policy adoped
within the last TWEEN y-tive years. under which
our manufactures have grown to their present
enormous aggregate. IL Is q departure from tho
policy adopted by the most intelligent nations
OF Europe and America, especially our klni.
men In Canada, who followed our example and
have been benefited by Ii.
But, yon may ask me how I would reduce
the surplus revenue. / enswer frankly that
the tariff ought TO be carefully revised with a
view to correct any inequalities or ineongrui.
ties that have grown out OF the change of
values since the passage of the act of 1889;
that every imported article which0loes not
compete with our domestic industry ana is
essential to the comfort and wants OF our peo-
pie should be placed upon the free list that
every raw material OF industry which does not
compete with our own productions should be
gnppiQllv EnlnQtnl
ever any industry which can be conducted in
this country with reasonable success needs
moderate increase of duty for its protection
to give 1t, and in this way, check foreign i'm.
portations and lessen the revenue. The direct
taxes upon American productions levied by our
internal revenue laws, which interfere, with
so s moahed Oanhid o. or O%T TepeaeS eSSOp haa should IN
ment should be reduced SO as to supply only
government wisely and econo mically admin
istered, and to carry out the provisions of the
sinking fund for the gradual reduction OF the
I'm Wo he pToS9e @ OF
appropriations for the Improvement of our
harbors, for the. defense of our sea coasts, for
the increase OF our mercantile marine, for
liberal provision for all the obligations We
are under to the Union soldiers, their widows
and their orphans, by whose courage, alone
we have country to care for, a flag to honor,
and government 10 protect u.s.. Above all,
would impartially protect our home market
from the deluge OF foreign imp0rtations, and
encourage, maintain, diversity, and establish
on sure foundation the industries of our
people In all parts of our country.
Then they tell us that with free trade or
lower duties we could buy some things cheaper
abroad. answer that even II this be true we
can afford to pay such prices as will insure
home production and fair wages, and we eau
point them TO an unbroken experience that
home competition reduces the price more and
more, while American workshops gives us
home market whose benefits extend to every
industrial pursuit in our broad land. By this
home competition we will In due time enter
the markets of the world, as we have have
Already in many branches OF manufacture.
With wise Estatcsmanship we could now, but
for the narrow ideas of the powers that be,
establish such commercial relations with the
dominion Of Canada, with Mexico, aud the
South American states as would enable us TO
exreGa orr market and our friendly assistance
in develOpins ..he untold resources of two
continents. In this great American policy we
naturally look to Boston IT, take the lead, and
when she leads nation of Sly millions of
people will follow.
Senator Sherman was interrupted fre-
quently by applause, and OF times his re-
marks drew forth broad smile and hearty,
laughter from every part OF the house
Congressman Mckinley, OF Ohio, deliv
cred tariff address, sayicg that the tariff
advocates appealed from the President to
the people.