Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-28
HON. OLIN WELLBORN.
CONTINUED FROM WRIST PAGE. ]

that entered into their making. Thus
protection was invoked to come to the
aid of protection, and the people were to
be doubly taxed.
And this has borne fruits again in
the destruction of our commerce.
In 1910, S2.9 per cent. OF our in.
ports and exports we're carried in
American bottoms; in 1882 we car
ried only 1905 per cent. In 1910 we had
to pay for only II per cent. to be carried
by foreign ships, now we pay for S5 ptr
cent. On the high seas the American
flag has become a rarity. OF the 1884
vessels which in the year 1885 passe d
through the Suez Canal oly four wei e
American. All this is to be directly
charged to the vicious system of high
tariff. The fearful result OF it all is that
American merchants now pay to foreign
ship-owners for the transportation cf
goods 500, ,000, 600 a year which might
come and ought to come to our own traders
and our own sailors. And this high tar #
diminishes our foreign trade, because II
those countries cannot sell to US they
will not buy OF us if they can help it
Can we afford to perpetuate this Chinese
system? Every prompting of personal
interest cries out against it. Commerce
is the accepted measure OF the prosperity
of people and we have deliberately
given up place in the first rank of the
Nations of the world and stepped back
into contemplate obscurity.
THE EFFECTS.
I come now to consider the effects OF
this system upon agriculture. Certainly
no plan OF legislation could be
more harmful, more infamous than
that which discriminates against the
farming interest. Of our present popu.
lation of 50,155,73S souls, 22, 12O. .399 are
engaged in agriculture. Our exports are
$S52, 900 900 worth of produce. to which
the farmers furnish $685. 900, 900. Thus
ne arly half of our population and four
tifths OF all the goods sent abroad are
from this one class. Certainly no indus.
try is more deserving of the copsidera-
ton OF the Government, yet the present
tariff throws its heaviest burdens upon
that one form OF occupation. Every article
which the farmer uses which he does
not bimself produce is heavily taxed.
and all the tax goes to the manufacturer.
No wonder that campaign tricks of all
sorts are resorted to to cover up the sight
of such awful burdens from the ewes OF
those who are compelled to carry them.
The American people are not fools and
thousand Murchison letters cannot blind
them to the truth.
Now, had | an audience of manufactur-
ers to listen to me tonight | would ap-
peal to them first in the name of Justice
to consent to some measure OF
relief for the people. The plan
we propose to carry out is
as complete as the circum stances will
permit of, hut it is also in the highest
degree conservative. But if they do not
to this and succeed by anv
species OF fraud and corruption in putting
off the day OF reform, then the change
when it does come will be much more
thorough and sweeping. We propose
now to act with a careful eye to their in
terests, but if they refuse US let them be-
ware. The American people is not
wont to bow its neck to the
rod OF an oppressor. There are
volcanic agencies of reform simmering
beneath the surfcce which may break
out in way that they would deplore.
AS yet this reform element would be
satisfied with a moderate measure of re-
lief; but if this is refused, sooner or
later the people will send to Washington
representatives who will understand
what is expected of them, and will do
their work without swerving to left or to
right.
Now. what are the respective positions
OF the two parties On this great question
| shall not stop to analyze the
Senate bill, for it seems to me to be not
the action of the party, but the factional
protest of a few against the edict of the
whole organization in its platform. Il
mean that infamous document adopted
at Chicago which brazenly proposes to
remove the revenue on whisky and to-
bacco that the taxes may remain on the
necessaries of life, and to sacrifice the
morality of the people to this Moloch of
protection. The time is come for your
decision whether you will choose to en-.
slave yourselves permanently to system
which impoverishes the many to enrich
the few or to uphold the principle of
equal laws for all, special privileges for
for none. If the latter is your idea of
the true nature of our government, show
it by your voting for Cleveland and
Thurman. Long and continued cheer
ing.