The Portland daily press., 1888-08-24

land had three times the population of these
Western States in 1860, with an aggregate
wealth 0fathirty-seyen hundred million (S3,-
700, 000,000.) To-day the population Of these
States is about the same as the Western
States, while their wealth, in the twenty
years between 1860 and 1880. increased only
three fold, mounting, In 1880, to eleven thou
sand, two hundred and elghty-six million
($11, ,2S6 0OO, ,0O0.) The ratio Of development be-
tween the manufacturing States of New
York and New England has, therefore, not
been One-half so rapid as that of the six
agricultural States, | have named. They
have not, 1t Is true, the same amount in
cash to the credit of their wage-wOrkers, but
they have II in great and fourishing cities,
In long lines OF railways, in improved farms
with vastly advanced value, in great cities.
In new towns, In the prodigious products OF
grain, in the countless increase of flocks and
herds, the whole constituting an increase of
agricultural wealth to which the experience
OF the Western farmer, under a revenue
tarlfi, bears SO slight q comparison that 1t
can hardly be stated in figures.
Lastly, the objection to the conclusion |
present comes from the Southern Democrat.
who, forgetting the true interest Of his sec
ton, Is urging the revival of free trade. He
considers that the South has been robbed for
the benefit OF the North, and, hugging this
monstrous delusion, he strives to place the
Union back under the old free trade system
OF the ante-bellum period, and yet the beni-
heent effect of protective tariff can be even
development of the South than by the pro- pro-
gressof the North. By the census Of 1860,
seyenty-0ne years after the Federal govern
ment was organized, the Southern States, or
to describe them more accurately, the slave
holding States OF the Union, had acquired
property amounting, in the aggregate, to six
thousand eight hundred millions Of dollars
(S6.SO0, 900 000) One-third of this total
amount, or certainly over two thousand mil
lions OF dollars (S2, 900 900, ,0G0) was reckoned
as the value of negro slaves.
Eleven of these States went into the rebel
hon. at the end Of which 3hey had lost tie
Institution OF slavery, with all Of its assured
money value. They had used up four annual
crops Ct for % war purposes. They had lost all
had lost quarter of million Of the youth
of their land, and had disabled as many
more. They had subjected all their fair and
blooming section TO the blighting and devas-
atlng lnnnence OF the sword to as great a
degree as the seven years had afflicted Prus-
sia, or as the Napoleonic struggles
had withered France. Coming ont
OF the war in 1865 defeated.
discouraged and almost destroyed, the South
ern people, under the influence of the protec-
i've system, made good the two thousand
millions 1000, 900, ,000)which they had lost in
slaves, repaired the ravages and damages Of
war and, in the short space Of fifteen wears.
they had acquired by the census Of 1880, twen-
ty-one hundred millions (S2, 100, ,0OO,O 600
OF property more than they had possessed
by tine census of 1860. If the financial and
Industrial condition of the South could be
ascertained today, they would be found 10
have two and one-half to three times as much
properly as they had on that direful day
when they rashly fired on Sumpter
Nor must l omit In this hasty review of
the condition Of our common country under
the protective system, to call your attention
70 splendid States over on the shores of the
Pacihc. In 1860, the mines of California had
greatly diminished in value, and immigra-
ton had fallen of, agriculture had not vet
been largely developed, and manufactures
were not fairly started. The total property
Oh California and Oregon was but two hun
dred Cne and thirty-three millions of dollars.
lsz55,OOO,OOO. A new career opened to them
with the enactment of the protective tariff IN
1861. The ranch, the farm, and the yineyard
were everywhere developed and cultivated.
manufactures grew rapidly and the region
winch lew years before had been one great
miners camp became one of the most pfos-
porous and promising Of the whole Union.
California and Oregon had, in 20 years, by the
census of 1880. added more than twelve hun
dred and hfty million dollars 1.250, ,OOO, 900
70 their wealth and have been accommodating.
IN greater ratio, during the last eight years,
Oh whose results we have yet no official re-
turns. Besides an immense production of
cereals and an enormous growth of wool,
Y. california IS entering upon the cultivation Of
home to us over both oceans, and, If not ar
rested in her industrial progress, in the work
shop, ON the farm and in the orchard, she
VIII acquire prestige and wealth which will
Union: Imperial in extent our Pacific slope
IS destined to be imperial in the strength and
SplendCr OF her full development
fellow citizens Of Maine, have said moth
ing as yet, specifically, concerning our own
State. 1t is not, in fact, needful IN the pres-
ence OF these thousands of witnesses to- the
progress which she has made since 1860.
Upheld, encouraged ana stimulated by the
protective system, Maine has increased her
wealth more than three-fold, and is daily
progressing IN an even more rapid ratio. But
our progress is now to be arrested, our pros
perity threatened, by the Recommendation of
the President of the United States and the
action OF the Democratic party in Congress.
Inc tariff bill, which the Democratic
House has sent to the Republican Senate,
impairs every industrial interest in Maine,
and even threatens the destruction of some.
From the glanite quarries ON our coast to the
lumber camps in our forests from the cot
ton factories OF York and Androscoggin to
the starch factories Of Aroostook; from the
wool growers of the hill country to the lime
burners on Penobscot Bay,-every pursuit of
our people will be injuriously affected by
what seems to be almost the malignity Of the
proposed legislation. What has Maine done
that the Democratic party should be allowed
to cripple and destroy her great material in
terestsi
From all the radical changes in our COM
plex industrial system, which President
Cleveland recommends and which the Demo-
cratic House has seconded. the one excuse,
lterated and reiterated, Is that the tariff sys-
tenn has produced large surplus. The sim
pie truth is that the surplus was allowed to
accumulate by the mal-administration Of the
treasury Department-a surplus, which it
was both the right and the duty of the Secre-
tary under the law to apply to the reduction
of the public debt.
We are not allowed to ascribe motives for
pubic action, but cannot refrain from say
ing that under any Republican secretary that
mas ever had charge of the treasury, the sur
plus would have been steadily employed In
the payment of the debt and would not have
been allowed to accumulate to the detriment
of business and to the loss of millions of
the peoples money. If Secretary Fairchild
had followed the line Of the law, President
Cleveland would never have found the ''con-
dition" upon which his message of last De-
cember was based. Never In the history of |
the world has there been such progress in
the development Of a great country-such |
vast accumulations of material wealth-as
have been realized in the United States since
the policy Of protection was adopted in 1861.
The benefits have reached every section, av-
cry state, every class OF workers. Our ad-
vancement IS the cause Of graduation and
gratitude at home, amazement and admira-
ti0n abroad
President Cleveland now proposes to in
terfere with the system of protection which
mas wrought these great results. He pro-
poses to institute dangerous experiments
where we now enjoy the full reward of for
tunate experience, to give us change where
we now have stability; to commit us to
doubt where we now have certainty: to
give up system which has brought unpre-
cedepted prosperity and return to a system,
which, in our past history has three times
ended in bankrupt treasury and created |
wide distress among the wage-workers and |
the capitalists Of the country. l do not be- |
lieve the people of the United States will APP |
prove the Presidents policy; am sure the |
people OF Maine will disaprove Of it with |
emphatic voice.
Friends of the protective system, remem- |
per, with your work and your ballots, the f. |
deity and ability with which Charles A. |
boutelle, your representative in Congress, |
mas laDored for your interests. Return him |
TO his post of honorable duty by an increas- |
ed majority of votes, and a still larger in |
crease of your trust and confdence-if that |
be possible. Remember also that the aggre- |
gate expressions of Names opinion will be |
registered in the vote for our candidate for |
Governor, Edwin c. Burleigh, every inch a |
man, and with every breath a stout defender |
Of protection. And, finally, remember that |
the vote of Maine in September will be an |
index of how strongly the popular strength |
is consolidating in support Of our splendid |
A - a.