Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-23

i'm the years of its terrible trial, he defends
it as a patriot. Clearly understanding
the practical workings of Protection and
what remarkable prosperity it has pro
NOTED in this country, he firmly adheres
to it as the present and future policy Of
the Government. Knowing well that the
strength. the defense, the very life of this
great Republic depends on the laboring
men and the diversified industries which
they maintain, he is unqualifiedly in
favor of the Protection of Labor by all
wise and practical measures OF tariff
| legislation. A citizen of the West. he has
no prejudice against manufacturers OF the
| East, but is broadly national in his Ideas
as to the measures necessary to the de-
yelopment and prosperity of all sections
of the country. 1t would be impossible
for him TO be other than an American as
Clay. Webster. and Lincoln were Ameri-
cans. The Free Trade professors and
the Golden Club advocates have made no
impression on him except to render him
a more earnest supporter OF the Aneri-
can system. The head of BENJAMIN +.
HARRISON is level, and more and more as
he is making himself known to the Ameri-
can public he is winning the esteem and
confidence of the voting citizens. Re
Gently he received a large delegation
from Illinois, to whom he spoke on the
tariff as follows:
Your coming from another State and from
distant homes testifies to the absorbing H.
terest which you feel in these questions which
are to be settled by the ballot in November.
lCrises of We will settle them. The con-
fessed free traders are very few in this
country But English statesmen and English
newspapers confidently declare that in fact
we have a great many. Applause. J
We are told that it is only an average reduc-
ton of per cent, that is contemplated.
Laughter Well, if that were true, and not
a very deceptive statement, 1t is really
YOU might fairly ask whether this average
reduction does not sacrifice wOrkingmen and
workngwomen. You may also fairly ask
to see the free lists which does not figure III
this average. Applause and cries Of That
it. We would have more confidence In pro
tests of these reformers that they are moi
freetraders if We could occasionally hear one
of them say that he was protectlonist ap'
plause. or admit that our customs duties
should adequately favor our domestic indus
tries. But they seem to be content with a
negative statement.
Those who would, if they could, eliminate
the protective principle from our tariff laws
have, in former moments of candor, desert
! bed themselves as progressive free traders,
J and it is an apt designation. The protective
system is barrier against the flood of foreign
importations and the competition of under
paid labor in Europe. Applause. Those
who want to lower the dixie owe it to those
who live behind it to make plain statement
| of their purposes. Do they want to invite
the flood, or do they believe in the dixie, bu
think it will afford adequate protection at {
lower level? Great and enthusiastic ap
plause. What | say is only suggestive.
cannot in this brief talk go into details o.
even properly limit the illustrations | have
used. But this is an appropriate and timel.
inquiry; with what motive, what ultimate
- design, what disposition toward the principle
of protection, is it that our present tariff
schedule is attacked? 1t may be that reduc
ton should be made; it may be that SOM
duties should be increased, but we want t
~ know whether those who propose the revisL
believe in taking thought of our American
workingmen in fixing the rates, or will leav
them to the chance effects of purely revenu
tariff Applause.
No better expose of the hypocricy ant
cowardice of the Democratic Free Trad
ers has ever been made in so few word
and so brief space of time. That speecl
was a centre shot, and it is sure to raise
howl of rage from the Cleveland party
When Gen. Harrison said tive wvul,
have more confidence in the protests o
these reformers that they are not Ere
Traders if we could occasionally hea
one of them say that he is protection
ist,' he struck right to the heart of thi
whole tariff controversy. The question
is not whether the Mills bill reduces tn
duties or 10 per cent. but whether tn
men who are behind that bill believe il
the protective principle or not
, Nothing is palmer than this t.
place the continued control of the gov
eminent in the hands of men who do no
believe in Protection at heart. is to ex
pose the principle to ultimate defeat, 70
y to be successful in the long run it mus
be administrated by its friends. Its safe
ty cannot be intrusted to the care of thos
y who really believe in Free Trade. Gen
eral Harrison, with the best of reasons
remarks that it is the ''ultimate design
and motive of the men who are advocat
ing the Mills bill and defending Cleve
lands message, which is the real question
now before the people of this country
During the long debate in the House prio
to the passage of the Mills bill, its sup
porters were asked to produce singh
argument which they had made whicl
favored the Protective system, and the,
J.. were not able to do it. The chief fore
and main drift of their talk ana thei
arguments were such as tended to depre
ciate Protection and bring it into contempt
This is obvious and undeniable, and n,
amount of denial, special pleading an,
hedging now by Democratic newspaper
and Cleveland orators can change the rea
!. attitude of the Democratic party toward
a Protective tariff and the interests Q
:, labor.