Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-28
HON. OLIN WELLBORN.
A Rousing Rally ON New
High Street.
AN UNANswERABLE ARGUMENT.
The Republican Tariff Policy Torn
to Pieces by Most Power
full Speaker.

An immence crowd, fully 5000, of
enthusiastic Democrats came together
last night at the speaking stand on New
High street to listen to speech of ex-
traordinary eloquence and power by Hon.
Olin Wellborn, Of San Diego. Mr.. Well
born formerly represented a District OF
the Lone Star State in Congress and his
Democracy is one of the best specimens
of the simon-pure article that has been
offered to the Los Angeles public during
this campaign. 1t was a speech whose
solid argument made votes, while its
thrilling eloquence fred enthusiasm.
The crowd was one of the largest which
has come together since the campaign
opened. The seats were packed and the
standing room filled back into the street.
The applause was vehement and con-
stant, coming in as a period to almost
every one OF the orators sentences. At
the end of the speech the crowd would
not 90 away, but continued cheering and
calling for more for ten minutes or more.
Mr.. Wellborn was introduced by
Colonel George H. Smith, who acted as
President of the meeting. The follow
ing list of officers was read: Secretaries.
Ben Edelman and w. j. Tobin. Vice.
presidents-P Fitzwilliam, R. G. Carl
ton, H. j. Tooler, w. H. Spurgeon
Sidney Lacey, A. Glassell, Judge Ander-
son, DR.. j. H. Bryant, j. P. Moran, S. F.
Norton, d. M. McGarry, Sylvester Grant,
w. H. Roper, Sanford johnson, Jabes
Percival, John S.. O'Neil, j. G. Kays,
Lieutenant Gatewood, U. S. A.. Robt.
N. Russell, John 1. Redick, J. A. Graves,
A. T. Childress, Jake Kuhrts, DR.. Lin
denfeld, James Haniey, H. Bartning,
John R. Mathews, Phil Stein, John L.
O'Bryan, p. N. O'Donnell, Richard
Malony, Prof. A. Wilhartitz, Conrad
Jacoby, M. G. Marsh, Chas. Foreman, l.
w. Hellman.
MIR. wELLBoRN's SPEECH.
OF the memorable political revolutions
which stand out as landmarks in history
few appeal more profoundly to the right
ecus sentiments which have place in the
human heart than the great contest
which the Dem ocracy is now waging. So
urgently do the claims of this great
cause put themselves forward that l
deem it my duty tonight in what have
to say to pass by the other great ques-
tions which are more or less involved in
the campaign and to devote all my time
and attention to the matter OF the tariff
tax. shall not even stop to speak of
the Chinese question although it involves
some of the most important matters that
have ever come into our legislation. l
shall only pause to say that despite all
the opposition that it received from Re-
publican sources the Democratic party
has at last built up great wall
which will throw back the terri
BILE wave of Chinese immigration
which was threatening to engulf
the prosperity of our laborers, and even
the safety of our institutions. Not satis-
fed with this splendid achievement for
the cause of the workingman, the Demo
cratic party now pushes forward to new
triumphs, which shall all rebound to his
advantage and profit.
THE SURPLUS.
The abnormal condition of our finances
which has forced into prominence the
state of the revenue laws shows that
something is wrong with our fiscal ar
rangements. From the locking up of
over 500, ,0O0, 900 of the peoples money
in the Treasury, forming what is known
as the surplus, two cardinal evils result.
There is begotten in Congress disposition
to extravaganza, which is menace to
our free institutions. This sum stands
as a constant invitation to plunder
The second evil is that the withdrawal
of this vast sum from the channels
of trade hampers all commerce and
ruinously appreciates values. This con-
dition of things is a positive fact which
now only ignorance or mendacity will
deny. Each party admits the fact, and
has pledged itself to its reform. Yet b,
its platform the Republican party stands
system by which the surplus comes to
have its being-the high protective doc
trine of war tax revenue.
Now, it is generally conceded that our
revenues for the carrying on Of the Gov
ernment must be raised by means Of
customs duties, and thus both parties ad-
NIT that the tariff is practically per-
manent institution. The question at its
root is as to the principle on which tariff
laws should be framed. 1t is to this
question that all honest argument finally
comes, and no trick of campaigning will
divert the attention of the people from
the matter-for it is one of vital interest
for them.
There are two systems; it is we'll at
the outset to clearly distinguish between
them. The underlying principle of a
revenue tariff should be that of an equit-
able taxation; and l maintain that by
any tariff based solely on this principle
our industries receive all the protec-
ton they have any right to expect and
enough to cover the difference in the
price of labor between this and other
countries.
THE DIRECT PURPOSE
OF so-called protective tariff is to raise
the price of the articles. If not, how
does it protect the manufacturers AS
our system exists at present it is protec-
ton in the highest degree, and arraign
it now upon the the ground that as tax
it is unequal and unfair, that it is curse
upon labor, a restraint upon commerce
and fostering aid to monopoly. Let NE
read you an utterance on its legality
given not by some Democratic politicians
upon the stump as perhaps our Republi
can friends would hurry to exclaim, bu
by Justice Miller, of the Supreme Cour
Of the United States, a Republican Judge
speaking in his official capacity from the
bench; "To lay with me. hand the
power OF the Government upon the prop
erty OF one individual, and to bestow il
with the other hand upon some othel
citizen, is none the less robbery be
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