St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-05
HARRISON'S HOMILIES.
Benjamin Talks Protection for
Projections Sake.
In substance Gen. Harrison said:


In substance Gen. Harrison said:
lam glad to know that the people are
moved 10 a thoughtful consideration of those
questions which are this year presented for
their determination. Under a popular gov
eminent like ours it is of the first importance
that every man who votes should have some
reason for his vote; that every man who
attaches himself to this or that political party
should intelligenlly understand both the
creed and the purposes of the party TO which
he belongs. l think it is universally con-
ceded-cOnceded by Democrats as well as by
Republicans-that the questions involved
in this campaign do have very direct bear
ing upon the general prosperity and upon
the prosperity and welfare of the individual
citizen. ! think it is conceded that the re-
suit of this election will effect for veal or
for woe the individual workingmen and
working women who fill these busy hives of
industry. lApplause.l This much is con-
ceded, and the issue is very sQuarely pre-
scented for your consideration. do not in
tend to-day to argue ii i'll any detail. want
to call your attention to few general facts
and principles. And the first one, and the
/ deem SO important / do not care
for the charge that 1 am repeating
myself when utter il again to-day, is this:
That the condition Of the wageworkers of
America is better than that of the wagework-
ers of any other country in the world. Zap
plause. / do not say 1t is as good as il ought
to be. do not say that we have hit upon
any governmental policy that makes the con-
dition of the workingman
AN IDEAL CONDITION.
But speaking mparatively, | do declare
and might safely call out of this audience
many Germans who have worked in Germany
and in Fort Wayne. and many Irishmen who
have worked in Ireland and England and in
Fort Wayne, and put them upon the witness
stand to support what have said-that there
is better chance, there is better living,
there is better hope for the workingmen in
America an in any other country in the
world. Applause Now, if that be true, it
is important that you should each find out
why il is so, and especially that each one of
you should determine for himself what effect
protective tariff has had and is likely TO
have upon his wages and his prosperity.
Does il need TO be demonstrated that If we
reduce our tariff to the revenue level, il we
lection, that more goods viii come in from
abroad than come in now? What then is the
necessary effect! 1t is TO transfer to foreign
shops work that you need here. Itis to dimin-
ish American production and increase English
production. That is 10 be the effect of it,
1t is not worth while to stand upon nice
definition as to free trade. Some think it
enough to say that they are not free traders
because they are not in favor OF abolishing
all custom duties. Let me remind such that
the free trade countries of Europe. recog-
nized 10 be such, have not abolished all Gus
tom duties. The definition is this: The free
trader believes in destroying protection, in
leyying custom duties without any regard to
the effect of those duties upon the wages of
our working people or upon the production
of our own shops.
THERE, THEN, IS THE ISSUE.
Take 1t to your homes. There are many
confusing and contradictory statements
made in the public press and by public
speakers. Ask any of those who assail our
protective system whether they 90 not
believe that if their policy is in force a
larger amount of English and French and
German goods will come into this country.
II is their purpose, they say, TO increase i'm
portation and TO cheaper prices. think !
may safely ask you 10 consider the question
whether this cheapening OF prices, which
they seem TO regard as the highest attainment
of craftsmanship, is consistent with the
rate Of wages that our working people enjoy
to-day; whether it will not involve.
If we are TO have this foreign competition
without favoring duties a reduction of
American wages to the standard of wages
paid abroad. (Applause) Do you believe
for one moment that two factories making
the same products can be maintained in COM
petition when one pays 80 per cent more TO
its workmen than the other? Is it not GER
tain that wages must be equalized in those
competing establishments or the one paying
the higher wages must shut down? Now,
here in this city of Fort Wayne, so import
ant and so prosperous, we have a fine illus
tration of The accruing advantages
of1a large factory and shop
pOpulatlOn. 1t mas MADE your city
prosperous and populOus, and it has made
Thee outlying county farms worth vastly
more than they would otherwise have been.
These interests harmonic, but only want
to say to you to-day, think upon these ques-
tions; settle them in your own minds. Fol
it is agreed by all that as they shall be set
tied one way or the other, your interests and
those of your families, and of this commun.
ity, and every other like community in this
country are to be affected favorably or un
favorably. May not appeal to you to re-
view these questions, to
THROW OFF THE sHAcKLEs
of preconceived notions and of party preju
dice, and consider them anew in the light 81
all the information that is accessible to you
If you shall do that, DO not doubt that the
working people of this country will this No
vember forever settle the question that Ameri
can custom duties shall by intention, by fore
thought have regard TO the wages of oul
working people. [Applause.l And now. il
you will pardon further speech, shall be
glad TO avail myself of the arrangements
which the committee have provided TO gree
personally any of you who may desire tC
greet me. lApplause.]