Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-11
THE GREAT ISSUE.
Ii Stands Forth Preeminent 10
the New York Multitude
Under Mr.. Blaine'S MatChleSS
ElOQuenCe.
EnglandS Politicians Unite Only on One
Question,
And That is American Free Trade.
How this Should be Met with Republi-
can Unity for Protection to Labor
And That is American Free Trade.
How this Should be Met with Republi-
can Unity for Protection to Labor


NEW YORK, Aug. 10.
Mr.. Blaine passed the day very quietly.
At z. NJ, the crowd around Madison Square
numbered many thousands, shouting for
Blaine !" james G. Blaine ~
When Mr.. Blaine appeared on the stand
Chairman Ford called the meeting to order
and David Healev read an address in behalf
os the workingmen of New York to Blaine.
The address was u strong endorsement of
protection. Blaine was then introduced and
after the applause had subsidized said;
Mr.. Chairman: 1t would be egotism on
my part to take this magnificent demonstra-
ton personally TO myself. 1t rather signi-
fes the great popular interest in the question
upon which am supposed at least to have a
consistent record and earnest zeal. APP
plause. And you have before you con-
test in which that great issue is to be settled
by the American people, perhaps for an in
definite period one way or another The
year of 1887 was a prosperous one, and the
President at its close proposed n radical
change in the industrial system which had
produced that prosperity, and since that day
there has been confusion in commerce and
the manufactures of the United States,
lean people is whether he and his administra-
ton shall be sustained in that movement.
Against him the republicans, having the best
cause, have nominated the best man. APP
plause. They have given to you for presi-
dent man of sound experience, man of
heroic record in war, man of great purity
of character, a man of great frmness, and
worthy of the best days of administration in
this country and you have associated with
him man whom to New Yorkers-l needn't
further describe than say that his name is
Levi Z. Morton. Applause. man of
most generous character, of the widest and
most statesmanlike views on all public ques-
tons pending before the American people.
Against this you have two gentlemen of
whom | would not speak in terms other than
those of entire personal respect; of the vice
president other than that in him have had a
friend many years, and am a personal admir-
er of Judge Thurman, but beg you that at
the critical period in this country when
the vice president, George NJ. Dallas, on a
casting vote in the tied Senate destroyed the
protective tariff of 1912, today the Senate
of the United States, or on March 4th will,
have thirty two senators from the solid
south, and unless you make a change of 6
democratic senators from the north, precise
ly one half and Mr.. Thurman will be in a
position to re-enact the vote of Geo. NJ.
Dallas in 1912 Therefore, however availa-
BILE man may be, and however able he
may be, the more amiable and more able he
is the worse for his influence before the
American people. (Applause.) Now gen
tlemen, know that in discussing the ques-
ton of protective tariff, we are always
pointing out what England does. | have
lately been in England for some months and
found in English public opinion a
great difference of opinion on almost all
questions. They are about deyided ON what
you call the Irish question, and are about
divided on the forcible policy. Gladstone
and Parnell are even divided on the continu-
ance of the House of Lords, and they are
not absolutely unanimous in their support of
monarchy. daughter and applause.) But
from one end of the king lom to the other
it is a unanimous chorus on the part of
the tories and wings, liberals, conservatives
and radicals and that is, that Hon. Grover
Cleveland President of the United States,
embodies in his person the regular form of
revenue and free trade for the United States,
which they like. Applause. Now, have
no objection to their right of opinion, and if
| had, it would amount to nothing. Nor do
1 lnttuu u SPEAK uls1tspeClluliH OI tne
lish, for have received at their hands a very
graceful, and a very cordial hospitality, for
which would be a churl not to acknowledge
before an American audience but that does
not affect the pending condition, that the
American people find their interests in one
policy, and that the English want change
in that policy that will better conform to their
interests, and that, gentlemen, is the prime
ouostiop hot at tho NpypD1hpr
election am glad this meeting is called in
the name of the laboring people, because the
question is from the first to the last, ques-
ton of labor. Loud applause. If you
will agree to live in as poor a house, eat as
poor food, and receive as low wages as the
people of England receive, we can produce
as cheap goods as the democratic administra-
ton wants to see, laughter and applause, !
but, if you wish to better your condition,
you want the industrial system and the pro-
tected interests to be maintained. The
entire savings that the wage workers
of England, Scotland and Ire
land are drawing upon are not as
large as those that lie in the savings bank
of Massachusetts to the credit of the wage
workers of that small State, and if you turn
the administration of this republic today
into free trade channels you may not expect
great savings, for you will put our laboring
man throughout the country into competi-
ton with the labor of Great Britain, and in
the course of five or ten years you will make
them as poor upon this side of the water as
on the other. | will not in this campaign
stop TO argue the question upon any other
basis. | haze no personality to indulge in,
| have no sores to heal Loud cheers.
would rather have your cordial and heartfelt
and sympathetic welcome than any office
you care to bestow upon me- Applause. !
But in this canvass in which | shall take a
. greater or less part, | shall hold this question
from beginning to end as question that inter
ests every man, woman and child in this
country that depends on their daily labor for
their daily bread. Applause There is
no need to make any laws to protect capital
Capital will always take care of itself and
gets full share, but there are laws that can
elevate the condition of the laboring man
and laws that can degrade him. The repub
lican party stood for 25 years and it will
stand, | believe, with the blessing of Goo
and the will of the American people % year,
more, upholding and maintaining lhe labor.
/ ing man, for the government which take,
care of the bone and snew anC
the working muscle of the land i,
taking care of the men VIII,
have created wealth in the country, and whC
are therefore entitledto the patronage anc
protection of the government. Applause.
Now, gentlemen, YOU represent the critica
State, the State of New York; your vote
are to tell in that issue. Your votes can b,
decisive on that one issue. Don't be diver;
ed from that one question by side issues
Don't be misled by petty squsbbles upon thi
or that small issue. or upon personal ques
tons of abuse on one hand or the other, bu
give your votes as independent laboring mer