The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-22
MR.. WATTERSON SPEAKS.
HE ENTERTAINS THE NEW YORK
TARIFF REFORM CLUB.
The Presidents Message Takes All the
Wind Out OF the Republicans Sails,
and Leaves Them without an Issue
Other Speeches.


club gave dinner tonight TO $50 guests
at the Metropolitan opera-house. Afterthe
dinner hall score Of the guests discussed
the issues of tariff reform. Arson Phelps
Stokes presided The speakers were:
The Hon. w. G. p. Breckinridge, OF Ken
lucky; the Hon. Melbourne II. Ford, OF
Michigan; the Hon. Henry Watterson, OF
Kentucky; the Hon. NJ. ID. Harter, Of
Ohio, and a number Of local speakers.
President Stokes was the tirst speaker
He said that never before had the people
shown such general and intelligent
interest in the discussion OF an eco
nomic question. The great presi dental
election Of this year turned upon tariff re-
form. The large surplus in the treasury
had alarmed all honest people. The wise,
prudent, practical, patriotic message had
sounded the note OF warning. The
coal miners in Pennylvania, the
wool manufacturers Of New England,
the farmers in the south and west had
come To doubt at least the advantages OF
protection. The Tariff Reform club wei
coined tariT reformers generally, including
those who would lessen the duty on
single raw material and those who would
lift some tariff burdens from consumers,
those who would do away with protection
and those who would abolish all custom
houses.
Mr.. J. 7. Townsend, president OF the
Maritime exchange, offered the following
'sWc, the members Of the Reform club,
indoae the recent message OF President
Cleveland TO Congress, concerning the re-
1uetinn az the tariff taxation
II was unanimously adopted.
Hon. w. O. =. Breckinndge then re-
spondcd 10 the toast Tariff reform"
Mr.. Breckenridge in opening paid a trib-
ute 10 Henry. WatteSon, who sat at his
night, aud said Mr.. Watteson vas leader
whose follower he was. Referring 10 his
own recorded stand against the
abolition OF the tax on tobacco,
lao said he would rather have
IL reduced than that no action should be
taken in the matter Of tariff reform. The
question Of protection, he said. was one
which might have temporary triumph in
the lower courts, but when carried up TO
the court Of last resort, was sure OF the
sentence OF condemnation. Every pro-
vision Of the present tariff was made In the
interest Of private parties. Everything on
the schedule, II IL could talk, would tell n
tale OF secret lobby work for private in
tercst. Mr.. Breckenridge spoke In scaih
ing terms OF the concessions Ia railways
and said the public credit had been ~
handled by peculiar banking priv.
Iegcs 30 that Il was lent for private
nmolument. This very month wool manu-
facturcrs and so-cslled wool growers met
10 determine the wool tariff 10 be adopted
by the Congress OF the United States for
their benefit IL had never occurred 10
them that there were 60,000,0O0 people
~bo might be concerned In the matter.
hr. Breckenridge asked how long the pco.
pie would allow the wool 10 be- pulled over
their eyes In this matter. The solution oi
thecOuntry's shippingintersts. he claimed,
lay In tariff reform. The Reading strike
was attributed 90 the bad working OF the
present iniquitous system.
Referring TO the recent message Of Oh,
President, the speaker said that with rar,
courage the President submitted 10 the
people the issue M 10 which should be IN,
system Of the future. The issue had beer
put into concrete form. The speaker
closed with pruisc for President Cleveland
the mention Of whose namo was loud!
checrcd.
'Thr Farmer and the Tariff" was TN
subject assigned 20 the Hon. MclbOurn'
fnn. Mr.. Ford said that he was informe'
that this club was Of recent organization
lie congratulated the members upon th
success Of the affair. II had deep mean
ing. II signihcd that the Reform club Of tn
city OF New York had come 10 stay. "lo
Gated ~ you are, said the speaker, "iI
the metropolis OF this country, the influ
cncc which you will exert In this qucs
- ton IN 20 be greater than many q
you suppose. I believe that no more i'm
poriant problem il presented 10 us toda
Than that Of the reduction Of the taxation
The accumulation ~ late years had result
ed in colossal surplus In the trcasnr
which was something appalling. In 1856
the national taxation averaged Sl.07 IL
capita. Today Il was over 81 II was
matter Of wonder that the people submit
ted 10 this state Of things. The situation
had become critical. What was the NEAR
ing Of the increased iaxation1 Did the 20,
eminent need money! No; u was account
latinx n surplus at the rate Of slOO,O00,O C
agar. Nor was the surplus accumul ate
for the purpose Of paying the country
debt II was ~ that the lew manuiactu
er might be paid premium for earnin
their living. WHY had the people sui
miited3 For on their shoulders the bu
dens rested. II WIS very simple. The
had paid The taxes indirectly, and had nc
realized the effect II had upon them.
had come 20 them In the shape Of increase
prices Of nccoearics Of life Suppose n
money had been collected by direct tax
tionY The people would never have sui
miited 10 H. The tariff advocates woul
neyur dare 10 change the system W dire
taxation. The reduction Of taxation shoul
be largely upon the nccessarcs Of life.
II no, strange that M soon as the mcsaJ
for free tradc came out that the new
papers very soon called the atie
Jon Of the farmers 10 the ~
that the war tariff was the great bulwai
Of their prosperity, and the mails wei
loaded down with circulars and docurn
sho~ing tho great improvement TO be d
rived from the tariff This wool tariff
tho piece de-esistanoe OF the tariff que
ton. They say that the tariff must be ?
duccd. Tie farmer may be- saved fro
utter destruction by the reduction Of u
tariff ON wool. I doubt the sincerity
these men from the farmers interests.
mn. wArrrmoS's srsscW.
~ i-o With ,iin,dcncr and frrpidafio