Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-01
PLUMB'S SPt ECH.
A FORCIBLE AND ABLE ARGU.
MENT.

Tariff Points.
There was no flourish of trumpets or
beating of drums over the arrival of U.
S. Senator P. B. Plumb Tuesday
Nevertheless the opera house was, at 2
o'clock. well filled with an intelligent
and cultured audience, gathered to
listen to the words of Kansas able Sem
ator.
D. r. Gorden, president of the Abb.
lene Harrison and Morton club, intro
| duced the distinguished speaker who
| for an hour and a half gave the hearers
a broad. logical address that brought
forth generous applause and much en-
thusiasm.
In opening he said that there is no
probability to be considered in this
campaign other than the success of the
Democratic or Republican parties-it
will be either Harrison or Cleveland.
TIE successful candidate will win upon
the peoples view of the tariff question.
The Democratic party assails not alone
the present tariff schedule but the prin-
ciple of protection itself. Money to
run the government is necessary, all
admit that. The only question is how
shall it be raised. The Democrats say
that the tariff is robbery; if it is, it
should be abolished. This they can
not prove. The Republican idea of a
tariff is such one as shall levy these
taxes" upon articles produced in this
country, for the purpose of aiding in
their production here. We have the
material resources for home manufac-
tories and it is admitted by all that it |
is well to diversity the callings of our
people The race that has various call |
ings is much stronger than that whihc |
depends upon one. To illustrate this |
he referred to the wars history and |
the inequality between the armies in
respect to the qualities of the men
making up the ranks.
He referred at some length to Gen.
Grants magnificent movements at
Chicamauga in rebuilding 1872 bridges
and 100 miles of railroad and furnish
ing him connections with Nashville in
less than forty days. This could not
be done by the Confederate armies be-
cause mechanics were scarce in the
South. the result of the free-trade pol
lev of the Confederate States. The
North, on the other hand, was well
furnished with mechanics and work
men. Other similar incidents were |
cited to show the Unreasonable differ
ence between the Northern men and
the Southern.
THE NORTH HAS BETTER MEN,
men whom no rivers or mountains can |
restrain. This is true because a pro- |
tective tariff has developed the ingenu-
ity and the mechanical powers of the |
Northern citizens.
Mr.. Cleveland's argument that the |
''duty increases the price" was taken |
up and the pig iron trade was quoted
as an illustration Of the fallacy. The
first furnace stimulates other furnaces. |
This brings competition and cOmpeti-
ton brings dowD prices. If 1000 fur
naces are in the outside world, the
erection of 1000 more in the United
States would, if the demand remained
stationary, of necessity, lower the price
both by cutting off the demand for for
eign goods and producing twice as
much in the world. Competition al
ways has this effect, and it is due to this
that American stores sell goods as
cheaply as do those of England.
England and the mOnarchical gov
ernments see in our success their down.
fall, They try to prevent their better
classes of people from emigrating to
America for they do not want them to
build up the United States.
Speaking of foreign trade he made
the strong point that the trade of the
United States last year, SO, 400, 600, 900,
was more than that of all the world
combined. Shall this be given up in
exchange for that of other nations?
About per cent of American agricul-
tural products are sent abroad. All
ought to be kept at home. Let us
send abroad manufactured articles
with great value in small bulk rather
than improbable grains, etc. What
we need is more manufactures here in
Kansas. We are gaining but not fast
enough.
After treating of the South's atti-
tude on the question, he took up the
administrations record, with its broken
promises and excessive expenditures,
with its failure to regulate the curren-
CIV and on the other hand contracting
it and placing public funds in pet Ma
tional banks. Over 1000 new Offices
have been added to the pay rolls and
vet the governments business is ham
died in a manner more bungling than
ever was dreamed of.
Mr.. Cleveland and his associates got
severe scorching and the prospects
for Republican victory were can