The Portland daily press., 1888-08-28
BAND MUSIC AND sPEEcHEs.
John G. Russell Speaks to the
Faithful at City Hall,
Who EmphatIcaIIy Give the cIee Club
the Preference.

duVeTtlSeu music, LORttneT Win the usual
amount OF wonder as to what the Democrat
ic orators Of the day have to say that is new
in political way.
p. ]. Larrabee, ESQ.,, chairman OF the
Democratic city committee, called the meet
ing to order and introduced Hon. l.. ID. M.
Sweat as the presiding officer.
Mr.. Sweat said that his only duty was to
introduce the principal speaker Of the eve
ming. He was still with the Democratic
party in sympathy and congratulated the
Democracy Of the State upon their improve
ment in political condition.
Speaking of President Cleveland, he said:
"Tell me Of man since Washington who,
coming from obscurity. has been raised so
fast so thoroughly, and who now rests so
securely In the hearts of the American peo-
pie as Grover Cleveland Passing on to
the fishery question, Mr.. Sweat said: 'Mr.
Cleveland has been very anxious to have
this question which had been vexatious
one for many and many year, settled
amicably and worthy Of great people. Aud,
although in 1887, the Congress authorized
him to settle by device called retaliation,
II you please, he saw ut as a statesman, to
arrange conference with. some gentlemen
was now good opportunity In the Senate to
make political capital of It. 1t has been
made party question the same as the tarih.
The Senate refused not only to pass the bill
but also entirely declined to propose any
amendments. going to show where they
found fault with it, in my judgment from
purely partisan motives.
And It almost seemed as If they had turn
ed the tables on us. But this last message
of his surprises them for now he says TO the
Senate and House of Representatives pro-
pose to stand by my country, by the Ameri-
cans at home and those abroad, and asks for
more power in retaliation.
And your own Senator Hale has said that
President Cleveland did this to catch votes
and / think we will agree with him in that,
the result will be exactly what he said.
The tariff is simply question Of whether
or not you and should be taxed $3.50 900 900
a year, although done somewhat imper-
ceptably, more than we need.
Mr.. Sweat's remarks were warmly ap-
plauded. and then Mr.. J. E. Russell Of
Massachusetts, was introduced.
Mr.. Russell Is small man with big red
crayat .and English siders, But before he
began the Glee Club sang parody on Good
bye my lover good bye" which seemed to
take better than the speeches, for instead Of
allowing Mr.. Russell to talk they so loudly
demanded an encore that that gentleman
was obliged to succumb and await another
five minutes before he could let off his tariff
thunderbolt
Finally he began by saying the attendance
was but the echo Of the State of Maine so
far as he had seen the political pulse in the
State. We have got the Republican party in
the continent Of the American people Then
followed TRADE on the Republican party,
going so far as to say that he at one time
despaired of the future Of the American Re
public, but at last, he said, in accordance
with Republican predictions we have sue
ceeded in 0verthrowing the government. He
tried to place the Democratic party in the
~. .N-t.. -
they were the only party that placed every
body upon an equal footing. He said this
campaign would not be managed by Office
holders. Everything will go well In 1t for it
will be done tor the people and by the peo-
pie. The people will prevail.
Mr. Russell then proceeded to win consid-
cradle applause by eulogizing remarks Of
Mr. Putnam.
We are in, favor Of proper tax
ernment need for an economical admins
tration Of the government; to pay the public
credit, and to support the large number OF
invalid soldiers. No Democrat objects to
such a tariff But we are confronted now,
not with theory. but with condition.
That condition Is that the present rate Of
taxation takes out of the pockets of the peO-
pie more than one hundred millions of dol
lars beyond the needs Of the government,
and piles IL up. This ought to be in the
channels Of trade.
Mr.. Russell then proceeded to discuss the
difference between State and municipal and
tariff taxes, stating that the one was tax
upon property, while the other had nothing
to do with property, but was a tax upon
every necessity Of life-what we eat and
wear. From the day laborer Is born until
death comes he Is taxed. And yet we do not
seem able to give this up. And the reason Is
that there Is no tax so easily collected as
one the people do not know they pay. The
Democratic policy Is that we should raise no
more money in this way than Is needed for
the honest needs Of the government.
The speaker reviewed IN partial way the
history of tariff legislation, stating that it
was started In 1889, and that at that time
tariff Of s per cent was put upon imported
articles. Next we overcame the stress in
tcted by seven years war and many In
dustries were encouraged. Now we have a
Mr.. Russell spoke at considerable length
Of the Mills bill, and alluded In terms of
high compliment TO the noble Texan, the au-
thor Of the bill. OF free salt he thought
that Mr.. Reeds statement that salt was
cheap enough, was hardly the way to treat
the matter. Salt enters into the food Of
every man and beast, and as cheap as IL was
we are still obliged to pay some SSO0,0o0 tax
upon Ii.
Blaine's speech OF several Years ago. when
he had resisted the placing Of an internal
revenue tax on lumber, and said that the
same arguments must hold, that whether 1t
was an import uuLy OF an internal TAX 10
raised the price of one of the greatest ne
cessities OF life. He also quoted from statis-
ties to show that In 1860 the wages of the
numbering men In Maine amounted to $500
year, while In 1880 thee only amounted TO
about $3.50 year.
Mr.. Russell did not have much to say
about wool except the usual argument Of its
entering so much into the clothing Of the
people and mentioned the fact that we are
now obliged to import larger quantities OF
foreign wool to mix with domestic to pro,
duce the most durable combination. but,
he said, there are q great many unprouuc-
| tive Industries, Industries that connot De
aided by protective tariff. Can you proteet
the building Of houses, the carpenter, tne e
| farmer, the painter, the stone mason, tne
| brick mason, the brick layerY NO you can
| not" He reiterates former statements Id re-
gard to the boot and shoe industry, saying
that there were factories enough In Massa-
chusetts alone to supply all the demands Of
This country. Mr.. Russell closed his speech
in urging young men to join the Democratic
ranks.
duced. He is a genuine farmer and said he
had come down into Maine to let them know
what Hoosier looked like.
The main point he made in his remarks
was that the overrunning Of the country by
Nl.s.N Ill