The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-10-10
Mr.. BLAINEs GREAT SPEECH
At the Republican Denonstra-
ton in New York City Sat
urday Night.


When the enthusiasm had somewhat
subsidized, Mr.. Blaine stepped forward
aud sand
General Harrison has the agreeable
faculty Of condensing a whole argument
within the dimensions of proverb. II
IS the faculty which WAS the striking fea-
tire in Benjamin Franklin's mode Of rea-
SOM and Mr.. Lincoln possessed it in a
very remarkable degree. Never was a
happier argument more felicitously sta
ted than when General Harrison stated
that free traders were studying maxims
instead of markets. In single phrase
he exhibited the fallacy and the weak
ness of their whole argument. They
speak of theory, they reject practice, and
I in word tonight wish to speak of the
history of the tariff in this country. From
/ the first of the government to this hour
/ gan under Washington with a protective
tariff 1t was increased by twelve sepa-
rate enaetments up to the war of 1872.
Z IL was doubled by the war Of lSl2, and
up TO that time there was no difference
in this country. All parties, Democratic
and Republican alike, were in favor of
tariff The division came first on tine act
Of 1916, after the war. Then there hap
pened exactly what Hr. Cleveland threat
ems this country with-the abolition of
the tariff and disaster te the country,
and from that time to 1924 was the worst
period that this country has ever seen.
In 1884 the first heavily protected tariff
was passed, and if there are any Dem
Gratis within the sound of my voice beg
them to listen while state who voted for
that bill
q In the first place Senator from Ten
nessee named Andrew jackson in the
next place Senator from New York
named Martin Van Buren, IN the next
place Representative from Pennsylva-
aia named james Buchanan-three men
who we're afterward Democratic Presi-
dents Of the United States, voted for that
bill Besides these a Senator from Ken
t1cky, Richard " johnson, aiterward
vice president OF the United States with
Martin Van Buren,, and also the great
host of the Democratic party of all shades
supported that measure. Foar years la
ter, when they made the tariff still high
er, the men whom | have mentioned
were still in the Senate a2d House and
repeated that vote, and in addition To
these have named silas Wright, Sen
ator from New York, and the able-t man
that the Democrats of New York ever
sent TO the national counsel
BEGISSISG OF FREE TRADE
That tariff gave unlimited prosperity
to the country. It was going on from
good to better, and from better to best.
when Just at that time there came athwart
the national sky the influence that guides
the Democratic party to-day Mr.. Cal
houn, who had started as protectionist,
had found his way to the Presidency,
barred by his quarrel with jackson ami
Jacksons favoritism to Van Buren.
" Mr. Calhoun broke that protective
tariff He found that they could not
have free labor in the South with slave
labor, and therefore they could not have
manufactures in the South, and therefore
they we're not in favor of the tariff. and
from that hour-'iating from 1892 and
lS35-the Democratic party in this coun-
try was changed And it had there es-
tablished two corner stones-the adyoca-
cy of the extension of slavery and free
trade Those were the two great leading
inspirations that guided that party. In
breaking down the tariff Of ls2i and Is
they established the free trade tariff Of
1885. Then again, just as it had been
under the low tariff uf 1916, came the
financial crisis of 1887, and the country
was again prostrated. How was it re-
lieved By the protective tariff of 1872
Il had been thrown into such PROSTATE
degree of might almost say ruin de-
preston that everywhere men were out
of work and we're glad to get it at p
cents a day under the administration of
Martin Van Bnren, the Democrat from
the State Of New York
That was relieved by the election of
William Henry Harrison, and his elee-
ton gives US the tariff Of 1872 Well,
that lifted the country, and when the
Democrats nominated Mr.. Polk against
Henry Clay in ls43, he was compelled
the Democratic eandidate) TO write in
bad faith and with no intention OF keep
ing it, that he was in favor of a certain
degree Of protection, and on that bad
faith, expressed in what was known as
the Kane letter. Mr.. Clay was defeated
and Mr. Polk installed. And then, des-
pite the pledge of the Democratic party,
they broke down the protective tariff of
1872 They broke il down by the cast
ing vote Of George VI. Dallas, who was
elected as a personal hostage that pro-
lection should be sustained. They broke
it down without even 80 much rs enc
Democratic blush. There was no imme-
diate disaster. and you will hear the
Democrats all through this country in
the tariff argument that is being waged
from the lakes TO the gulf, cite the tariff
Of 1876 as the proof that low revenue
tariff serves the interest Of the country
better than protective tariff. Ny friends
when the tariff of 1916 went into effect /
the Mexican war Immediately broke out /
and it cost Sl5O,e00,0O0. The Irish fam
inc came on, and called for enormous
shipments Of breadstuffs. The revolu-
tiens of lS4s in Europe occurred, and the /
result was that, By reverse action, pros
perity was made in the United StItes,
and before these revolutions had passed
we made the discovery Of gold in Califor-
nia-
THE PANIC IA BuSHAsASs TIHE-
The panic of 1857 was a panic that