Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-09-08
SATURDAY NIGHTS SPEAKING.

over enc speeches OF the great p0llti-
cal lights Saturday night; many
Democrats and Republicans had
heard so much about the eloquence
and ability of Senator Voorhees,,
that thay expected q rare literary
treat. He was not in condition to
speak, and what he did say was the
same ashe had delivered at Stanton
and other places, published in the
papers. Messrs. Hatch, OF Nilsson
ri; Kenna and Faulkner, of West
Va, were the speakers. Mr.. Kenna
worked the feelings OF his audience
on the prescription racket, but he
did not say some of those who voted
in favor of the proscriptive measure
were Democrats and that others
who opposed prescription were Re-
publicaDs, like Mr.. Flick. He said
the Republicans bring to this coun-
try a load of clothing and charge a
high duty, but when ship load of
Swedes and Hungarians come they
say, 0 yes, bring them in free. He
didn't like to say "Irish" and
" Dutch but we can't see how he
could help but mean them; and he
forgets that his grand father and
other peoples forefathers were Irish
or Dutch emigrants, neither did he
say what his party would do with
the emigration question.
1t was we'll enough TO discuss test
oaths in their day, but Senator Ken.
ma should remember that people
have other issues nearer home that
touch their pockets. They want en-.
lightenment on the Insane Asylum
horrors and Encouragement. the
Penitentiary Scandals and tayorit.
ism to directors, the Henry s. Wal
ker jobbery, the extra Legislature
made necessary by his own party
wranggles, the supplemental Assess
ments and the inequality of taxa.
ton. How about these, Mr.. Test
Oath Harper?
Talking about tariff reduction,
he should have explained, why, il
free trade be such great blessing,
the Democratic party circulated
100, 900 copies of Randall's protec.
tive tariff speech in West Virinia |
And when enlarging on cheap for
eign clothes 1t would have been
proper to explain how clothes can
be cheaper if free trade makes wool
higher, as the Democrats claim il
will; though so far it has made it
fall in price, and forced thousands OF
sheep on the market, so as to ruin
the sheep industry in every way.
So, too, with coal; they claim that
wages are as high in this country as
in Europe; and that with free trade
coal could be brought here and sold
for 81 and less ton. Where, then,
is the wages to come? The truth is,
no for ign coal or goods are needed
or wanted here we have coal, tim.
Der, and iron IN our mountains, and
plenty of laborers to mine and devel.
Op every industry and carry on every
manufacture.
1t seems to us, and it was the ex.
pectation of many, that these great
political speakers would explain
some of the workings of the tariff as
applied by their party, which people
do not understand, aud the local
leaders steer clear of: for instance,
why. if free trade is such a great
benefit, they put tariff on sugar for
louisiana, and take the tariff off of
wool, coal, and lumber, which West
Virginia has in abundance ?
Why, if the tariff is such an mi.
guilty and robbery, they would put
a tariff on sugar, one Of the worst
"trusts in this country, (yet one
of the products used by every fami.
ly,) and make wool, coal and lumber
free?
Why, if the tariff creates trusts
and free trade abolishes them.
" trusts are so common and enor.
nous in free tradeEngland that few
mobiles and aristocrats own all the
land; and thousands upon thous.
ands of men, women and children,
from one end of the kingdom to the
other, are houseless, glad to work
for "only thee grains of corn" to
keep alive the little life that's in
themi
Why, if "the tariff has nothing
whatever to do with wages" humid
reds of thousands of laborers come
every year from the British free
trade country to the American land
of Protection, and not laborer goes
backf
The argument of an old country
and d new country don't argue.
Are we bound to keep the old coun-
try, or did the old country ever
keep us?
Why, if labor and prices of goods
and wheat and everything have to
come down to the level of "cheap'
times, the high salaries of the Office.
holders and public servants don't
come down accordingly II the
farmer and working man only get
80 and 70 cents day, why shall the
government official get s. day to
preach free trade in one part of the
country and protection in the other?
Lastly, isn't it true that all the
politicians are working for is party
success to keep themselves well pro.
vided, no matter how the masses of
the people have to slave and save?