The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13

OI IIIC,
upon clothing and all those things that every
one must have, have gradually been increased,
until, as Mr.. Mills said recently in congress,
this monument of unjust discrimination has
been capped by taking of the tax on playing
clrlS and putting tariff tax on bibles
Laughter and applause.l
s!ld thaJ out OF It's own mouth would
convict the republican party OF hypocrisy and
deceit upon this question. propose to show
you that time and again the republican party
itself, through its recognized leaders, has adj
yocated a reduction oil tie tariff greater and
more radical than any reduction now sug-
gested by the democratic party; and cite as
my authority the last republican president
the last two republican secretaries OF the
treasury, the author OF the present republican
platform, and the official acts and utterances
OF republican conventions and republic
can leaders. In 1862 President Arthur in
his message to congress said: The present
tariff system is IN many respects unjust; It
makes unequal distribution both of its burdens
and its benefits Without entering
into minute details, which under present cir
cumstances Is quite unnecessary recommend
an enlargement OF the free list so as 10 include
within IL the numerous articles which Weld
considerable revenue. a simplification of the
complex and inconsistent schedule of duties
upon certain manufactures. particularly those
of cotton, iron and steel, and a substantial re-
ductiOn of the duties upon those articles and
upon sugar, mOlasSes, silk wool and wooden
goods" Pray tell me in what resDect except
In language, does the recommendation of that
republican president differ from the message of
President Cleveland when he recommends that
the 'necessaries OF life used and consumed by
all the people, the duty upon which adds to
the cost of living in every home should BE
greatly cheapened" And ne adds: 'sThe
radical reduction of the duties imposed on raw
material used in manufactures or it's free i'm
pOrtatlOn, is OF course an important factor in
effort TO reduce no NJ
sarieS."
The last republican secretary of the treasury,
in ms report of December, 1884. approaching
what all concede, said that there must be a re-
duetlon OF the tariff, and he specifically recon-
mended: I'd That the existing duties upOn
rlw materials which are 10 he used in manu-
iaetGre should be removed: this can be done in
the interest of our foreign trade. ~ That the
duties upon the articles used or consumed by
those who are the least ablc to bear the burden Of
tavation should be reduced; this also can he
elected without prejudice to our export trade -
And he added: "The tax uDon whisky could
not be repealed without disregard of public
sentiment. nor without creating necessity for
higher duties unon imported goods" In other
words he outlined evsctlv the main features
and the policy of the Mills BILL [Applause.l
Mr.. FOlger the republican secretary of the
treasury under President Arthur in his mes
sage Of 1852. demanded that a reduction
should he made in the revpnua from customs"
at is believed" he SAYS, Chat the time has
arrived when a reduction Of duties on nearly
feasible. \ careful revision Of the tariff should
he made, with a view to placing upon the free
list many articles now paying duty"
And. coming now 70 our own state, let me
cite To Won. at the risk OF wearving you the
views of few of the recognized republican
authorities aS they existed up to a very recent
date. And. first. who could sneak for the re-
nublcan party with more authority. with more
honesty and sincerity. than Henry Wilson
loved and hcaored by all the people Of NIgSsa-
chusettS Listen to his words; Il think
American labor viii be best protected bv TAX
ing all the necessaries of life lightly, placing
the raw materials which enter into our manu-
features on the free list, raising revenue 10
support the government upon articles that
come in connection with our manufactures
and upon the luXurieS Of life which are con
srlmed nv tho more wealthy classes of society.
We want all those articles that enter
rs raw materials into the manufactures of the
country free OF duty so that the country can
stand on an equality in the markets of the world
with other nations Of the world"
And for more recent authority though not so
great because their oninlOns seem to vary as
the winds Of heaven flaughterl let me cite our
own Henry Cabot Lodge and John y. Long
As recentlv as 1854. Mr.. Lodee. in addressing
the renuhEcan state convention Of that wear
said: "There is a large, Ierilous and Increasing
SURPLUS ~ ltlF TfNfltUt. II liluNl Nt ItUlNNttl,
not nv needless and extravagant expenditure.
not by abolishing the proper taxation on
whisky and tobacco. not bv a stupid and no.
torious horizontal reduction for politics only
hut by plain business methods. by freeing en-
tirely those great necessarieS Of life which en-
ter into the daily conSumption of every house
hold and bv wise and discriminating reduc-
tons" Not abolish the proper tqvation Of
whisky and tobacco, Mr.. Lodge? Why vour
own national convention he's unanimously de-
clared for tae abolition OF that tax. No neei-
less and extravagant expenditure Mr. Lodge
Whv vour own national convention has spe-
officially announced INGENIOUS schemes for the
most needless and widest expenditures. Free
the necnssaries Of life make wise and dis
eliminating reductions, Mr.. Lodge? Why
your own convention has emphatically turned
Is back uDOn that policy and says that the
system must not he touched. Laughter and
apnlause.l
Mr.. Long. the president of the state conven-
ton of 1884, said: "rhere are only two WAYS
10 reduce the surplus revenue-one bv raising
the tariff 20 a prohibitory hight, which no
body advocates. The other the free list The
free list is the honest revenue reformers hope"
4 prohihitOry tariff nobody advocates, Mr..
Long? Whv your own convention declares in
favor OF raising the tariff 20 prohibitorv hight
rs n means Of stopping the revenue. The free
list the honest reformer's hone, Mr.. Long?
Why, your convention denounces and derdes
il as free trade. and saws the democratic party
in wishing TO ENLARGE il is unpatriotic and un-
American. Laughter and applause. And
that state convention of 1851, in emphatic Ian
ouage, insisted upon a reduction of customs
duties" Were these men honest and sincere
in 1882 III 50, how have they now the sublime
audacity to charge with free trade and hos
tiitv TO American industries, going so far as
even, in their PRESUMPTION, 10 dare to appro-
pirate the American flag a party emblem,
and pretend that the glorious stars and stripes
not 4ffl 1orsad rocnaeto1 nd fo1lo,raI H.
every one of orr 1000 OO0 loval subjects Tire
mendous applause In 1854 they advocated
what every intelligent man knew to be a wise
and necessary policy; hut now, when the neces-
sity is increased ten-fold by an enormous and
constantly growing surplus they have turned
right about face, and their position to-day is
''for politics only" LAUGHTER and applause !
But have not quite finished my evidence
from the republican camp. A shrewd lawyer
always saves till the last his strongest bit of
testimony gathered from the other side. In
1852, under q republican administration, q
necessity for the reduction of the tariff had be-
come so great and universally conceded
that President Arthur not only recommended
il but also recommended the appointment of a
tariff commission who should with the utmost
deliberation, examine the whole subject and
report TO congress. The appointment of that
commission, suggested for the purpose of tariff
reform by republican president, was support
ed by the republican party in congress for the
purpose OF making such reduction. The com
mission was appointed, chosen by republican
president, made uD almost wholly of republi-
cans and experts taken from and representing
all the great protected industries of the cOun-
try. Ii was the best exponent and represen-
tative of the protective system of recent times.
It's chairman was the ablest prOtectionist in
the country and the secretary OF the Wool
manufacturers association, and its other
members were almost equally famous in their
special interests. For more than seven months