Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-25


 longcd.
 Tariff taxation, he insisted, costs not only what is paid to the custom houses, but the in- cidental increase of expense upon all or a greater part of the dutiable goods made and consumed in the United States Before we attempted to exclude everything from our markets and forced the people to buy in the dearest markets, we had commerce car ried on in American ships with all the nations of the earth, but we had absolutely driven our carrying trade from our own people, pre- tending to protect. We had done nothing but destroy; pretending to assist, we had only crushed our own seafaring industry |; pretending to be a friend of the American merchant marine, we had been it's worst and heartiest enemy, and to-day we carried but 13 per cent. of our foreign commerce, and paid millions to other governments to do our work for us
 Mir. Burrows, of Michigan, followed in op- position to the bill. The possible S75, ,0O0, GOO surplus at the end of the next fiscal year must be averted. An ever accommodating surplus not only invited profigacy, but insured swift financial disaster. The solution of the prob lem of how the surplus should be reduced would be attended with little difficulty if no other result was to be obtained than the re- duction but the reduction of the revenue was not the only, or, indeed, the chief end to be attained. The method by which that reduc- tion was to be accomplished had become the main point of the controversy-the only point about which there was any serious con- fict of opinion.
 Should this reduction be taken from inter nal or from customs revenue, he asked, or from both, and, if from both, what propor- tion from eachs The Republican party in sisted that the protective system should not be disturbed except so far as might be neces- sary to correct it's incongruities and har- monize its provisions. If congress followed the lead of the president in his bold declara- tion and secured reduction by such re- vision of the tariff as he proposed, leaving untouched as he suggested the internal rev. enue system, not only would the protective system be destroyed, but the nation would be out on the highway of free trade.
 The pending measure, MT. Burrows said, stood without a parallel in the history of American legislation. Conceived in dark ness, brought forth in secresy, its parentage carefully concealed, at last laid at the door of the committee of ways and means, where the majority took it up as tenderly as though it were legitimate offspring, hurriedly brought it into the house to be adopted by the Democratic party and nursed by the harlot of free trade.
 In this contest MT. Burrows said the Re publican party took the side of protection, and would resist to the uttermost any at tempt to cripple American industry, destroy American capital or pauperize American labor. The eras of protection in this country had been eras of prosperity, the eras of free trade had been eras of depression and disas- ter The passage of the bill would destroy our wool industry. Wool would be cheaper, while our foreign rivals were trying to des- troy our wool industry, but when it was ruined we would be bound hand and foot at the mercy of the foreign producer.
 In concluding his speech MT. Burrows said the chairman of the committeee on ways and means expresses the hope that this measure will pass. He is not alone in this desire. There is not member of the Golden club or a free trader in the United States who is not in sympathy with him. More than this, free trade England stands on tip toe of expecta- tion and screams with delight Let me warn you. gentlemen of the south, that this meas ure bodes no good to you It will ar rest the investment of capital, and bring your industries to standstill. There is no portion of our country where this measure should meet with a more united and determined opposition than in the south Untoward circumstances have heretofore retarded her material pro- gress. but the way is now open for her to march unimpeded to splendid industrial flu. ture. The advance is already sounded. He | who does not respond to its inspiring sum- mons will soon find himself without a part and without following.
 When Mr. Burrows concluded the commit, | tee rose.