St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-01-17
PRESIDENT ELIOT.
To the Tariff Reformers at Boston


| believe that tariff reform is the
way to great American prosperity.
1t is, to be sure a moral reform. 1t
is the revival of the grand old demo-
cratic principle-special privileges for
none, equal rights for all. But, gen
tlemen, let us not forget in future in
arguing this question before the
country, that in tariff reform lies the
road to an unprecedented develop
mcnt of American industries.
| also dissented completely from a
remark of the distinguished chairman
of the evening. He said-I think it
must have been a slip of the tongue
that there was n irreparable disas-
ter in the late defeat, namely, the
withdrawal of President Cleveland
from public life. Gentlemen, l believe
that thatis a disaster which not only
can be repaired, but which will be re-
paired.
1t is only three years and a half,
gentlemen, to the next presidential
nomination. believe that this dis
aster will be repaired, because l be-
lievc that theimmense majority of the
American people have a hearty and
profound admiration for unwearied
industry, thorough and disinterested
patriotism and political courage.
The chairman has Just alluded to
certain quips and filings addressed,
during the late campaign, to the col
lege professor. read q great many
Of them, and | received a large num-
Der of others upon postal cards.
But, gentlemen, | venture to direct
your attention to the college profess
or and his state of mind as an indica-
ton of what is to be done in the flu
ture by leagues like this. The college
professor is very much in the position
of the laboring man of this country
in this regard: hehas no expectation
of fortune, he is not making much
money, and he wants to make the
little he does receive go as far as pos
sible. Now, he is universally, so far
as | know, in favor of tariff reform.
And that is precisely the state of mind
to which we wish to bring the great
majority of the American people.
How does the college professor get
there? In the first place he is an in
telligent man generally, of large read
ing. He knows how he is taxed.
That is what You have got to teach
the great majority of Americanfarm-
ers, mechanics, farm-labOrers, fisher
men, clerks, the great bulk of the
American labOring community. You
have got to carry home to them the
fact of how they are taxed. Secondly,
the American professor knows who
gets the benefit of the taxes. And
that is what you have got to teach
the great mass of the American la
boring men. They Acknowledgements
a delusiOn at present. Almost half
of them think that they get some
benefit from the taxes. You must
convince them that they never did
and that they never will.
And, gentlemen, | am sure we may
welcome this struggle. 1t is an intel
lectual combat. 1t is not q senti-
mental issue. 1t is a field for argu
ment, and argument not only for
material prosperity, but for moral
growth. And let me say, in conclu-
sion, gentlemen, that Ifeel like thank
ing-and think shall express your
thanks as well as my own-the
gentleman who presides over this
banquet tonight for the gallant fight
he made in the last election in this
state. His speeches were serious,
earnest, grave, compact arguments
without personal issues under strong
temptation there was q complete
abstinence from that degradation of
our political life. And let us thank
in like manner the distinguished de
feated candidate from Maine. His
campaign also vas of the serious
high-minded type. We need not be
ashamed of these highly educated
men i'll politics. And that reminds
me to say, gentlemen, that the dis
tinguished secretary of the treasury
is q scholar in politics., a mar of the
scholarly temperament and taste
drawn in spite of himself into public
life, in which life he has won honora-
BILE distinction, and been of great ser
vice to his country.