Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-05
Mr.. Reeds Boston Speech

Although the election 10 Massachusetts
to-day will make a thing Of the past
Of the noble speech of Hon. Thomas
b. Reed delivered in that city on
Friday evening last. We publish an alb
stract of IL below. This we do because
all Maine believes In Mr.. Reed and has IN
interest in his arguments, and
because these arguments although made
Just at the very close of the canvass In
the old Bay state. are the unanswerable
argument. in behalf Of the policy of the
Republican party In the past, present aud
future. Mr.. Reed said -
Now, what is the trouble with woOllens:
l. it because there are tariff taxes? No.
1t /. because there has sprung u new
method of manufacturing worsteds where
bv the woollen cloth il made OF the same
quality aud character of that which used
10 pass "a woollens, but under the con
-truetion of the treasury department Of
the old tariff law those worsted fabrics. are
admitted n great deal lower-in other
words the tariff on them Is less. And the
reason why our woolleD manufactures are
not prosperous and not successful IL not
because of the tariff tax, but because Of a
practical reduction Of the tariff tax. APP
plause In other words, thew are being
destroyed by what is precisely the same
method that the Democratic
party desire to apply to all
our manufactured goods. Laughter
and applause. They call it tariff reform
when they are not brave. They call it
opposition to protection when they are
brave. do not purpose to discuss the
tariff question beyond that. believe that
those TWO instances when the whole truth
is told il proof positive of the absurditv
of our free raw materials, which believe
exists nowadays only on the Democratic
stump in the state of Massachusetts
Laughter
have often preached the doctrine in
Massachusetts which am going to preach
again, and that is that anv party or any
people who believe that their duty Is fin
shed when sun sets on election day are ne
glecting Themselves and their country
alike In a free country constant supervis-
ion of the people is needed The people need
to give their representatives day by day
full and vigorous support. What men
need In this world ia the touch OF elbow
Of their constituents. What they need il
TO know that their people are thoroughly
behind them. We all have vague ideas
about independence and personal courage.
We have got before US in the next con-
gres- duties of the highest Importance.
Mr.. Lodge has named some Of them.
We have got to clear the pathway Of legis
latinn. We have got to change those
rules Whereby we have been bound up in
past times, those rules by the aid Of
t,t, 4. f,,r ha
yeas and nays has been used to block
all honest legislation I do not believe
in oper ing the food gates of statutes.
but | do thoroughly believe that the
wisest government Of this country is the
government by the majority. [Applsuse.
| believe that when the people of the
nited States desire thing should he
done. no minority Of one-fifth should he
allowed to stop them. Applause.
There is not the slightest danger of radi-
cal action. There never was govern
uent where they were so many checks to
the will of the people. When our fathers
framed the government it did seem as If
some of them had distrust for people,
which the history of this country does not
Justify.
There are clogs enough to legislation in
every direction without putting it into the
power of minority to control the
wishes Of the people of the United
States. But the Republican party
have small majority; a majority of one
to most peoples ideas is n majority to be
respected Nevertheless, in practical life
a majority of eight is very small, unless
the people of the United States are visibiy
behind them. Applause. therefore
invite YOU by your votes on the next cleo
ton day aud by your conduct also after
wards to come up to the help Of the con
gress which you yourselves have elected
and to let them feel that the people are
behind them, aud let their enemies feel it,
too. Loud applause. If you will do
| your duty by every manifestation of pub
| lie influence then your congress will also
do its duty.
| II our people are to be trammeled when
| they undertake to cast ballot on our
| side: il we are to meet solid vote of
more than one hundred which no argu-
ment can reach, no principles can touch,
how can we go on? If we are to he de-
prived of our legitimate vote, in what
wnv is il possible for honorable gov
eminent of the people to be carried
on, Now. ! do not believe that this
great reform Of honest voting can be
accomplished by Us politicians. 1t has
got to he accomplished by the people.
| Until they stand up in their places and
say This Is q wrong and it must cease,
| all our words are in vain. Whether the
time has come now. or is to come here
| after. do not know. but | do believe that
| the principles of eternal Justice, of eternal
quality. will prevail finally from one end
of this land to the other. Applause.