The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-01-05

complain that your agitation tends to
disturb that which for their interest |
ought to be settled. do not remcm
Der one document or one argument
actively circulated among the people |
during the last year which presented |
or attempted 10 present this question |
pure and simple. On the other hand,
we can all recall many documents and |
appeals the sole purpose of which was |
to divert mems thoughts from this |
question and TO confuse their minds |
upon this ISSUE"
cit would be wearisone." said the |
speaker, "to tell the long list of nom
arguments, and yet 60 to any northern
moral community and ask the inhabi |
tants to give a reason for their action
upon the tariff, and see if you will get |
a satisfactory reply. Now and then |
you may hear a nebulous something |
about q home market, but it will be |
nebulOus indeed. No; such arguments |
SO presented have not settled and can
not settle a principle for the future.
We are told that this modern tariff |
idea is popular in some of the southern |
states and that the party which advo-
Gates it will soon be strengthened by |
the support. This may or may not be
true. They can only be gained for it
by presenting il clearly and fairly to
the people OF those states. They can
not be won by picturing to the people
of the north the dangers which they
have to fear from old men who ceased
to be rebel brigadiers before many OF
the present voters were born. If, how
ever, any of those states can be gained
for that cause after argument fairly
made it must be remembered that
many a northern man and many u
northern state must be released for
broader, freer thought and that the
exchange thus made may advantage
the great cause which we call our own.
Gentlemen Of the tariff reform league,
you set an example worthy to be fol-
lowed by patriotic and unselfish men in
all parts Of our land. 1t is the daty
of all such never to rest, but agitate,
discuss, persuade, educate, until our
adversaries shall be compelled to lay
this issue clearly and directly before
the American people to the end that
they may apply an enlightened intelli-
gence to solve and settle the issue for
ever"
Representative Fitch of New York
followed. He said that Presidents
Cleveland's message had voiced the
principles held by many leading re-
publicans aud he spoke from this stand
point.
The presiding officer then read a
letter from Secretry Endlcott, regret
ting a necessary absence, and also one
from Speaker Carlisle.
MIR. CARLILE's WARNING.
In his letter Speaker Carlisle ex-
pressed his regret at not being able to
be present and said:-
Under the circumstances, all can
do is to send you the assurance of my
warmest symprthy with every effort
that may be made to advance the peo-
ple's cause in the struggle now going
on betwee the friends of industrial
freedom and beneiciaries OF industrial
slavery. This struggle has just COM
menced in this country, and those who
delude themselves with the hope that
it will be abandoned before the triumph
OF right over wrong are simply aug
menting the weight of the blow that
will inevitably fall upon them in the
future. This Is not a threat, but q
friendly warning. The history of all
movements for necessary social or
political reforms shows that they grow
more radical by opposition and delay, |
and il would be wise and patriotic |
upon the part of our opponents to |
recognize the inevitable and accede to !
reasonable demands now rather than |
be forced to accept harder terms here
after. So far the sentiment III favor of |
a reduction of taxation and the removal !
of commercial restrictions has been |
conservative, and if II does not continue !
to be SO the responsibility will rest
solely on those who ulffeasonably |
oppose it. They alone can stop the
the agitation or cOnfine it within reas-
enable grounds by proper concessions
to the demands of the people. The
result of the contest in which we are
engaged is not in the last doubtful,
and unless the evils of which we COM
plain are removal-which seems not
at all probable-the agaitation should
60 right OH with increased vigor and
force until the public Judgment and
conscience refuse to longer justify and
condone them. Nothing has yet
occurred to weaken our faith in tie
Justice of our cause or to abate our
confidence in its ultimate success. A
oluS 10 uCiCab3 CNCu IL DCCu ouo-
tanned on the real merits Of the con.
troversy, ought not to discourage us.
No just cause is lost so long as it has a
single earnest advocate among the
people. More than five and a half
millions of intelligent patriotic Ameri-
cans have attested their fidelity to the
cause of revenue reform under circum-
stance we'll calculated to test the |
sincerity of their opinions and they
will neither desert its standard nor |
make peace with the enemy until at
least substantial Justice is DONE"
Letters OF resent date from David A. |
Wells, President Hyde of Bowdoin |
College, Carl Schurz, General Francis
A. Walker, and others were next read,
after which ex-Congressman P. A. |
Collins said the tariff reformers had |
fought good fight, had kept the faith,
but had not finished their course"
Mr.. Edward Atkinson dealt largely
in statistics concerning the iron trade
showing the need Of reform in the iron
and steel tariff. ...,.av'f'
President Eliot, of Harvard, referred
to the sneering illusions to the college
professors duringsthe late campaign,
and said that dariff reform would
inaugnrate a new era OF prosperity in
America.
Col. =. W. Higginson spoke OF the
merging Of the mugwumps into the
the democratic party and the Hon.
Leopold Morse said the mistakes of
the next congress would aid the demo.
cratic party beyond calculation.
Mr.. Sherman Hoar then made the
closing speech drawing encouragent
from the fact that the democratic party
had majority of the popular vote.
The meeting then broke up after
three times three for president Cleve.
land and the tariff reform league. The
attendance was about 225.
FITLER TO THE FRONT