The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-25
TARIFF REFORM TALK.
REVIEW OF LAST WEEKS CoNvEN.
TON AT CHICAGO.
Mr.. Bolton Smith, Who Attended On
the General Invitation Sent Out, Tells
What Was and VIII Be Done-Henry
Georges Sacrifice.


man yesterday and asked TO give an ac-
count Of the meeting.
"Did you 90 as a delegate from any or
ganintion?' Mr.. Smith was asked.
"No," he replied. "rhe call for the
convention asked all who favored tariff re-
form TO attend | suppose the Tariff Re-
form Club that was organized last summer,
and OF which was president, would have
been willing to make me It's delegate, but
the wording OF the call made this unneces.
sary."
"Were the proceedings harmonious
"Ou the whole ! may say that they were.
The only fight in the convention was as 10
the adoption OF the second clause of the
platform. As reported by the Committee
on resolutions IL read:
We hold that ii is the natural right
OF every man TO freely exchange his labor
or the product of his labor TO the best adj
vantage; We declare ourselves unaltepbly
opposed TO the so-callcd protective system,
and demand the prompt abrogation OF all
protection features from the tariff, and We
believe the American Nation will reach It's
full measure Of prosperity only by enact.
ing at the earliest day practicable such
system OF free trade between the States 90
the United States in their relations 10 the
world
"Thc first half OF the clause. declaring
absolutely against all protective features OF
the tariff was immediately adopted, but
the second clause, beginning and We be.
lieve, etc, was defeated by a nearly equal
vote after heated debate of more than
three hours duration. Judge Galloway,
Mr. Lehman, Of Dcs Moines, Ia Mcssrs.
Hugh q. Pentocost, Thomas G.. Shear.
man. w. T. Croasdalc and Henry George,
OF New York, and Others, spoke In favor
OF what came 10 be known rs the second
clause Mr.. 5. &. Darrow, Mr.. Forrest
and other gentlemen OF Chicago, were
joined 10y MIR. Judd, OF Massachusetts,,
Mr.. Horace White, OF the New York Eun-
eng Ioa, and others in opposing IT, "
ION what grounds was this second clause
"On various grounds 4 few considered
tariff for revenue only satisfactory
system OF taxation, but a large number of
those opposing this second clause did 40
upon the plea that The people were not yet
ready for 10 extreme declaration and that
when Il were presented 10 them system
OF taxation tc take its place should ut the
same time be put forward"
WAS the slngle-tax mentioned in this
Connection
VERY often, but never once hy itA
ayoycd supporters, who felt that IL would be
an abuse Of the hospitality Of the Chicago
tariff rciormcrs to intrude their own pcru-
liar views upon the CONVENTION. la iur-
thCancc Of this attitude large singlc.tnx
meeting that was to have been held ut
Madison Street Thcaicr while the conycu-
ton sli was abandoned, aud ! think that
the cheers that were given the New York
delegation, who were nearly all singlc-tuN
men. showed this dclicacy had met with
cordial appreciation by the other members
OF lho r0nycntiln.'
"What WIS the attitude Of Tho cogych.
ton toward President Cleveland
II can best answer 10y tcllin, YOU that
bis name WIS mover mentioned without
calling forth yOcilprous applause, aud that
resolution commencing his course and
plcdgiug him support WIS unanimously
passed. ANY reference 10 Mr. Cleveland
A. the candidate Tor 1872 set the oonycn-
ton Wild"
"What part dill the South take in the
conycnuonY'
"Gov. Bucknor, Of Kentucky, delivered
n most scholarly aud able address before
the convention especially insisting ON the
unconstitutional character OF the protect.
i've iuun. gentleman Who had run on
the Democratic ticket 'Or Governor Of a
Western state, but had been defeated,
49,, eng just spoken before Gov. liuckncr,
-...is latter WAS introduced ~ "a gcntlcman
from u state that elected Democratic Gov.
ernors' aud WIS very well received"
~ presume that a number ct able al.
drt-c- were delivered before the conycn
tionf'
YES. but think that the fullest and
the one that would Prove ct most u.c ~ q
document Tot southern circulation was
delivered by the Rev. Horny Ward Beech.
Crs friend, the great New York lawyer
Mr.. Thomas q. shUIman. Speaking %
the fact that many prulcctionisls W,r
honest, good mon, hc paid q high tribut,
81 Calhoun aud 10 Southern representa-
tiyCs of his DAY, aud stated that as ihpi
high character and uudouhird integrity u
motive had not prevented them from do
lending and himself and others from 40.
.Jacking ihU institution ni slavery. sb tho
.s.,,i,is ~ icicf u prutccliouis.s should not
-. tiie eel % screen ir1m attack that in.
v hsis humhug and robbery known 20.
M, u protective Tariff which ,nslayeI moi
, u'ay portion Of the people but al o
y tncm. MI ShUurman madu short work o
the Republican argument that fret
trade, having been Incorporated boz thD
Confederate Constitution, Nns therefore
sectional policy. Ito showed thlt, Boo tha
respect, thu south had simply b.pu mon
true 60 American traditions ol ireudou
Than bad thr North 10 iht claim tua
The protective policy would hni great sup
pou in the New SOUTH Me- shramit
opposed tho iaCt that iu Cuusrrs. then
Was steady Increase ui southern mut
WHO supported protection, thU numb 4,
nov bring smaller than before the war
"Dld MI Gcorsc also deliver au al
drrs,y'
Yes llc spoke ior on hour ~ IA
evening session on tho s'ypnd day ui d.
convention. Tho statement that DC VA
'lrcc iudcr' clllci lIr,h grtat appIanso
and when De- stated that f.R.E.l
TRADE DID not, to him. rprl "a iuul
iur revenue ouly.' be- carried the house
but when ho spoke OF how be- bad aup
ported Cleveland with lll biz mind 200,
toul uud body and stated that Mr. Glow
lands defeat had disappointed him mon,
than any oi h.s own defeats lrNprpt Wlei
ns u very young man. De- TAN lut ihs trr
is'aiurc Of California;. all iplt tho al.tIuf
Truth 81 bis words. and that i1r the niup
Too, ihe Democratic parry would have "a.
m1r JEALOUS or powerful ally boz b.. ush
ng1iusi protection than this htlg mm
Who, with such dignity power aud clio
quenc, poured forth sentence after sen