Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-31
existence. II we did not labor, mentally and

1 believe that every man who cries out free
trade believes 1t, for one reason because we are
| all free traders in principle. There is no Re-
| publican who would attempt to bar fee ex-
change of commodities. There is distance
! between two points, and some man, who did
not consider the circumstances would say, ii
| you want to go from one point to another go
straight, but there might be q bear in the way,
and you might find it more safe and convenient
| to go around So with the tariff. We must
have revenue. Democrats admit that as we'll as
Republicans, and both unite in sayin that the
revenue must be derived from the tariff; that
! the country does not think it wise that we
| enormous interest we have to pay,
the great debt to take care of, the
pensions TO soldiers who fought to preserve our
union-it Is very large amount, and the peo-
pie are not ready to pay it by direct taxation,
and all the parties agree that it would MOI be
| wise. Then comes the question what considera-
| is merely question of polIcy-to put it where
1t will do the most good, and take
it off where it is best Most of you
have no doubt heard the story about the
| sumac. A couple of gentlemen from Virginia,
! one CT them MEMBER of Congress, were
taking about the tariff, and concluded that
they would see what they could do towards re-
forming it. So they commenced striking the
duties off one thing and another Finally, one
| was about to draw his pen through sumac. The
member says: hold on; don't strike If off OF
sumac. Why, my people raise sumac." 60 he.
though Democrat, would protect sumac. Thai
is the case with all of US. We all have some
| thing ike sumac; and l find that everyone,
whether Democrat or Republican, is in favor OF
! protecting his county or his locality. 1t seems
to ME that we all sustain the assertion of Gen
eral Hancock. that the tariff question is largely
one of locality Now, the Republicans have
framed tariff bill called the Mckinley bill.
| The cardinal idea running all through
it is TO give protection to American
labor against foreign cheap labor. Now.
there is this about protection. 1t means that
| we shall do our own work until every man and
woman that will work shall find employment,
| and that, too, taat they shall work at prices
that makes them willing to do any particular
work; that they are not compelled to ieek other
callings and bring it all down to common level.
What we do for ourselves is just so much saved,
and we know from the experience of the war
| that while about two millions of our young peo-
| pie, in the pine of life, were drawn into the
army, yet the industrial pursuits of the country
| did not suffer for the want of labor. And to-day
! if we manufactured every article that we i'm
| port, everything that is practical, mean, l do
| not think any of the present industries of the
country would suffer at all for the want of
labor. Look at the immense saving it would be
instead OF paying out hundreds and thousands
! OF millions every year, to save that and do our
| own work. Now, that is what is at the bottom
OF this whole idea of protection, TO do our own
work as far as we are able. 1t is better for the
| farmer who has nothing else to 90 on rainy
day to make an ak helve, if it takes him half
! day or whole day. than TO go to the store
| and buy it for two-bits; but. if he had barn
| full of grain which he could thrash, 1t would
| helv5. But we, as people, have an abundance
of time to do most OF our own work, and that is
why the Republicans in placing the
| tariff, consider first what industry it will
protect and develop. Why the Democrats OBJ
| jeet to that, do not know. l do know that
| everyone wants to protect his own sumac But
We are not so far apart in practice as we are in
| theory; and, while believe in party crganiza-
| ton, and that it brings out the people. and
makes them discuss questions more carefully.
| do not think the American peaple are very far
e1,O IN fNpaC Off a
| day. Although it is said that should the Demo-
cratic party get into power again they will
| destroy the McKin ey bill. do not believe
they would do it. think they would take the
| experience of the country and reform the bill
much as that experience would dictate.
| l shall say nothing about the silver question,
| for that is passed into law, and will be i'm.
proved from time to time; but it was the act of
| the Republican party. and the value of the
annual product OF silver in the United states at
| this time has been raised over ten millions of
dollars. That industry Will be greatly strength
ened and it will make larger demand for Ia
| Dor to operate the mines and industries con-
| nected with them.
understand that there are present here this
evening many mechanics of both parties, and
unde: stand further that they have come here
| largely out of the good will to me. / appreci-
ate it greatly. The mechanical arts are really
| the foundation of our prosperity. In some re-
spects PROBABLY the Greeks and Romans were
our equals, but they lacked the knowledge OF
the mechanical arts and the great mass of them
were poor and degraded. 1t needs production
| to give people leisure to elevate themselves,
| ana that comes through improved machinery.
1 call machinery laboraidipg machines, not
| labor-saving. If there was a limit to the wants
| of man, then machine to increase the power of
production might be called a labor saving
machine, but as there are no limits
to our wants. and as their supply is
measured by our power OF production,
| call machinery labor aiding machinery, and
! ! think the people most interested are those
| who use 1.-THE hard-working lsboring man
who is most interested in increasing his power
of production. The wealth of the nation de-
ponds upon his power of production. If Eng
| land was surrounded by Digger Indians only,
| she would have no use for her great mass OF
machinery. England is most interesting coun-
| try 10 the observing man. Everywhere towers
| the smoke stack, multiplying the production OF
the individual many fold. Her best customer
| is America. America, a large producer, is best
| able of all the nations to pure lase, and before
| one nation can sell others must have something
| to purchase with. l refer to this matter of ma
chinery because have given it much thought,
[ and because l know that many mechanics are
| calling, for 1t is as useful as any.
Why gentlemen, l do not know whether you
| are aware OF it or not. but the census OF 1850
showed little less than 10000 men, women and
| children engaged in agricultural pursuits in
| California. They raised food enough for nearly
| 100000 people. They planted trees and vines
| aud made many permanent Improvements for
the future, and yet, in one year, We had sur
plus of wheat of about ], 200 0o0 pounds, or. in
| other words, bread enough to feed 100000 OF
people. That was an immense power OF pro-
| duetion. That was through the aid OF ma
| chinery, and, during that time the great major
| ity of OUR people were engaged in supplying m
| tellectual wants. Let us therefore, in this. find
| q lesson to encourage us to further improve ma
| chinery; study to control the hidden sources OF
power in Nature.
Now, gentlemen, my voice, know, does not
reach more than half way across the room. |
| regret it, and l feel that have no right to ask
| that great body of people to stand patiently
| and not make a noise in order that the rest
may hear. l will therefore close my remarks,
| thankir you all for your kind attention, and
assuring you that appreciate your kindness.
| feel the msst kindly sentiments when returned
! to California, which l believe, in many re-
spects is the most desirable country for resi-
| ever go, come out and extend their hands to
| me in cordial greeting. 1t impresSes pe beyond
measure, and want TO expires; to you, as far as
| ! can, how deeply l appreciate it. Friends, /
bid you good night
SPEECH OF HON. THOMAS FITCH.
After music by the band, Chairman An
ierson introduced Hon. Thomas Fitch,
who was greeted With warm applause.
SIR. Fitch opened his remarks by stating
that the issues that formerly divided par
ties had largely disappeared. The ravages
of war had been dispelled, and the people
Of no nation in the world are more united
! in sentiment than are The people Of the
United States. There are some slight diff
ferences, but they are not so sharply drawn
as in the past. The people recognize the
fact that evolution must go on. Give the
Democrats a chance. They are gradually
improving, and will in time be like their
Republican brethren.
You can even now hardly tell the differ
ence between high-toned Democrat and
medium toned Republican. Laughter. ]
We stand by our pledges and they repudi-
ate theirs, and they have some other out
ward characteristics of Democracy still
clinging to them. For thirty years the
Republican party has largely held power
in this country, and not statute can be
found, as re suit, that is false to freedom,
to the country, or to labor. Applause.
The Republican party has given freedom
TO the slave and prosperity to the entire
nation. The Republican party has made
this nation the greatest freest and grand.
est under the sun. The Democratic party
on the other hand, is the party of mega.
ton. Its record is one of opposition.
Mr.. Fitch then paid glowing tribute to
the United States of America. 1t is lanC
where man is protected, where education
is respected-a land whose credit reigns a
the head of nations-the greatest and mos
prosperous under the sun.
The Democratic party had for thirty-si1
. | nh ~, Ena