The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-15
TOM REEDS BIG SPEECH.
A ScATHlNG ARRAloNMEN r OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The Hon. Joseph j. o'Neiis Dilemma
Whom Can He support for speaker?-
Our Deserted Farms and Ruined Ship
yards-The Mckinley Tarin Bill.

speech at Music Hall last evening is the
talk of the city IL was a mastery ar
raignment of the Democratic policy on
every important point and his ludicrous
picture Of Mr.. O'Neil's dilemma when he
tries TO support for speaker man who
isn't committed TO free silver was espec-
tally enjoyed.
Roger Wolcott presided, and Col. Allen,
Henry Cabot Lodge and Secretary Soley
spoke before Mr.. Reed was introduced.
Hesaid in part:
The state of Massachusetts, has hither-
20 always been among the foremost OF the
states. Not even the broad extension of
western prosperity has heretofore been
able TO relegate her TO the rear. She has
owed her position not more TO the great
names Of statesmen and orators than to
her success in every field of endeavor II
has been thought even recently that she
is rich in manufactures, rich In farm prod
ucts, and that her sons had not degenerat-
ed either in the forum or In the halls or
legislation. But protection and the Nc
Kinley bill have shifted the whole scene,
and where prosperity once held high rev.
elry desolation sits mournfully camped
about the State House and the Common.
But be of good cheer, my brethren.
While Massachusetts, Is undoubtedly on
the road TO ruin IL is only in a Democratic
| Grafton. On the face of the earth, and as
geographical division, Massachusetts
prosperous. But If Massachusetts, means
to be in the future what she is now she
must stand by the principles which have
made her prosperous and alone can keep
her so.
My friend, Hon. Joseph o'Neil, who is
one of the best Democratic representatives
Massachusetts, ever had and an able and
sensible man, but who did not think it
worth while to say anything in 1890, now
goes 70 strange lengths. / am afraid his
Music Hall speech will get him into
trouble. The Herald says he promised to
vote for no man who would not fight free
coinage of silver. Now, the refusal of Mr..
O'Neil TO vote for the Democratic nomi-
nee, however creditable Ii will be from
every moral point Of view, will be
tri1e awkward. And that is what he must
do. He cannot vote for Mr.. Hatch or Mr..
Mcmillan, for both those gentlemen voted
for free coinage, and have not even jour
neyed toward Damascus since: much less
seen a new light. He cannot vote for Mr..
Mills, for that gentleman's late Ohio re-
pentance does not go half far enough.
How well recollect the eloquent words OF
Mr.. Mills, which will be found on page
6,266 of the Congressional Record, first
session, Fifty-irst Congress, vol. 81: II
give you gentlemen fair notice now that
we are going TO have free and unlimited
coinage of silver In this country applause
ON the Democratic side)" How well / re-
member that applause. He cannot vote
for him.
Perhaps Mr.. O'Neil's heart has gone
out TO Judge Crisp. Alas, on page 1896 Of
the ineXorable Record, 10Th OF june 1890,
Judge Crisp bursts forth i am trying TO
arrive at what the gentleman from Ohio
(Alckinley) has stated to be the business
of this session which is to obtain practical
results, and the practical results we mot
only Judge Crisp but his Democratic
friends) are after is the free coinage of
silver, lApplause on the Democratic
side. Perhaps Mr.. O'Neill has thought
of voting for Mr. Springer Alas poor
Horick il cannot be- On page o,Sl6 the
out of the pale in the words and figures
following, 70 wit "If the friends OF free
silver will first vote in the direction of
free silver we will soon offer them an OPP
pOrtunity to vote To concur in the Senate
amendments for this bill. Applause on
the Democratic side.i' You will notice
there is always applause on the Demo
cratic side. OF course the rest OF the
Massachusetts delegation will be as good
men as Mr.. o'Neil, therefore we shall
have bolting delegation from Massachus-
etts L confess think that would be a
very. creditable beginning" lGreat
laughter.l
His views on the calamity deserted farm
question were also we'll received. He
said:
"Now on that deserted farm question
do give me your attention. | want your
attention because the truth is not always
easy TO see while foolishness cries aloud
on the housetops. Why does man desert
one OF these farms Is it to 20 to worse
place 1t must be to 90 to better one.
Why is il that nobody goes to take the
deserted farms? Mustn't it be because
nobody thinks he can better himself by so
doingl This farm, then, is deserted and
remains deserted because men can do bet
ter elsewhere. Now either that farm has
deteriorated from the old days or il has
not. III it has deteriorated, then that may
account for its desertion without regard
to the prosperity of the country IL the
farm has not deteriorated, then this
country has become so prosperous that
men can do better everywhere than when
the farm used TO be occupied. 1t is only the
old familiar case OF man leaving what
used 10 be "A good bosiness for better, and
if nobody takes up the old business it
shows that all business is better"
He referred to the views of the Demo
cratic orators, in his own inimitable way,
on shipping, and then Mr.. Reed said:
"We Republicans have always been
ready to aid our shipping. The only rem
edy Democracy ever offered is to disman-
tie our shipyards and buy our ships
abroad. Buy ships abroad? IL we cannot
NHt sulpa " a. plOub NhlNii VIC dlicttiN
have, how shall we run those we buyi
There are plenty of other topics TO discuss,
but will not present them tonight. /
wish TO close with a few practical sug-
gestons.
Ever since have been in public life the
Democracy have been clamoring for re-
vision Of the tariff There has never been
moment of time when they we're ready
to leave the business of the country free
from their attacks. We have revised the
tariff twice under their clamor, and they
seem worse and more unhappy than ever
before. Every man who hears me knows
that no tariff for revenue only is possible
without the greatest possible change in
this country, its sentiment, and in its
houses of legislation. How would il do to
try a short period of not revising the
tariff
"lf the Democracy would give less of its
time to prophecy, which never gets full
filled, and more time To observation OF
what is before their faces, this country
would have more peace, and their orators
would do more real service To the people"
WHAT THE NEWS" WANTS TO SEE.