Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-20
TRUE TO THE CORE
The hon. Gerrit j. Dlekema
Next Attorney General
DELIVERS A STRONG ADDRESS
To the Lincoln Club and o L.rEs Mum.
Der Of ksPohliesns-rhs Tar
~ Ably Discusssa.

J. DieKems Of Holland. republicsn
candidate for attorney general.
Charles Watkins presided NJ the
meeting and Fred Maynard. Dwight
6oss, Moses Taggart and Col 4. :.
Pierce occupied seats on the platform.
The president spoke Of tie convention
of state republican clubs 10 be held
September -, aud sAld that +. A. May
pard, q. ). hetchum and James NJ.
Crosby would represent the Lincoln
club at the convention. il wAs decided
20 sppoint n committee Of ten to make
preparations for toe coming republi-
eau convention. Mr. Watkins then IA
troduced the Hon. Gerfiii J. Dickens.
the speaker Of the evening.
Bar. Diek ksmss speech
Mr.. DlekemA spoke as follows;
Mr.. President-Ihe time has agaiu
come when the greatest nation upon
the face OF the earth "A about 20 select
its own rulers, and Il ls ST such times
that We can best estimate the dignity
and Importance Of American citizen
ship.
This country is 90 vast IN territory
that We are really great confederation
OF nations. Take for instance, Great
Britain and Ireland. France. Germany,
Austria, Italy. Spain, Portugal, switx-
erland, Denmark and Greece, and ell
these nations joined together would
not occupy one-third OF the space oo-
cupled by our country west Of the
Hudson river. And yet the vote Of q
single elector ia the fifth district OF
Michigan may decide who the pres-
dental eiector tins district shall be and
the presidential elector IN this district
determinewho the chief executiveo Of this
great nation shall pe for tour years 10
come. No man, therefore, can over
estimate the necessity for al intels-
gent. patriotic and devoted c c.tizenshlp,
and We come here the evening 60 dis-
cuss the problems that must Toe settled
during this campaign IN order that our
votes may be intelligent and patriotic.
A free country must always have at
least two great political parties. Such
is the history Of the free governments
OF the world. and every intelligent
citizen knows that either democratic or
republican principles will triumph dur
ing the next tour years Of our national
history.
The platforms Of political parties are
their cTeeds. their confessions OF faith.
the standards by which they must he
measured. These platforms have heen
written in clear and unmlstskshie Ian
guage. The positions Of the two great
political parties upon all questions Of
national importance are well defined.
Both political parties have been honest
and courageous IN placing before tue
people their political creeds.
There are three great questions upon
which these parties radically dlter.
let. The tarif question.
ID. The question of finance.
Sd. The question of elections.
Aud ! shall endesvor 10 discuss these
questions in this order.
Ttrst Law Of Governments
Self preservation is the first Jaw OF
governments as well a. of nature, and
in order TO preserve the national life,
we need money 10 pay lie running er-
penses. Both parties are practically
agreed that this money can best be
raised by placing duties upon the in-
ports. but they radically differ upon
the principle which should guide con-
gTess ~ ieyying these duties.
The republican party, on she one
hand, claims that these duties should
be LEVIED 60 ss 90 accomplish these two
ends:
let. To rsise sufficient money 70 pay
toe running expenses Of our govern
ment.
2 To protect and foster American
industries. capital snd labor, against
free and ruinous European competi-
ton.
The democratic party. ON the other
hand. insists that tariff should only
be LEVIED with one idea q view. namely
the raising OF sufficient funds 20 pay
the running expenses OF the govern
ment. They DO Dot believe IN pfotcc.
ton either incidentally OF acci dsDtlY,
and clearly state Ia their plstfor that
protection = unconstitutional
The question before the American
people this year u not p question Of
schedules, q is q eucrtion ot 81 ncplefi
4 is not question Of hlCh tariff OF low
tariff, or Of modifying the duties on
certain imported articles. bot t 70 q
question Of protectibn of free trade.
The democratic party does not pro .
pose 20 modify toe course of the en b
glne BY pisclng = switch along the line i,
bot y proposes 90 reverse The engine
aud thep to move 90 . directly opposiie
course.
According 10 the democratic theory
the duties should he imposed upon
such imports Rs cannot he prod ucod
vsthln our owB country, for sucn arH-
Giles do not compete With uuf own
products. and therefore such duuct
cannot he protective.
Acrorf inF 20 TIE republican theorv,
sriicles that cannot be produc within
cur country should hs imported free ~
cost. and duties should % placed upon
snch srticles a4 are prod uced within
our own country, and therefore com
pete with our produces.
Inc democratic theory 10 always a
tsr pad out q The pocket ~ the con
sumsf The republican tsrih may b =
tax pad by the consumer fer = short
time. Rot = ultimately pad ~ TIE fer
eEn producer sud not tv the con
sunsr. The q rot theory. q 70 q
rnsttef 81 sciBai experience. There q
not protected srticls of importance
produced and solo within thls oountrr
/ that hns nor been cheapsued sncr fhs
prod nouvf duty wss ievieo upon Z.
H.w E-suffs A. Fr.rue.a.
Hov - ths result proeueso In she
{ Hrsi pisre - soon ssfhs protective gfsii
E res been - ser and ths A ffericsn csu-
,t.fsi s sssuTei ttst 70 - rot 81 ere
. fnsrrr af ths forfign rasnafhrturef hs
rvests hr ntUrsf 81 uauufs seflrfnr
part Then tmfrfnr irreftrs ger
F as 80 20 r. Hns pr0F tlrs . is-s rurrl fer
vofk. fisrslr rtssspfo ifsf ff.s PRO ief
. f. p