The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-26
SPRINGER ON THE TARIFF.
Democratic. Leader Addresses . Grea
Audience at the Detroit Fair.

DETROIT. Aug 25.-More than 10000
people assembled today on the grounds of
the Detroit international fair and exposi-
ton. it being political day." The speak
ing began at l O'Clock. Ex-Congressman
Dunneli, of Minnesota, represented the Re-
publican party and made the first speech.
Colonel Norton, of Chicago followed with
strong speech in favor of the Peoples
party principles and candidates. The last
speaker was Hon. William NJ. Springer. of
Iliineis, chairman OF the ways and means
committee of the national House of Rep
resentatives. who received fiattering re-
ception. Mr. Springer's speech was almost
all devoted to the tariff question.
He said that if protection had accomplished
SO much for the country il must also be held re-
sponsible for the evils which have grown up I'M
der protection and which are fostered by it
During the past twenty-five years, while pro-
lection has fourished in all its yigor, a vast
army of individuals, firms aud corporations,
aggregating 100000. have succumbed 70 the
pressure OF hard times and gone into bank
ruptcy. Their aggregate liabilities have ex-
ceeded 81, 50o, 10000 The number of CONNER
cial failures had increased in 1891. Is CON-
pared with the previous year before the passage
OF the Mckinley bill, IL per cent, and the liza
bilities had increased q per cent The speaker
referred TO the rapidly increasing real estate
Indebtedness in the various states as the result
in being compelled to pay all the
bills of the expensive protective system
designed to foster the few selected
industries at the expense of the great acricul-
tural classes. During the period of the Demo
cratic low tariff and tariff for revenue only,
from 1916 to 1850, fifteen years, the total num-
Der of strikes reported in official way were
T.,r. h.
under Republican high tariff, there have been
over 5000 strikes and iockouts in the United
States. involving over 100000 employees. Re-
ferring 20 the Homestead troubles. Mr. Springer
denounced the greed of Carnegie in attempting
to gather TO himself all the benefits OF the pro-
tective tariff. which he had advocated, and to
grind down work men to a starvation wages con-
dition.
.If there was ever labor contest in which
the laborers were clearly in the right. IL Is the
one now being carried on ut the Homestead
mills They are surrounded by state militia,
aud the barbaIous treatment shown TO one OF
the soldiers by his superior officers for an offense
which did not reach the gravity of a misde
meanor under the laws OF the STATE, shows tbs.
militia officers are lit instruments for the work
III which they ere engaged.
lie denounced the Pnkerton system and re-
called that as early as 1856 the Democrats of Il
linois had demanded its suppression, and Gen
eral Palmer had made a cam pgign on the issue
that "she government should lie rs strong as the
law aud no stronger. weak as the law aud no
weaker" he quoted the report of the senate
committee on finance. submitted by Senator
Alirlch in which Republican senator's ad-
united that the benefits Of the Mckinley bill up
10 this time had only resulted in raising the
WAGES three-fourths OF J per cent higher in
fifteen general cccG nations. What a ridiculous
result of bcuefiss OF high tsrif Yet this is the
best showing which the friends OF the MCkiu.
a
sists tho: the tariff shall always besr the heay
lest upon articles of luxury, instead Of articles
OF necessity 20 the poor man. and the Demo
cratic party is opposed TO any tariff beyond that
necessary 10 raise sufficient revenues for ex
peuses OF the general government