The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-19
REID OPENS THE BATTLE.
THE FIRST GUN OF HIS CAMPAIGN
FIRED IN ILLINOIS.

he Opens by Comm ending the Inter
est In Politics Shown by Young
Meu-Then Re Assails the Demo-
cratic Party on the Ground Of In
consistency 10 It's Tariff Record.
SPR1NeF1RLD, ILL, Aug. 1S.-The re-
publican presidential campaign was form
ally opened in this state to-day, the oc-
easion being the convention OF the league
of republican clubs. After the formal bust
ness of the convention was concluded, Gov.
Fifer introduced Whitelaw Reid to the coz
vention.
REID's SPEECH.
Mr.. Reid began by congratulating the
country and the Republican party upon the
strength Of political interest among tne
young men of the country, saying:
No patriot can fail to rejoice at your political
activity 1t is or it should be, one OF the purest
and best forms Of manly endeavor, next to
service of God, service of the people, that Is 10
say, the work of politics is the highest OF human
interests and the nobest Of human occupations
OF the Democratic party be said:
We may well thank them for the clearness
and candor with which they have for once
stated their precise position on the tariff. They
are opposed to the Mckinley bill and demand
its unconditional and immediate repeal. Ihey
are opposed to any protective tarln. Ihey de-
Uand tariff for reve ue only declare any
other unconstitutional, and proclaim this the
Fundamental principle Of the Democratic
party" We are bouni to take them at their
word, but how that party has changed
MADISON AND THE TARIFF.
They cite what they call the long and illus
trious line of democratic leaders from Madison
TO Cleveland" Well, Madison reported and
Cie rye Washington signifed the first protective
tariff bill in our history, and It stated speech
cally in It's title that it was FOR the encourage
Knent and protection of manufacturers. But
then the Democratic party of to-day knows that
Washington and Madison did not understand
tne constitution they mad just made and ia ok
son deliberately argued the constitutional right
and duty TO make a protective tariff and cited
his predecessors Washington, Jefferson Madi-
son and Monroe as his authorities. But the
Democratic party of to-day knows that
Andrew Jackson did not understand the
constitution.
THR BLOODY SHIRT
Down to this day there has been but one great
representative body which did understand the
constitution, and in the long line of leaders the
democratic platform proudly refers to from
Madison TO Cleveland - there has heretofore
been but one statesman vested with power 70
enforce the present democratic Interpretation
of it. That representative body was the con-
stitutional convention OF the confederate
states and the authorized statesman
was the confederate president, Jeffer-
son Davis. They embodied IN their
constitution and enforced in their practice
the doctrine that no tariff should be levied,
save for revenue only. To-day the Democratic
party. to use current political slang turned
down Tho as Jefferson, Andrew jackson ana
all its old leaders, regulates alike their const-
Gutional Interpretation, their political belief
and their acts. announces instead ldentcAily
the same doctrine whcl Jefferson Davis and
the confederate states cnampioned and pro,
poses that Grover Cleveland In your name shall
execute it.
SHAM RECIPROCITY.
We have to thank the democratic convention
for equal candor on another important matter.
They denounce the sham reciprocity which our
state department has been busy introducing.
Now, this sham reciprocity consists of allowing
the foreign producers of sugar, molssses, cof-
fee. tea and hides 70 send US these products
free OF duty, provided they admit a fairly
equivalent quantity Of our products to their
ports, either free or at specified reductions in
du les.
AS the democrats consider this a sham Of
course they will, il in cir power, abolish IL.
WHAT then! Will they simply throw away the
ADVANTAGES gained by this administration for
The admission Of scores Of our products to for
eign markets. and yet continue 20 let foreigners
send u their products freef Or, II ashamed OF
folly ike that, will they dare TO put back the
old duties on sugar, tea, coffee and the rest,
and SO put up the price again to the whole body
of our people! .
BLUFF TO FRIGHrKN.
Our enemies have made our campaign for US.
Hold them to their own deliberately avowed
principles. We go to the people claiming that
the republicans have given the country a clean,
honorable, business like ami highly successful
administration. That change without cause is
business injury TO every citizen, aud that
there is no occasion for d change. Ths demo-
Gratis want this country to have an immediate
and an absolute change. They want to repe al the
Mckinley tariff at once. They denounce a pro
tective tariff Of any sort of description, refuse
to let tariff legislation have the slightest refer
ence to defense Of American workingmen's
wages declare that Washington and Madison
aud even Andrew jackson, did not understand
the constitution, and that nobody but
themselves and jefferson Days ever did;
denounce anything but pure tariff for revenue
only as unconstitutional, want TO get rid of our
reciprocity and demand return to our
wild cat banking. Hold them TO their doctrine.
Never have they rushed so plainly and palpably
upon their fate since the memorable week in
1864, when their taunt in Chicago that the war
for the union was a failure was instantly an
swered by the victorious thunders of Sherman s
guns from Atlanta and the triumphant cheers
of Sheridan's troopers in the valley of Virginia
Let us rise up and go forward. They have been
blinded again to their own destruction and are
delivered into our hands.
ON rLIm