Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-18
TALK AT THE CLUB
Able Orators Discuss Political
Issues of the Day.
NEED OF MUNICIPAL REFORMS.
The Hon. T. d. Gilbert and X. w. But
terheid Say the City Hall Should Be
Cleaned Out This Spring.

lican club was called 10 order in the
circuit court room last evening by
President c. w. Watkins, who said II
was pleasure to the club TO welcome
so large u number OF visitors at its
meeting. and that it felt particularly
fortunate in having secured SO popular
Q name, After the minutes of the last
meeting had been read. President
Watkins called for q report from the
committee, OF which Secretary Dwight
Goss was chairman, appointed To Sc
cure permanent quarters for a club
room. Mr.. Goss said the committee
had examined several rooms with the
idea OF securing quarters n the busl-
ness portion of the city, and not 10 get
above the second story. lie reported
several places visited, hut the commit
tee did not deem il advlsabie to make
xny recommendation yet. The COM
mittee was instructed to continue its
work
President Watkins then introduced
the Hon. l.. G. Palmer, United States
district attorney, who addressed the
club on the political issues. He was
greeted with applause. Mr.. Palmer
said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Lincoln Republican Club have no set
speech, SO what | have to say Will be IN
the nature of a club talk. This meet
ing has been called for the purpose of
mapping out a course to pursue during
the campaign. However shall not in
struct you along this line.
Taught by the Constitution.
/ am to address body of repub-
Jeans who havcbeen through the
mill and have remained stead.
fast. / am republican because
have read the history of my
country. When the boy leaves the free
school lie is proiectionist because he
has learned what it IS to earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow. | am a
republican because the martyred presi-
dent after whom this club is named up-
held the great national question of pro-
lection. The condition of the country
today is the same 1t was before the war.
The same question OF free trade is
brought before us as was advanced by
the statesmen of those days. The ques-
tlon of free trade fired the frs, gun on
Fort Sumter, and brought Great
Britain to the support of the
south.
We Foster Our Own.
1t became necessary for Nus to
build factory TO give employ
ment 10 our boys and girls who could
not find employment on our farms, but
Great Britain sad, You must not.
You must be hewers of stone and draw
ers of water. We Will do the manufac-
turing and yon must pay a duty upon
our goods" No sooner did the Ameri-
cans start the first factory than the
Engffsh parliament said: must
put out their fire. and proceeded to
do it. 1t then became necessary to
build a wall of protection around the
factory. just as long as we drift away
from the constitution We get away from
the question of protection. The const-
tuition and emancipation proclamation
should be i'll every school bouse IN the
land, and boy coming from such
school will be protectionist no matter
what the teacher says" Mr.. Palmer
then illustrated the principle of protec-
tion by saying that every school dis
trict works upon that theory when it
demands a tuition from foreign pupils
to help the expenses of their school, to
pay the teacher and to keep the build
ing IN repair.
When Labor Languished.
During the compromise tariff law
the industries of this country went
down and continued to 60 down until
the republican party enacted new
one. The democratic party has never
been friend of the laboring man, be-
cause it has always sought to pull down
the standard of protection. In tins
glorious country We are not required
to bend the knee or doH the hat. The
president has TO bow to the masses and
ask for reelection. The democratic
party can have no Lincoln, Logan.
Sherman or Sheridan clubs because
those men did not tram with that
party. After the memorable debate
between Lincoln and Douglass, Doug
lass saw there was no middle ground
and he turned his back upon the south
and looked to the star spanglcd ban
| Der. We do wrong when We put an
unrepentent rebel IN the United States
| senate. We do wrong when We allow
, rebel flag TO float anywhere in this
country. | want 10 say this to the
working men OF Grand Rapids. Every
dollar YOU earn and put into your
homes is yours. You are under no
landlord. Every beneficial act for the
country has been made by the republ-
can party. 1t gave US the homestead act
and the pension law. We don't know
what public eviction is. The working
men are asked IN every campaign 10
strike a blow nj their best interests. They
tell us in Europe that we have no class
of gentlemen here. | am glad of it.
for we have q class here from which
We can get presidents and high Off
Gals. 1t is the labofing class. We
went 10 railspitters for president;
We went INTO the tannery and found
one. We also found one among the
school teachers..'
Mr.. Pslmer's address created consId-
cradle enthusiasm. snd hrs statements
we're convincing and logical.
nr. Gilbert speaks
The Hon. +. ID. Gilbert was then
called for, and that gentleman gsve a
brief talk on municipal politics. Dur
ing his remarks Mr.. Gilbert said there
is need of change IN the management
of our city affairs, and he tnonght the
only chance for bringing about the
change for the benefit of the people
would bs 10 put republican crew 10
the city hall. By that mesns he
thought a thorough reformation could
be brought about.
The Hon. Y. w. Butterfieid then
talked of municipal affairs Ia genefsi
snd gave an explanation OF the wrongs
that are liable To- be perDetraied when
the government ia placed IN The hands
Of dishonest or inludleleas ofieisis-