Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-09
The Great White-Estee De-
bate opened.
Mr.. White Dissects the Falla-
cies of Protection
While Mr.. Estee EndeavOrs to Assault
Tariff Reform.
Intense Interest Shown in the Contest
of fIntellects-The Features OF the
Addresses-A Memorable
Occasion.

Along back in the latter part of the
fifties Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglas enlivened the stump in interior
Illinois in joint debate, and that debate
has passed into history. Even at this
late day it is frequently referred to in
the national press and by public speak
ers. 1t was really an epoch in the poll
tical annals Of this country.
Last evening there was opened at
Turnverein hall series of joint debates
to be held throughout California be-
tween Stephen M. White, of this city,
and M. M. Estee Of Napa. These de-
bates will mark an epoch in the politi-
cal history of California, and will be
listened to by thousands of people. Mr..
Estee will defend the position of the
Republican party upon the tariff ques-
ton, and Mr.. White will explain the
platform of the Democratic party as to
tariff reform.
The audience that gathered at Turn
verein hall last evening was beyond
question one OF the most select gather
luES ludU 0NcI docCluOlcu Ill LUIS AuReiES
at political meeting. Upon every bit
Of space that the hall contained rested
a chair, and in that chair was an auditor
A greater portion of the audience was
comprised of men, although there was
quite sprinkling of ladies'.
The hall decorations were simple.
The balconies were fanked on either
side with pampas plumes, campaign
emblems of both parties. Barring these
handsome but plain ornaments the hall
was devoid of any elegance.
By s pm. the hall presented perfect
sea of living faces. Upon the stage
were seated 150 ice-presidents. When
Mr.. Estee entered the hall and walked
down the aisle to the stage, he was very
enthusiastically received But Mr..
White, when he came in, received re-
ception by the side of which the ap-
plause that greeted Mr.. Estee's presence
was as nothing.
When quiet was restored Col. j. j.
Ayers, the chairman of the evening,
raped for order. When quiet reigned
Col. Ayers read the conditions under
which the debate was held. He then
announced the list of vice-presidents
selected, which comprised $50 of the
leading citizens, seventy-five chosen by
each central committee. Col. Ayers
then presented Mr.. Estee with these
words:
Ladies' and gentlemen, Hon. M.
Estee OF Napa."
MR.. EsTEE's REMARKS.
On being introduced Mr.. Estee said /:
It is with more than an unusual hesi.
fancy that I appear before Los An
geles audience to debate with one of
your own citizens. We are not here to
measure swords, but to debate most
important question. For more than a
century two great English speaking ma
tions have endeavored to control the
commerce of this country. England has
sought to figure in American politics
because che has found a mar
ket for her goods; and our own
country has sought to control our own
markets. Two industrial questions have
been advanced by these nations. New
England has advanced free trade; our
country demands protection. England
could not find market in Europe, and
it was quite natural for her to look to
our country as a market, and natural
for our country to guard against it.
England has never been friend to this
country since colonial times. From the
earliest period England has made this
the dumping ground of whatever she
had to sell, and before our
independence prohibited the i'm
portation of machinery for mar
ufacturing goods, and even after our in
dependence, prohibited the importation
of articles calculated to benefit us.
England sided with the south during
the rebellion, not because she loved the
south, but because the south forced free
trade. I will now show that what ben
fits England does not benefit America.
The London Star says that Mr.. Cleve-
land is a statesman who represents
views that England endorses. The Lon
don Morning Journal says the tariff bill
will be repealed when Mr.. Cleveland is
elected. Perhaps 30. But he is not yet
elected.
After reading numerous other extracts,
the speaker continued:
The solid south insisted on having the
Chicago platform, and the party had to
take it. The people of the south are
honest. Thev have always been free
traders, and are willing to die for their
principles. They are brave and hon.
est people, and we must admire these
people. England goes to market
where the goods she manufactures can
not be made, and she goes to Mexico,
hoping that she can stop our industries
and manufactures, making her rich and
America poor. Would not factory in
Los Angeles employing 500 or 1000 men
add to the wealth of the country? They
should sht be protected. Everything
market. In manufacturing states
land .is worth four or five times as much
as land in non-manufacturing states,
and the reason is that the man who
lives upon it raises something which he
sells to the manufacturer. In 1889 the
first protective tariff law was passed and
signed by George Washington, and re-
mained in force until the war OF 1916.
That war was a commercial one. By
some strange manner party was or
ganized in 1915, called free trade party.
Lord Brougham advised Englishmen to
sell goods cheaply iii order to stiae the
import industries of America. The
protective tariff act of 1924
was passed to keep out for
eign goods, and President Monroe
said it was necessary to restore the in
dustries of the country, which could
only be done by keeping out foreign
goods. In 1888, congress passed tariff
law for revenue only, which remained in
force until that passed during the ad.
ministration of General Harrison. But,
when gold was discovered in California,
she added $65O,C00,O0O gold to the
a