The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-22
SPEAKER REEDS RUTLAND SPEECH.

SPEAKER REEDS RUTLAND SPEECH.
Mr.. Reed said in substance: There is
a great difference between truth and
falsehood, and of the two lie seems
the simpler. That is why Free trade
seems so simple. Laughter.
WHY, when | was in college l was
grounded in Free trade, and think that
/ can prove now that Free trade is logi-
cal and right, and then l can prove in
five minutes that it isn't so. Laughter
The trouble is that we don't get the
whole truth in considering the matter.
We should look at both sides and then
arrive at some sound conclusion.
What has Protection done for this
country? What is 1t doing to-day? 1t
establishes industries with which our
own people and the people of the old
world are familiar; it starts new bust
ness and thus gives different kinds of
minds chance to develop; it brings
here the capitalist and artisan of Europe
to increase our wealth and improve our
society. What makes land valuable?
WHY. the presence of men. In London
an acre of land is worth $4,000, 900, and
that because the population is dense.
In Montana, where there is nothing but
COWS, you can buy land for S1.25 an acre.
Protection brings people here, digs the
mines, enlarges the factory, opens the
farm; in a word, populates the land and
increases it's value. To illustrate: In
1860 half the land in this country was
for sale, but since then the value of that
land has doubled and that by reason of
Protection.
We hear a great deal said nowadays
about wealth. Wealth is dug out of the
earth, it comes from the flowing river,
it floats in the air. But there must be
brains to drag it out of the earth, and
Protection develops those brains, stimu-
lates home competition and makes us
the most prosperous nation on the
globe. Applause.
Some people think that great wealth
is dangerous, and l sympathize with
them because | was always jealous of
the man that's richer than l am.
Laughter. People get rich and then
they buy railroads to keep them awake
nights. Laughter. But this wealth
has it's uses. When man gets $1,000
600 the next 100000 is not so valuable;
that is, in his estimation, and he will in
vest it in new nterprises-enterpris
that poor men and scholars are afraid
of. A few years ago fellow came
along with thing called telephone.
Scholars said, "Oh, that thing won't
work" Poor men said, I'VE have no
money to throw away" But rich men
men to whom Protection had given
extra cash-put few thousand dollars
into the enterprise and they have been
taking out millions ever since. Laugh
ter. And amt you and | better off?
Why, for $50 or $40 year we now get
faithful messenger-a messenger that in
Free trade times costs S500a year. Thus,
surplus wealth benefits the race, and
surplus wealth is the child of that great
DISQUALIFICATION Applause.
Again, Protection distributes wealth.
l do not believe in dividing wealth
equally. But do believe in system
that gives success to the man that has
brains and skill, and success to the
man that has neither. l believe in
system that gives good square living
to every man on Gods green earth. Ap-
plause.
We hear lots of Democratic talk about
the Mckinley bill. Why, that bill is
nothing but the latest edition of that
system that was mapped out and started
by Vermonts grand old man-Justin S.
Morrill,. Applause. And neither the
tariff nor Mr.. Morrill, has grown worse
with years. Applause They say that
bill has created no new enterprises, in
creased no wages. Well, it started the
button business and increased the wages
of the business, because there were no
wages before. Applause. Again, that
bill regulates demand and supply.
Which is the better, two men hunting
for one job or job hunting for two
men? Laughter. The Mckinley bill
creates new Jobs, and, let me tell you,
those jobs are hunting for American
laborers. Applause.
But the Democrats say that the tariff
is tax. In fact, the Democratic party
has two trade marks and two only-"the
tariff is tax" and 81 am a Democrat"
The high priest of the party, David B.
Hill, says, 81 am Democrat" because
there is no other principle that runs
through the party. Laughter and APP
plause. They say tnat the consumer
pays the duty. Lets see. Wages are
80 per cent higher than they were in
1860, are they not? Cries of Yes
We'll, who has paid the tax? Jap!
plause. A Rhode Isand-you remem-
Der Rhode Island; the Democrats put
out big bait down there-a Rhode Island
file firm sold files in 1860 for So cents a
DOZEN to-day they sell the same files for
10 cents dozen. But then the tariff
is a tax" Laughter.
Then again, Protection stimulates in
ventiOn, and invention is the handspring
of progress; and by the way, the Yam
KEGS, the poor tariff-taxed Yankees,
still lead the world. People do not
reach out into the darkness and pull in
telephone, telegraph, steam engine
or a force pump. A great invention is
the product of years of study-study by
many men. Protection stimulates
study, makes people active and keeps
the mind on the alert, and by and by ii
produces cable to span the ocean, and
an electric light to make homes cheer
full, steam engine to revolutionize
trade and connect the Atlantic and
Pacific.
Again, Protection stimulates COM
petition directly. American mill and
factory owners are all the time striving
to lessen the cost of articles, and they
succeed. A man that can produce ar
article one-sixteenth of cent cheaper
than another man has the lead. Protec.
ton does this. 1t sets all things to
work, while Free trade and Democrats
make mouths at the toiers. England
feels this home competition. In 1888;
she investigated her trade and she fount
that from 1873 to 1888 her trade had
been driven down 100000. Wha
did it? rotection-Protection in tn,
United States, Protection in Germany
ProtectiOn in France and Russia am