Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-17
TARIFF REFORM LEAGUE
Holds Annual Banquet q sostoa-Address BY
Ex.Sec. Fairchild.

BosroN. Dec. l6 The annual dinner OF
the New England Tariff Reform League
was held at the American House this even
ing. President Henry l.. Pierce was the
presiding officer. The speakers were Hon.
Chas. s. Fairchild secretary of the treas
ury under Cleveland: Hon. Harvey n,
Shepherd Josiah Quincy and Wm. b. Rice.
Covers were laid for about 225.
An hour and half was spent in discuss
ing the menu, and soon after s O'Clock
President Pierce called the meeting to
order, and made brief Introductory
speech.
He closed by introducing, as the first and
chief speaker of the evening. Mr.. Fairchild,
who he said had. as secretary of the treas
ury. won the confidence of the business
community, and would speak, no, as a
POLITICAL, but as practical business man,
whose solely desired to aid in solving the
present problem in way that would best
promote the business interests of the
country.
Mr. Fairchild alluded to the necessity of
continued efforts in the interest Of tariff
reform and eloquently spoke on the money
question. Our business friends, he said.
ask for stability in business. but they have
built up an artificial system, whereby the
business of this country is held up above
its national conditions. They have de-
liberately disposed that condition of
things. They desire to maintain it and
even to aggravate it; and yet their sta
bility was dependent on each succeeding
election.
Instead of seeking to do the one thing
requisite to the maintenance of their sys-
TEN. the thorough education of the people
as to thu wisdom of such laws, they have
sought TO divert their minds in every pos
siblc way from the consideration of the
true subject. Another thing. They have
formed habit, begun four years ago, of
contributing vast sums Of money to buy
the elections.
1t is useless to deny that the Democrats
are equally guilty with Republicans in at
tempts to corrupt elections. But hereto
fore it has been done under the excitement
of the canvass. But within these last few
years business men who desire stability IN
business have contributed of the gains
which came to them, as they supposed
through the government, for the hardly
concealed purpose of buying elections.
We have seen these successful men
deliberately contributing of their substance
to undermine the foundations of society, to
do that which not only could not make Their
business and property safe but which rend.
cred unsafe the business and property of
every body in this country. Had this party
supported by such means not been over
whelmed, all that has been said of us, as a
people in the past would be untrue.
Mr.. Fairchild strongly advocated the
state bank system. He said there is ne
more craftsmanship, there is no more sense
in depriving the American people Of one oI
the most useful devices of modern times
because some one may sometimes lose by it
than there is in depriying them of tht
other forms of commercial credit
In the face Of the vast usefulness
of good bank note circulation which viii
pass from hand to hand readily, but not a
legal tender. say it is utter imbecility fol
this American people to lie down and say
| they can not do that and they won't do it.
| Something must be done before long
We cannot go on under this idea of gov
ernmental power and duty to ward thi
question Of the government issuance OF
money the government bolstering of none.
i credit, without coming to trouble, which
believe will equal any that we have had il
the past in a business way.