Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-01
A Great Meeting of the Home Market
CIuh.


Club.
Fourteen hundred guests sat at the Ia
bles and 5000 people crowded Mechanics
hall, Boston, last Friday night when the
Home Market club held its great banquet
1t was the finest and most enthusiastic
gathering of its kind which Boston has
seen in many day. The spirit of the oc-
casion voiced not only the reiocngs of
Republicans at the result of the November
elections but their confidence in thesfuture
success of the Republican party and their
admiration of the two great leaders, Gov.
VIM. Mckinley and eX-Speaker Thomas b.
Reed, who were the distinguished guests
and principal speakers of the evening.
After the banquet, which was served at
6:30, VIM. II. Bent of Taunton, president
of the Home Market club, gave an address
of welcome and then introduced Senator
Hoar, and after him Governor-elect Green
halge both of whom received an ovation
as they rose to speak. Between Mckinley
and Reed the honors of the evening were
even. When each in turn was introduced
the great audience rose and cheered, wom-
en- waved their handkerchefs and men
their napkins, while some of the irrepress-
ibes sprang on the tables and frantically
waved chairs in their excess of enthusi-
asm. Gov Mckinley said he had come to
feicitate the people of Massachusetts,. on
the victory which they had won in the No
vember election, but it was not mere par
ty victory; more and greater than this it
was a victory of the people for the protec-
tive cause, which is the peoples cause.
One of his strongest points was made when
he said
There were those last year who thought
they were in favor of free trade who have
got rid of the delusion and would be glad,
! if they had the power, to recall their votes,
while there are many thousands more who
gave their votes TO the party in power
upon other questions, quite Independent
| of the tariff. What would be more wei
come to the business interests of the coun-
try, to the wage workers of the country
and every true American interest, than
the assurance that this Congress would
adjourn without meddling with our indus
trial legislation? What sign of relief
would be felt in every part of the country.
| What confidence would be created, what
vtalizing force would be infused into
every department of human activity, what
cheer would enter the homes of labor.
Such an assurance would bring glad tidings
of great Joy to the millions of American
homes whose occupants see the winter
coming, the savings of the years going or
gone, and no work or wages in sight.
"The free trade Congress is fearful
IL, rt,I Il,
country. | sound the note of warning
here tonight, | wish it might reach every
corner of the country. that every reduction
of the tariff will be followed by reduction
of wages; that every cut in the tariff rates
will be followed by a cut in the wage rates.
The effect of the proposed tariff legislation,
whether intended or not, is an unerring
blow at labor which will be instantly felt
in the home of every operative in the Unit
ed States. The threat of ii has already been
felt. The friends Of protection should not
now falter. The tinkcrers of the tariff
should be thwarted, they should be opposed
at every step in their program of destruc-
ton. Republicans and Democrats who
believe in the protective system in Con-
gress should stand together in resisting
every effort to weaken or destroy it,
Mr.. Reed created profound impression
when, speaking of how prone is human
nature to learn only from experience, he
said: "NO arguments that we can make
no books that we can write, no newspa-
pers that We can circulate, could have
burned into the people of this country the
lesson which they know today" Later OF
he made a great hit and brought down the
house when he said:
I'VE are at this moment saddled, We
are at this moment controlled by the force!
OF men who have proved themselves-anC
| say it in no unkind sense-who hav,
proved themselves mwittingly to be the
enemies of their country. | said to ON,
of the members of the majority of the com
mittee on ways and means, when he hinteC
to me that, perhaps, tariff would no
be as bad as expected. My friend, | dc
not in the least fear your malice, | fea
: your ignorance Laughter and applause
/ Every time that We friends of the tariff
have modified it, and meant to modify /
i'm the interest of the industries of tn
country, we have prostrated some, not
withstanding our best efforts, and if tn
l skilful joiner spois some material, wha
, shall you expect of a man that for 81 year
has never had plane in his hand!'
Congressman Cousins of Iowa and Hon
Mahlon Chance of New York spoke brief
f ly. 1t was a great meeting and it will Civ
S grand impulse to the Republican part,
e in the work which it has before it in tn
next three years.