New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-08-30
BIG AND BRAINY TOM REED.
In q Calm, Conservative Speech, he Favors
Repeal of the Sherman Bill.
A Concise Exposition Of the Causes and a
Short but Pointed Way out Of
the Crisis.
An Exhibition Of Craftsmanship that up
to Date has not Been Equalled in
the Silver Debate.

Tom Reed waited until Saturday to
say his say on the silver bill. He did
not speak for any length Of time, but
went at his subject with that clear-cut
style of reasoning that only Tom Reed is
capable Of. He knew there were causes
for the present depression and he gave
them in as few words as possible. He
knew something had to be done, and he
gave the only common sense method of
relief without any long perorations or es-
say on the relative value of metals. It
was the statesman giving counsel to a
lot of wrangling and would-be wise
men. g.z .'&G ..
Mr.. Reed doubted the wisdom of
the house to deal satisfactorily with the
question before it, but he had faith in the
final decision of congress. Crises like
the present, he said, were the inseparable
accompaniments of all human progress,
which is series Of upward starts and falls
of almost proportionate length. The form
er may be characterized in word ICON
fidence;" the latter in another word, ,ssdis-
trust" These fluctuations occur almost
simultaneously always symphathetically,
the world over, so closely is business al
lied by the telegraph and railroad. Be-
ause of the fact that the drain of gold
ON the United States since the passage
G the Sherman law in 1890 carried out
OF re country an amount equal to the
value OF the purchases of silver un-
der the law, people saw in it the cause of
the loss of gold and distrust was engen-
dered and season of boarding and de-
preston set in, and to-day the country is
suffering all the calamities of restrict
ed circulation, in the midst of an abund
ant supply of money.
This, then, at the present moment, is
the situation in which we find ourselves,
l have, in thus narrating the outward cir
cumstances which have attended cur pre-
sent position, failed to state fully what
is, after all, according to my judgment,
the underlying cause of the present con-
dition of affairs. At the last election the
Democratic party was brought into pow
er by curious combination of circum-
stances,as the result of hundred causes.
not with careful and candid deliberation.
but as the result, in a large measure, of
the apathy of the American people. The
vote shows what [ declare land the recol-
lection of every individual to whom 1
am speaking can be safely appealed to.
While this thing has not been specially
manifested during this discussion, while
there has been little talk with regard to
it, nevertheless, the consciousness of this
fact underlies our entire situation. lido
not intend in alluding to this fact to in
any way refer to party politics. 1 do
not undertake to raise any question as to
whether the system of protection is wise
one or not. I do not undertake to dis
pute the position on the part Of theDem
ocracy that protection is tax, wicked
and iniquitious. For the. purpose of,
discussion, and for that purpose only, 1
am quite free to admit that protection
is a fraud and that virtue abides only in
a revenue tariff. But there remains. even
if it be admitted that the propositions of
the Democratic platform are righteous,
everyone, there remains the fact that the
system upon which the manufactures of
this country have been regulated for 80
years are threatened with a total change,
whether that change is to be for the bet
ter no man can know. What the Dem
ocratic party purpose to do with the
power which is in their hands, nobody
can say. They do not even know them
selves, and hence they are not able to
impart the knowledge to others. For my
part, I do not expect the Democratic
party to be utterly bad. I dc. not believe
the people would permit them to be SO
ST they should SO desire.
If the reformation Of the tariff were in
the hands even of its friends; il q change
in the tariff were contemp plated By those
men who are in favor Of the principle Of
protection, instead of In the. hands Of
those who denounce it, I should feel en-.
tirels confident that business would not be
stagnant tsor remain at q standstill but
when this reformation Of the tariff IS IN
the hands Of men opposed to the present
system, those manufactu off the coul. coun-
Try which arc built upon the present sy-