The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-30

/
1 ent position, but failed TO state fully
what is, after all, according TO my judg-
ment. the underlying cause Of the pres
ent condition of affairs. At the last
| election the democratic party was
! brought into power by a curious combi-
nation Of circumstances. as the result OF
a hundred causes. not with careful and
/ candid elaboration, but as the result in
I large measure. Of the apathy OF the
J American people. The vote shows what
, l declare, and the recollection 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 lit
| tie talk with regard TO II. nevertheless.
! the consciousness of this fact underIies
| our entire situation
An HypOcriticaI Disclaimer.
1 do not intend. in abiding 10 this
fact. TO in any way refer TO party poll
tics. 1 do not undertake to raise any
| question to whether the system OF
protection is a wise one or not I do
not undertake TO dispute the proposition
on the part of the democracy that pro-
! lection is a tax, wicked and ubiquitous.
For the purpose Of discussion. and for
/ that purpose only, I quite free to ad-
nit that protection is a fraud and that
/ virtue resides only in a revenue tariff:
4 but there remains, even If il be ad-
mitted that the propositions Of the dem
! ocratic platform are righteous every
| one. there remains the fact that the
/ system upon which the manufactures Of
/ this country have been regulated for
/ thirty years is threatened with a total
/ change; whether that change is TO b.
! for the better or not, no man can know
What the democratic party proposes TO
do with the power that is in their hands
| In
! know themselves. and hence. they are
/ not able TO impart the knowledge to
| others. For my part, ] do not expect
| the democratic party 10 be utterly bad.
| l do not believe that they will be per-
mitted to be so if they should so desire.
| Such is the restraining influence Of the
| people even after election. that I believe,
| through all the DISCUSSES, through all
the masks which their election has
| thrown over the wishes of the people,
| nevertheless those wishes will be car
rid out. But at this present moment no
| man can know what will be the result
/ of the action Of this congress upon the
manufacturers of his country.
| If the reformation Of the tariff were
| in the hands of it's friends. il a change
| in the tariff were contemplated by those
| men who are in favor of the principle Of
! protection instead Of in the hands Of
| those who denounce ii, I should feel en-
| tirely confident that business would not
| be stagnant or remain at a Standstill;
| but when this reformation Of the tariff
| is in the hands of men opposed to the
| present system those manufacturers OF
| the country who have built up the pres
| ent system must necessarily call halt.
| If their goods which they manufacture
| are to be in competition with the manu-
| facturers of all lands. where the cost OF
J production is upon a different basis,
| where labor IS differently rewarded as a
| matter Of fact, no manufactures in this
| country will dare to manufacture goods
| until he knows the basis upon which his
| labor is to go into the production OF his
article of sale. Until that question IS
| settled YOU may be sure that the manu-
| facturers of this country will never dare
| TO manufacture more than the absolute
| necessities of the people require
| ] will not undertake TO dwell at TINS
| time for / do not want 10 confuse the
| issue. upon these unfortunate parts or
| democratic program which are at present
! in allegiance, like the establishment OF
| state banks and other financial measures,
| which we may possibly have 10 struggle
| with. ] can characterize in a single
phrase the cause Of the present condition
| Of affairs 1t is the understandable I'M
| certainty of the future OF both the cur
rency questions and the questions Of pro-
! lection and revenue tariff.
| It Will be seen from what have said
| that l do not regard the Sherman act as.
/ in itself alone, responsible for our present
condition of affairs: that I believe the
! causes of our present disaster underlieS
! that: that the necessary StOppage OF nun
| dreds and thousands Of mills al over the
| country is at TIE bottom Of our disaster.
| Nevertheless. do believe that the Sher-
| man act and the accumulation OF silver
| in the treasury was the earliest indi-
! cation of the disaster which we are ap-
| preaching. and that it has played part
| not entirely unfortunate in warning us
| that we could be saved from still further
| misfortune and doubt.
l,.rs ~17uF Fl1n n rat n
| congress even influenced as it will be
by the pressure on the part Of the people
| of the United States, will so revise the
| tariff that the Workingman viii be
| brought back even to the conditions OF
| the workingmen under the Walker tariff,
! but that there win be doubts and difficult
/ ties and reductions, have not the slight
] est doubt The capitalist has met with
| his misfortunes. He has seen his stocks,
| his bonds. his holdings, and he will soon
| see his real estate reduced beyond any
| fear which he entertained a year ago,
and in due time will come the reduction
of the wages of the laborer, unless by
| great good fortune the labOring man by
| demonstrations on his part should show
that he understands this question in such
/ q fashion that he will refuse to allow il
| TO be misunderstood. by his member Of
! congress.
New Political Conditions.
Referring to the new political condi-
] tons which exist, Mr.. Reed SAID; III is
perfectly true that the democratic party
is responsible for whatever occurs in the
/ future and whatever does not occur.
! They have the president; they have an
] enormous majority in the house Of rep
resentatives and they have the senate TO
! themselves. For the first time in thirty
! wears they have been removed from the
low level of criticism of the acts of 9TH
/ ers and have been lifted TO the high
/ level Of responsibility and performance.
1t cannot be expected that they would
! change their nature in the twinkling OF
an eve Elections may put them into
power. but only the lapse Of time can
give them the proper sense Of response
I bility The time viii come when the
democratic members of congress. instead
of disputing with each other what the
/ democratic platform means, Will be dis
putting with each other as TO what the
necessities of the country demand. IN
til that period of responsibility shall fairly
rest upon their shoulders. and also after
ward they can rely upon the assistance
OF the republican party in the minority
as they have relied upon them in the
majority, in the direction of sound gov
eminent, Of responsibility and of honest
administration Of affairs.
Il am sorry that we have not been
permitted 10 exhibit our wisdom I'm the
way Of amendments; that we have not
been allowed To take the vote OF the
house as to the various propositions to