Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-10
was unconstitutional? Laughter You

was unconstitutional? Laughter. You
may answer this for yourself.
But, for the sake of the argument, we
will suppose that it is unconstitutional. Let
US consider now the measures which you ad-
vance, ostensibly as the embodiment of
your views on the subject. Ifprotection is
unconstitutional, then the Wilson bill is in
gross error; for dozens of articles could be
mentioned which, in the Wilson bill are
left under the same tariff as in the McKin-
ley bill, which was avowedly protection
measure. You are surely following the
letter if not the spirit of Republican protec-
ton. Laughter.
But again, what business has bill the
voice of party openly declared in favor of
ga tariff for revenue only"-I say what
business has such bill with "free lists"
which, as has been shown by careful COM
putation, will reduce the revenue of the
United States over seventy-five million
dollars a year. Republican applause.
If protection is not constitutional, this bill
cannot bear the test; neither can it pass as
"a tariff for revenue only" If we may be
psrdoned for saying so, this bill is sort of
political hash, of mixed protection and rev.
enue ideas, chopped up by party strife and
and applause.
affairs from 1876 to 1861. The country
was under free trade dispensation and, &C.
cording to Democratic logic, ought to have
been very prosperous. Well, let US see
how it was. In the first place, what
was there besides this liberal tariff
reduction, in favor of national pros
perity. There was the terrible famine in
Ireland, which created an increase demand
for our bread stuffs; there was the Crimean
war, which unsettled the markets of Eng
land. France and Russia, and made room
for the products of our shops and fields;
and there was the discovery of gold in
California, by which, during ten years,
81, 100, 900, 900 were added to the wealth of
the United States. Under such conditions
you say a country must surely prosper.
But did it? The fact is that nothing
short of a panic, in financial, COM
mercial and business circles, reigned
throughout the country. But you ask,
"Where WAS all the money!" This Is where
it wss: Every dollars worth of goods i'm
ported into the United States meant dollar
of American money gone to enrich some
English, French or German manufacturer.
And so one dollar followed another until the
country was left almost penniless, in the
midst of all its Injuries brought from
foreign lands. There is homely, old ssy
ing that "money makes the mare 60" And
this was just the trouble from 46 to '61-
the United States mare" refused to "go"
because there was no money" to make her
go" Laughter and applause.
Such was the state of affairs then and, to
our sorrow, we see it almost repeated today,
and for substantially the same reasons.
But you say "the Democrats as yet have
not established free trade, and how are they
responsible for the condition of affairs?"
"Out Of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh," and are not the people of
this country justified in thinking that this
honorable Democratic party will strive to
live up to its published creed? Laughter.
Like causes tend to produce like results,
and if free trade policy, in part or in
whole, is declared by Congress, we shall
see repeated in all their force those condi-
tons preceding the Civil War, of which our
present troubles are but the fore runner.
Let us, then, out of love for mankind, and
out of love for our country, retain our
policy of protection that we may remain
what we now are-the first nation under the
sun. Applause in which all joined.