Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-10

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of philanthropy. we owe duty to our less
fortunate neighbors, and how can we as q
nation best fulfil that duty. 1t is by allowing
free importation of the articles made by the
sweat of the brow aud the weary toll of these
down-trodden foreign laborers? No, for by
so doing we but sanction the conditions under
which those articles were produced; we
countenance the low wages which the me-
chauic received for his many long hours of
labor; we tacitly support the "all work
and no pay" theory which is the curse OF
the working-man. Applause. But rather
let us say to the manufacturer from abroad
1--WE refuse to give you free access to our
markets until you can produce your goods
under conditions equal with ours" BY de-
handing from him a compensation for the
use of our markets, we do not shut him out,
but simply make restriction which shall
keep him from rushing in and driving us
out, while he takes advantage of cheap Ia
Dor, using his employees as sponge to
soak up the wealth which he straightway
squee yes out of them. Applause on the
Republican side.
We are frequently reminded that it is the
duty of the individual to improve his gifts
and make the most of himself. Following
out the analogy, is this not equally true of
the nation? Shall a country allow its tai
ents to be folded in napkin? Shall it seek
in no way to develop its own resources and
to protect its own interests? You all will
answer-No. This question settled, you
next ask, How shall this be done?"
Take swift glance over our land; look
at its praIies, with their productive power
unsurpassed on earth at its hills, filled
with rock, marble and stone of every grade
useful to man at its mountains with their
stores of iron, lead, copper, zinc. gold and
silver; and its broad fields of coal, oil and
gas. What are they here for if not to use
and develop? Now let US look at some of
the measures lately proposed in relation to
these materials. By the Wilson bill petro-
leum is put on the free ji't;" that Is,
petroleum is to be received into America
free of duty, Notwithstanding the fact that
Russia sets duty on American oil, and
Peru a still higher one. And all the time
oil in Russia is prepared for the market by
laborers who receive from twenty-five to
thirty cents day, and in Peru by hands re-
ceiyiug fifty cents day. What will be the
effect on the American oil industry? need
only state the facts, you can judge for your
selves of the results. [Republican ap-
plause.
If the work of cheap labor is introduced
into our country, our own wages must be
reduced to compete with it, or else the
manufactures must close their doors, the
farmer must abandon his farm, the great
business COZ porations must dissolve in other
words, the same conditions which drove
millions from other countries to this will be
reproduced in our very midst. But if we
demand from the producer in other coun-
tries some remuneration for the use of our
markets-if we protect ourselves by tariff
upon those articles which we ourselves pro-
duce, we are simply exercising the natural
right of representation and self-defence.
For just so many hours work as these i'm
ported goods represent, of just so many
hours work are our lsborers deprived; just
80 much raw material as is introduced
stands for the same amount lying idle in
our hands. Applause.
The good book says that "Unto him that
hath shall be given, but from him that hath
not shall be taken away even that which he
hath" Let us then see to it that we i'm
prove our opportunities and develop our
resources, that we may grow and thrive,
lest by squandering them or trifling with
them, they slip from our grasp. Applause.
We hear the theory of protection assailed
as unconstitutional. Now what can we say
in justification of it? You need only to read
the early history of our nation to see that it
was founded on basis of protection. Long
before there was any thought of an indepen-
dent government on this side of the ocean,
England announced her protective policy
when she forbade the colonists to make for
themselves those things which she had been
providing for them. When at last the COL
onies declared themselves free and indie
pendent, they Immediately adoI ted the pro-
tective policy of the mother country. The
first legislative act passed by Congress I'M
der Washington was tariff act ''to raise
revenue for the support of the government,
fJr the discharge to the United States debts,
and for the encouragement and protection
of manufactures If the father of his
country. fresh from the convention, in sign
ing the first tariff tax bill, signed an uncon-
stitutional act, then the Democratic party Of
today is better than George Washington
charge not hitherto brought against it.
Laughter and applause.
Now let us summon witnesses contempt
rary with the early days of the Constitution.
There are Webster, Madison, Fillmore,
who express themselves in the strongest
terms in favor of protection. And there is
Jefferson-but as he has already been quo
ted by my opponent l refrain from placing
him in an unpleasant position by citing him
in favor of protection. as l might do. All
these might be considered reliable authori-
ties, but here is one witness whose testi-
mony every Democrat must feel called
upon to accept. General Jackson said in
1882:
IAN adequate protection of industry is
indispensable to the prosperity of country,
and an abandonment of the policy would be
attended with consequences serious to the
best interests of the nation"
Was pr lection constitutional then, friend
Democrat? You admitted it at the time. If
it was constitutional then, what did you tell
when, in your platform of '92, you said it