The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-10-17
THE CAUSE or HARD TIMES.
Extract From Ex- Governor Fifsr's
Speech.

| Wilson bill was not passed until long
after the hard times set in; that all our
business reverses and financial difficulties
have taken place under unrepealed
republican laws, and that therefore, the
republicans are responsible for the evils
from which we suffer. Can it be possible
that anybody can be found who will
believe this statement? 1t would seem
| that the democrats are greatly encouraged
at their success in fooling the people two
I, years ego, or they would not now have
the courage to make that claim.
Let us state the case fairly. II is true
that there was no material change in our
laws until the Wilson bill was passed.
1t is true also that the hard times set in
. and continued for nearly two years under
republican laws. But that these repub
lican laws are responsible for the hard
times we deny. 1t was the bare fear that
these laws would be repealed that brought
upon us all our trouble 1t was the fear
that the industrial system of the United
States would be reversed. The fear that
the army marching in one direction was
to be suddenly faced about and sent
marching in different direction. Dem
ocrats tell us that the bare fear of these
things could not have produced this bus.
mess stagnation and consequent misery.
Let us see about that for moment Were
any of you ever out upon the ocean when
storm was approaching? II so, you
doubtless SAW the mariners up in the
rigging taking in sail, reefing it, as it is
called, preparing for the storm. You did
not see them putting on more sail, but,
on the contrary, taking it in. So in the
business world. After the election OF
1891 the discreet business men of the
country saw the storm approaching ard
they began rce6ng their sails-that is
curtailing their business and discharging
their men.
An Apt Illustration.
Another illustration: Suppose that one
of you farmers were about to buy farm
in this county for 500 per acre, and that
| Just before the bargain was closed you
should learn that slaughter house, with
its odors and smells, was 70 be located
close up to one side of that farm, and
that close up to the other side the city
authorities had determined to locate &
pest house in which were to be confined
patients infected with the smallpox. Now
with full knowledge of these facts, dc
you think you would give $50 per acrt
for that farm, whereas you had intended
to give 500 before? Do you really believe
you would want that farm at all? Ye
these nuisances had not been located
and it was only the fear that they would
be that affected the price of that land
So we insist it was the bare fear that til,
laws would be changed that brought OF
the hard times, and nobody knows tn,
truth of this better than the democratic
leaders themselves. McVeagh, Altgelt
and the other leaders told you all sorts o
improbableand unreasonable stories in tn,
campaign of 1892, and majority OF th
people believed them, and you all know
the result. They are again telling you
stories equally unreasonable and improb
able. Are you going to be fool enough t
believe them the second time? There
no law to prevent You from doing so,
know. But give you this warning, tina
if you do, you will put your foot in it a
you did in 1892.
The whole tariff argument has bee
summed up and put into a nutshell b
one of our greatest republicans Iii
', argument was this, that ii you buy 81
, 100000 of railroad iron from Englan
that England then has our ST, 000 900 an
we have the iron; but if you buy til
! iron at home, we have both the none
! and the iron. Nothing is palmer or MOI
COL vincing to my mind than this, and
,, is the principle underlying the whol
,, doctrine of protection.
will illustrate my argument by wins
we see before our very eyes. 1t will b
! remembered that Gov. Altgeld promise
the people that, if elected, he would Civ
them a purely business administration
/, in this particular the Governor hns kel
lis word this is one democratic pledg
that has been redeemed. The Governo
, very soon after he was sworn in, expende
, large sums OF money, amounting to hur
: dreds OF thousands of dollars, in tn
' purchase of tools. machinery and ra
! materials, and started manufactures
various kidns. His plants, however, al
all located inside the walls OF the Joli,
! and Chester penitentiaries, and cons
,, quently the Governor pays nothing fC
: his labor except what it costs to cloth
,, and feed his men. This gives him ver
great advantage, and he is thereby EN-
bled to manufacture his goods niue
cheaper than the same articles can /
: made by the free labor OF the state; tn
must be plain to everybody. The CO.
ernor is now engaged in the manufactur
/, OF cigars, brooms, boots and shoes an
. other articles too numerous to mention
' and, being business man, he will,
course, enlarge his plants from time
time, as necessity may require. Nov
, nv point is here: If the Governor sci
!! his prison-made goods in the san
market where like manufactured goot
made by free labor are sold. it must
s necessity reduce the price of the latte
/ which in turn will reduce the price
: wages. The laboring people of the sta
have seen this and have endeavored
: get the Governor to close up his factori
but 80 far they have met with indifferel
, success. Now, the same thing exact
G will take place, only on a much larg
scale, if we have free trade in tn
!, country. Our laborers in that eve
4 would not only be brought in competitic
= with the labor Of the Governors convict
but also with the cheap labor of {
Europe. The labor organizations of Il
state have been trying to induce Il
: Governor to close up his cheap convi
i labor shops and relieve the laboring me
, Of this ruinous competition. He HI
been reminded again and again, out ;
7 in vain, OF the promises he made on Il
:, stump during the campaign that Il
y competition of convict labor shou
cease if be was elected. The Govern
G listens patiently to the complaints
: these laboring people and then exsmin
/. carefully his certificate of election AT
i sees that he is safe in his Office fol-
puuhor of vesrs vet and poes right ,