Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-10-17
THE CAUSE OF HARD TIMES.
Extract From Ex- Governor Fifer's
SpeeCh,

tXtTaCt from tx governor fiter'S
Speech.
The democratic leaders insist that the
Wilson bill was not passed until long
after the hard times set in; that all IL
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
years ago, or they would not now have
the courage to make that claim.
Let us state the case fairly. 1t 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these laws would be repealed that brought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 a 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 a moment Were
any of you ever out upon the ocean when
a storm was approaching? If 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 rcefng 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 a farm
in this county for 500 per acre, and that
:, just before the bargain was closed you
should learn that a 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 q
pest house in which were to be confined
!, patients infected with the smallpox. Now
, with a full knowledge Of these facts, dc
you think you would give $50 per acre
3 for that farm, whereas you had intended
r to give 500 before? Do you really believe
I you would want that farm at all? Ye'
these nuisances had not been located
= and it was only the fear that they woulC
I be that affected the price of that land
A So we insist it was the bare fear that the
y laws would be changed that brought or
E the hard times, and nobody knows tn,
: truth of this better than the Democrat,
e leaders themselves. McVeagh, AltgelC
| and the other leaders told you all sorts o
e improbableand unreasonable stories in tn,
e campaign of 1892, and a majority of thu
/ 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 j
no law to prevent you from doing SO,
know. But l give you this warning, tina
Ii you do, you will put your foot in it a
you did in 1892.
= The whole tariff argument has beel
|, summed up and put into a nutshell b,
= one of our greatest republicans. Hi
argument was this, that ii you buy 81,
600, 900 of railroad iron from Englan'
{ that England then has our 81, 000, 1000 an
4 we have the iron; but if you buy tn
iron at home. we have both the none
! and the iron. Nothing is palmer or NOR
convincing to my mind than this, and
n is the principle underlying the Who'll
. doctrine of protection.
:, l will illustrate my argument by whs
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 has kel
, lis word; this is n 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 RAJ
materials, and started manufactures {
y various kidns. His plants, however, al
o. all located inside the walls of the Joli,
and Chester penitentiaries, and cons
quently the Governor pays nothing fC
g his labor except what it costs to cloth
~ and feed his men. This gives him a yer
Is great advantage, and he is thereby ell;
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 a business man, he will,
~ course, enlarge his plants from time
time, as necessity may require. Nov
= my point is here: If the Governor sci
his prison-made goods in the san
market where like manufactured gooC
made by free labor are sold. it must
is necessity reduce the price Of the latte
al which in turn will reduce the price
c. wages. The laboring people Of the sta
have seen this and have endeavored
s. get the Governor to close up his factori
but so far they have met with indifferel
success. Now, the same thing exact
ic will take place, only on a much larg
scale, if we have free trade in tn
"A country. Our laborers in that eve
~ would not only be brought in competitiC
~. with the labor Of the Governors convict
y but also with the cheap labor of
Europe. The labor organizations of u
state have been trying to induce Il
Governor to close up his cheap convi
W labor shops and relieve the laboring mt
u, Of this %ruinous competition. He hi
been reminded again and again, but
or in va;p of the nrOmises he made on n