The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-03
MIR. FESSENDEN'S SPEECH
BEFORE THE STATE REPUBLICAN
 CONVENTION YESTERDAY.

Brilliant and Forcible Discussion of the Political Situation-The shattering of the Democratic Party by the Free Silver Craze-Ihe Vast Contrast Between the Principles Represented by Mckinley and the Vaporings and Mouthings of Bryan Sound Money and Protection Win Re- store Prosperity to the Nation and Work and Good Wages for the Toiling Masses.
 Gentlemen of the conventions: We are assembled under conditions rarely known in our country. Since our state convention of four years ago, start ling change has occurred in our busi- ness prosperity. Then business in ev- cry state in the union was in such condition of uneXampled prosperity that never before in our history was there greater activity in all productive and manufacturing branches of indus try and trade The products of the soil, and the earth itself, brought fair and In most instances largely remuner- ative prices. Higher wages were paid to the wage earner, and there were greater profits for the toiler, in the purchasing power of his earnings, and his comfort and luxuries were more abundant than at any period since the foundation of the government.
 And what has been the result of these last years of democracy, in two of which they have had the executive and the control of both branches of con gress? There Is but one answer. It finds expression even from the white house itself-widespread disaster in ev- cry section of our country-because, in the language of a distinguished demo- crat, "imbecility and incompetency have characterized its administration"
 The offensive surplus of the treasury, so obnoxious to democracy, has disap- peared, and the nation has been com pelled to issue it's millions of bonds to enable it to meet the necessary ex- penses of it's maintenance, which, under republican laws and a protective tariff, had been more than amply provided for
 The democracy, proclaimed in the campaign of 1892, the unconstitutional ity of protection, and, advocating their free trade heresies, asked the voters of the United States to make a change. Because of protection, they said, classes had arisen above the masses The rich were growing richer and the poor grow ing poorer. Have the masses been growing richer? It looks as if the rich had been growing poorer. Certainly, the poor have not been growing richer. In fact, we have been growing poorer altogether. (Applause) Why? Be- cause democracy was successful, and ignominious failure was the result of its success. They won that election up- on platform of free trade, and amidst the prostration of business, the loss of capital the shrinkage of wages, and the accompanying disturbance to our financial system the curtailment of revenue has continued to such an ex- tent that this great government, the richest in material resources of any on the globe, has become borrower, and almost bankrupt Yes, it was in deed a change True it is that one great, grand and glorious result has been achieved by the triumph of the free trade principles of democracy. The price of tin has been reduced. (Laughter.) In that respect democra- cy has kept it's promise. The working men may buy their dinner pails at a lower price. Gaughter) The diff culty which they now encounter is, to earn enough to fill them. Gaughter and applause.)
 They clamored for free wool that the price of clothing might be reduced, and as result they find the factories clos ed in which their wages were earned, and they now have an abundance of time to stand on our sidewalks and gaze into the shop windows at suits of clothing with attractive reduced price cards attached, but without dollar in their pockets to buy them. (Applause.)
 To-day. every well informed working man in the land knows that this free trade democracy has caused mills and factories and banks to close their doors, ruined hundreds of manufacturers, compelled our farmers to economize as they never have before, deprived many thousands of workingmen of re- munerative employment, and thrown thousands more into enforced likeness and absolute want.
 Here indeed is an object lesson. All the side lights are cn. They disclose idle factories, empty shops, silent ma- chinery on the farm and in the facto- ny, failure, diversity disaster, and a vast army of unemployed clamO .'irs for work The intelligent workingmen of America, both from the factory and the farm, who iH 1892 swallowed the democratic free trade pill, sugar coat ed will -four years more of Grover, then we'll be in clover" Qaughter) in 1896 are asking for protective tariff; tariff along the lines of statesman ship shown by all the great leaders of the past and present Washington, Jef ferson, Jackson, Clay, Lincoln, Gap plause), Blaine, (applause), Harrison, (applause), Reed, (applause), McKin- ley and Hobart (great applause); pro- lection with reciprocity for the defense and development of home industry, the elevation and maintenance of home la- bor; a tariff that will afford ample protection to all our industries, and to all wage earners, and at the same time amply sufficient for the support of the government They have learned by bitter experience thatAthey cannot af- ford to open the marlets of their coun- try at the cost of being compelled to compete with the cheapest labor in the world.